Niumatalolo’s Navy return has players echoing common refrain: ‘Awesome’
|
Version 0 of 1. Navy senior nose guard Bernard Sarra was studying for his last final exam last week when he decided to take a short break and check Facebook. At the top of the Navy athletics page was a post announcing Coach Ken Niumatalolo was staying in Annapolis after meeting with Brigham Young officials. It was the first concrete news the co-captain had received about his coach since Niumatalolo told players less than 48 hours before their Dec. 12 game against Army that he would be traveling to Provo, Utah, to explore the job that came open when Bronco Mendenhall announced he was leaving for Virginia. “I was like, ‘What? No way. Awesome,’ ” Sarra said following practice Monday night. “I found some [teammates] and said, ‘You guys see that?’ So everyone was really excited. It’s huge for our program, especially me, but even these young guys to continue to have exposure with Coach Ken.” [Feinstein: In the end, Niumatalolo follows his heart back to Annapolis] Sarra and senior quarterback Keenan Reynolds, also a co-captain, met with the team before departing for Philadelphia to play Army, reminding other players about how fortunate all involved in the program have been to be associated with the winningest coach in school history. There was no ill will in large part because Niumatalolo had been forthright with his players about the entire process. So heading into the Dec. 28 Military Bowl against Pittsburgh at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium, the team is rallying around the coach who opted to remain with the Midshipmen because “ultimately this is where I’m supposed to be.” The No. 21 Midshipmen (10-2) are seeking to set the program single-season wins record. A victory would send this senior class out as the winningest at Navy in the modern era and deliver a third straight bowl victory for the first time in school history. Navy won the Poinsettia Bowl last season, beating San Diego State, 17-16, and in 2013 defeated Middle Tennessee, 24-6, in the Armed Forces Bowl. “I was very happy for coach and the opportunity that was presented to him,” Reynolds said. “He’s going to do what’s best for him and his family. Everyone on the team respected that. We love Coach here. We wanted him back, and we’re so happy he decided to stick around for us.” [Feinstein: Niumatalolo is the most underrated coach in college football] Niumatalolo’s interest in the position in large part stemmed from his Mormon faith. He is a devout member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, having gone on mission for two years while attending Hawaii and playing football in his home state. He’s also held leadership positions at the Broadneck chapter of LDS. Niumatalolo has spent eight full seasons in Annapolis, where he owns a 67-37 record, including 8-0 against Army, and five Commander-in-Chief’s trophies. In addition, the finalist for multiple national coach of the year awards guided Navy within one victory of a berth in the American Athletic Conference championship game. The Midshipmen, playing in a conference for the first time in 135 years of football at the academy, finished 7-1 in the highly competitive AAC West Division, tied for first with Houston. Navy fell to the No. 18 Cougars, 52-31, in the final regular season game Nov. 27 to lose the tiebreaker and a chance at a New Year’s bowl. In April 2011, Niumatalolo signed a contract extension that has four years remaining and is scheduled to play him roughly $1.6 million per year. There is a buyout clause, but terms were unavailable. Virginia paid nearly $1.2 million to buy out Mendenhall, who coached BYU in the Las Vegas Bowl this past Saturday against rival Utah. The Cougars lost, 35-28. “Hopefully they’re glad that I’m back,” Niumatalolo said of his players. “I got a chance to talk to most of them after the [21-17 win against Army] just to let them know what was happening. I’m glad that’s behind, and I’m glad I’m here and have the chance to try to find a way to get number eleven.” |