View from Annapolis

[Water Pony]

First, despite the outcome, the Mustangs were well supported by a large contingent of SMU fans in Section Five, the SE area near the end zone. The visiting fans let the Ponies know that we were there for them.

With 34k, the stafdium looked and felt full. Great atmosphere with 4K Midshipmen of the USNA Brigade marching onto the field with 30 minutes to go before kick-off. If you are a fan of the military and the best of America, you would have been proud of the men and women who are there to serve and learn leadership.

The game was a tale of two halves. Leading 14-0 jus before the halftime, we had our chance to add three but misplaced a hold on third down field goal attempt and never got of another play, despite having the time to do so.

With the time at zero, the Middies briskly ran off the field, while the confused Mustangs walked off, seemingly in a daze. At the moment I told my USNA friend that the momentum felt like it had shifted to Navy, who was behind by 14 points. He didn't believe me, but the team wasn't acting like they had just controlled the first half.

In the third quarter, Navy tied it up before we knew it. Kyle struggled in the second half with a fumble that gave Navy another opportunity to score, which they did. But, late in the fourth we tied it up and the possibility of recovering was there. We went to fullback draw too many times and Kyle wasn't seeing the field as he was before. We had our chance, especially if we had been able to run off the field at the half with 17-0 lead.

At one point, Navy was pinned deep near their goal line, but dug out of this hole with a 52 yard completion. In the end, they out played us and its hard to say we should have won, given the events of the second half. This was a game we had in hand. Can the team take this lesson and learn from it? Although a young team , this game can be a force for good or bad. We can certainly do better, but the Mustangs left it on the field. We were disappointed in the result, but not the team.