navy missouri
HOUSTON — At the end of practice on Monday afternoon, Navy Coach Ken Niumatalolo invited a fellow football coach, Brian Norwood, to address the Midshipmen. [1]
Missouri rush offense vs. Navy rush defense: Mizzou is so-so on the ground. [2]
That’s the danger that Navy (9-4) faces Thursday afternoon in the Texas Bowl. [3]
“Missouri is a great football team and they will provide a tremendous challenge for us,” Navy head football coach Ken Niumatalolo told the academy’s official Web site. [4]
Missouri runs the popular, pass-happy spread offense, while Navy ranked fourth nationally in rushing (272.5 yards per game) using a version of the old-fashioned option, with the quarterback, fullback or halfback possibly carrying the ball on each snap. [5]
With the nation’s 13th-ranked passing offense (285.0 yards per game), Missouri averaged 36.2 points while winning four of five after being held to 36 total points during its three-game losing streak. [4]
The junior gunslinger has gained 1,037 yards on the ground and has already set an NCAA single-season record for rushing touchdowns by a quarterback with 24. [...] GAME NOTES: The Navy Midshipmen and Missouri Tigers meet for the first time in 49 years, as they do battle in the 2009 Texas Bowl at Reliant Stadium in Houston. [6]
The Midshipmen have already faced four of the top wide receivers in the nation this season — Notre Dame’s Golden Tate and Michael Floyd, Hawaii’s Greg Salas and SMU’s Emmanuel Sanders, all of whom average more than 100 receiving yards per game — but Alexander presents perhaps the biggest challenge. [3]
This is the third meeting between the teams and first since Missouri won the 1961 Orange Bowl to take a 2-0 lead in the series. [4]
HOUSTON — The greatest play that Missouri wide receiver Danario Alexander made this season — at least in the eyes of his teammate, senior guard Kurtis Gregory — came in the final minute of the third quarter at Kansas State in mid-November. [3]
A potent passing game has helped Missouri to its fifth consecutive bowl game. [...] Missouri (8-4) takes a three-game winning streak into its fourth straight bowl game played in the state of Texas. [4]
There will be the excitement of the bowl game itself: A crowd of more than 68,000 is expected inside Reliant Stadium to watch the Midshipmen take on a high-powered opponent from a marquee conference. [1]
WHY YOU SHOULD WATCH: It’s usually entertaining when Navy’s triple-option offense goes up against a Big Six defense. [2]
Sources:
[1] Navy faces Missouri in Texas Bowl in final game for 32 …
[2] Rivals.com College Football - Texas Bowl: Missouri vs. Navy
[3] Missouri’s Alexander presents Navy with a big-play challenge …
[4] Navy-Missouri Preview - College Football - Rivals.com
[5] Texas Bowl preview: Missouri vs. Navy - 12/30/09 - Houston …
[6] Navy (9-4) vs. Missouri (8-4) - College Sports …