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Dear Virginia and Coach Bronco Mendenhall:

Fear the Goat!

Virginia coach Bronco Mendenhall made a point to mention how important it was for his team to be bowl eligible after the Cavaliers won their sixth game of the season against Georgia Tech in early November. The Virginia season concluded with a bad loss to another option team, falling 49-7 to Navy in the Military Bowl. The game started well for Virginia with a thrilling touchdown on the opening kickoff. 

After that, almost everything went wrong for Virginia. 

Not only did Virginia’s offense fail to score, it didn’t even reach the red zone in 11 offensive drives. There was only one field goal attempt (a miss from 47 yards), one interception, two lost fumbles and two turnovers on downs. 

But that only begins to describe how lopsided this game was on Thursday afternoon in Annapolis. Here are the four craziest stats from Navy’s 42-point win: 

1. Navy did not complete a single pass, and only attempted one. Navy’s two quarterbacks — Zach Abey and Malcolm Perry — combined for 0-for-1 passing for zero yards and a zero passer rating. Abey’s single attempt came on a play-action pass in the third quarter, and if not for some very good coverage from Virginia’s secondary, it could have resulted in a score. 

2. Virginia was outgained on the ground by 422 yards. Navy ran the ball 76 times for 452 rushing yards (5.9 yards per attempt) and scored seven rushing touchdowns. The Wahoos, on the other hand, could not get anything going on the ground and finished with just 30 net yards — a total that was helped greatly by a 20-yard run from Jordan Ellis in the final minutes of the game. 

3. All of the rushing touchdowns came from the quarterbacks. Abey scored five rushing touchdowns, joining an exclusive list of five that includes Barry Sanders and Kareem Hunt as the only players with five rushing touchdowns in an FBS bowl game. 

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Update:  Navy 49 Virginia 7. It was a blow-out for the Midshipmen, greatly eclipsing the 1.5 point spread in Las Vegas odds.  We had good attendance at Coaches:  Vic Hurlbert ’10, Craig Elmore ’69, John O’Neal ’65, Jack Rush ’73 (& grandson Elliott), Chuck Stevens ’73, Eric Carlson ’74, Kyle Martin ’74, Bob Culler ’74, George Jackson ’79, Shogo Cottrell ’93 (& Lizabeth), Mike Gochis ’90, Greg Shuey USAFA ’68, and Vic Herrera USAFA ’84.

 

What:               Military Bowl Watch Party: Navy vs. Virginia in Annapolis, MD

When:               Thursday, December 28, 2017, 11:30 AM (Kickoff is at 12:30 PM Central)

Where:              Coaches Bar & Grill, 9089 West 135th Street, Overland Park, KS 66223

 Who:                USNA Alumni, USNA Parents, and Veterans & Friends Navy/Marine

Corps- Greater Kansas City Metro USNA Alumni Chapter Host

Please come early and eat lunch, the food is excellent! You can order off their standard lunch menu. http://www.coach-s.com/food.html

We will have door prizes so please bring some cash to buy $1.00 raffle tickets. Similar to Army-Navy, we will raffle them off during the first half and at halftime. Wear Navy spirit wear.

We don’t do fundraisers, so chapter dues are critical to our financial success. We use those dues and the raffle monies to host events like this watch party, help our KC area Blue & Gold officers guide future USNA candidates and support local college career events. Jack Rush, chapter Treasurer, will be there if you want to pay your $25 2018 KC local chapter dues.

If you are not able to attend, please mail a check to Jack:

CDR Jack Rush ‘73, USNR (Ret.)

9632 Windsor Street, Leawood, KS 66206 

Make checks payable to:  Greater KC USNA Chapter

You still have time to RSVP, so please email me by the morning of December 28.  Bob Culler

bob.culler@1974.usna.com or text 913 488-6319. Indicate the number in your party so we can get enough space.

Go Navy, Beat Virginia! – Go Navy, Beat Army!

Bob Culler ’74, President, Greater Kansas City Metro Chapter6

 

 

The 2017 Army Navy Watch Party was held at the Blue Moose Bar and Grill on 135th Street in Overland Park on Saturday, December 9 at 1:00 PM. A total of ~30 alumni and ~80 total attended. Army edged Navy 14-13 on a missed last second field goal by Navy. Navy/USNA logo’ed souvenir gifts and shirts were raffled off in the 1st half and at halftime. Jack Rush, chapter Treasurer, collected 2018 chapter dues. 


Group picture extended addition: Monsignor Stu Swetland ’82, Rolando Salvatierra ’98, Beth Ann Thomas Vann ’98, and John Coode ’88

Captain Jim Coopersmith ’62 and new appointees Ernest Pereira and Ryan Fitzgerald both will be Class of 2022. A sixty year span in the link in the chain.

Sara Alcock Northwestern NROTC ’88, Rolando Salvatierra ’98, Beth Ann Thomas Vann ’98.

Mike Gochis ’90, Kyle Martin ’74, Jack Rush “73

Group Picture of the Greater Kansas City Metro USNA Alumni Chapter

John O’Neal ’65 and Pam

Bryan Didier ’91, at the table of Chuck Stevens ’73.

Professor Frank Rokosz, Wichita State and his family. Navy football fans.

 

Kyle Martin ’74, Elaine Carlson (wife of Eric “74 and mother of Justin ’03); and Bob Culler ’74

 

 

 

 

 

 

Mike Gochis ’90 and George Jackson ’79

Shogo Cottrell ’93 and guest Lizabeth