CNNSI.com - 2000 College Football Preview - CNNSI.com's Navy preview

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Navy Midshipmen

Bowl bid could be on the horizon

College Football: The New Century

'99: 5-7

Coach

Charlie Weatherbie (sixth season, 29-28; 44-47 overall)

Key offensive players

Dre Brittingham, RB, Jr.
Averaged 6.6 yards every time he touched the ball in 1999, rushing for 350 yards on 53 carries.

Brandon Rampani, WR, Jr.
Caught 14 passes for 276 yards and four touchdowns in 1999.

Hoot Stall, OT, Sr.
Has NFL scouts drooling with his size (6-6, 300).

Key defensive players

Shaka Martin, LB, Jr.
Had a sensational sophomore season with 66 tackles, including a team-high 13 for a loss.

Ivan Maisel's Player of the Century: Roger Staubach, QB, 1962-64
"No one player has done more for his team than the Dodger when he won the Heisman in '63."

Brightest Moment: National champions in 1926. Also, Joe Bellino won the Heisman Trophy in 1960 and Roger Staubach did it in 1963.

Lowest Moment:

Chris Lepore, FS, Sr.
Had a team-high 127 tackles, four tackles for a loss, two sacks, one interception, three passes broken up, one fumble recovery, three forced fumbles and a blocked punt in 1999.

Key newcomer

Derrick Johnson, DL, Fr.
The Tampa native looks like a fine addition to the defense, either this year or in the not-too-distant future.

Throwback player

Free safety Chris Lepore had an unbelievable junior year and does it all for the Midshipmen.

21st century player

Running back Dre Brittingham is an exciting player who averaged 6.6 yards every time he touched the ball in 1999.

Fast Fact

Navy lost six games in 1999 by a touchdown or less.

Outlook

Navy will be disciplined on both sides of the ball and will shorten the game with one of the nation¹s most potent ground attacks. This is a good team, one that could make trouble for any team on its schedule. Navy has a good shot to win the Commander-in-Chief trophy, symbolizing supremacy among the service academies. The Mids may also be able to win seven games and earn a bowl bid. The schedule will make that difficult, however, because Navy plays four bowl 1999 teams, plus Air Force and Notre Dame.

--Stan Crawley