Ken Niumatalolo Says He Was Fired as Navy HC Right After 2OT Loss to Army
Dec 12, 2022
ORLANDO, FL - NOVEMBER 19: Navy Midshipmen head coach Ken Niumatalolo during the football game between the UCF Knights and the Navy Midshipmen on November 19th, 2022 at FBC Mortgage Stadium in Orlando, FL. (Photo by Andrew Bershaw/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
Former Navy coach Ken Niumatalolo revealed athletic director Chet Gladchuk did not waste much time informing him he was fired following Saturday's 20-17 double-overtime loss to Army.
"First of all, we just got kicked in the gut," Niumatalolo said when telling ESPN's Heather Dinich he was fired right after the game. "I was a little bit numb prior to him saying that, so most of it I couldn't comprehend. I'm just like, 'Chet, why don't you take some time to relax.' He said, 'Well, it's been building up.'"
Saturday's loss was of the heartbreaking variety for Navy, as Anton Hall Jr.'s fumble inside the Army 1-yard line in double overtime was the difference-maker.
The Black Knights won it with a field goal on the ensuing possession.
"I'm a competitor," Niumatalolo said. "It's hard for me to think that we got the ball on the six-inch line, and that's my last game. That's hard to fathom. If we win, he's not firing me. How do you fire a guy after you win the Army-Navy game? That's not going to happen."
Yet Navy is just 2-5 in its last seven against Army and 2-5 in its last seven against Air Force.
Gladchuk explained the goals of making bowl games and winning the Commander-In-Chief's Trophy were explained to the head coach "without any question of a doubt." This season is the third straight with a losing record for the Midshipmen, meaning they fell short of both goals.
"That's been the constant bar we strive for, is to achieve those two goals, which I believe are very realistic, very reasonable, and have been consistent for 20 years, and therefore this does not come as any surprise," the athletic director said. "It's just an expectation that unfortunately fell short."
Dinich noted Navy does not redshirt players and did not receive an additional year of eligibility because of the COVID-19 pandemic. While Niumatalolo asked for additional years of eligibility due to the pandemic, his request was denied due to the government's requirement players graduate in four years.
"We have to make this a level playing field," he said. "If we had what they had, if I was able to stretch several guys every year ... we're sharing our indoor facility with gymnastics. Who else in the country is sharing their indoor facility with gymnastics? There's times we're out there in the freezing rain. I'm like, where else is anybody else practicing like this?"
Despite an unceremonious ending, Niumatalolo went 109-83 as the head coach at Navy and guided the program to 10 bowl games since the 2008 campaign.
He is the winningest coach in program history and had teams ranked in the Associated Press Top 25 in 2015, 2016, 2017 and 2019. Yet he was unable to do enough to save his job after a third consecutive disappointing campaign.
CFB Twitter Rejoices After Army vs. Navy Betting Over Hits for 1st Time in 17 Years
Dec 11, 2022
PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - DECEMBER 10: A general view before the game between the Army Black Knights and the Navy Midshipmen at Lincoln Financial Field on December 10, 2022 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Tim Nwachukwu/Getty Images)
There was more to celebrate on Saturday than just Army's 20-17 double-overtime victory over Navy.
Quinn Maretzki's 39-yard field goal in the second overtime after Army recovered a fumble by Navy running back Anton Hall Jr. at the goal line provided the difference. This was the first overtime game in the 123-year history of the matchup between the United States military academies.
Thanks to two quick touchdowns in the first overtime period, this game hit the over for the first time since 2005.
The over has cashed in this game for the first time in 17 years, thanks to 14 points scored in overtime. https://t.co/BAUZSjq9w5
Things got very interesting in overtime. Markel Johnson ran through the Navy defense for a 25-yard touchdown on the first play for either team.
Army responded on Xavier Arline's 25-yard touchdown pass to Maquel Haywood on its first play in overtime. Haywood's score also pushed the game to the over, causing Twitter to rejoice at the milestone moment.
Could you imagine the first OVER hitting in the last 17 editions of Army vs Navy comes in the first ever overtime game between the two teams! Appointment Television! #ArmyvsNavy#CollegeFootball
Gambling analyst Brad Powers noted coming into this game how much a bettor would have won if they started with a $100 bet on the under and rolled over their winnings for 16 straight years:
The UNDER is on a 16-0 run in the Army/Navy game.
If you started in 2006 with a $110 bet (to win $100) on the Army/Navy UNDER and rolled over your winnings each year for 16 years, you'd have...
It looked for a long time like we were destined for another low-scoring affair where the offenses had to grind out every single yard.
Army's only touchdown in regulation came on a blocked punt that Jabril Williams recovered in the end zone.
There were only 10 combined points scored in the first half and it looked like Navy was going to hang on for a 10-7 win until Maretzki's 37-yard field goal tied the score in the final two minutes of regulation.
Thanks to Maretzki's leg, not only was Army able to force overtime and get the win to finish the season .500 (6-6), but members of the Sickos Committee who had a financial stake in the over got to celebrate for the first time in 17 years.
Army vs. Navy Game 2022: Start Time and Predictions for Rivalry Game
Dec 9, 2022
ORLANDO, FL - NOVEMBER 19: Navy Midshipmen quarterback Xavier Arline (7) hands off to Navy Midshipmen fullback Daba Fofana (45)during the football game between the UCF Knights and the Navy Midshipmen on November 19th, 2022 at FBC Mortgage Stadium in Orlando, FL. (Photo by Andrew Bershaw/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
Army and Navy have both had some struggles during the 2022 college football season. Neither is heading to a bowl game.
But the Black Knights and the Midshipmen still have one important contest to play. For the players on both teams, it's the biggest matchup of the year: the annual Army-Navy game.
The series marks one of the best rivalries in college football, and the 2022 edition is set to take place on Saturday at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia. Even though the Black Knights and Midshipmen each have a losing record, that doesn't matter when these programs face off.
Here's everything you need to know about this year's Army-Navy game.
2022 Army-Navy Game Information
Date: Saturday, Dec. 10
Start Time: 3 p.m. ET
TV: CBS
Preview, Predictions
This will be the 123rd edition of the Army-Navy game, a rivalry matchup that dates back to 1890. The Midshipmen lead the all-time series 62-53-7, and they notched a 17-13 victory in last year's contest.
However, the Black Knights have fared quite well in the series in recent years. After Navy won every meeting from 2002-15, Army won four of five from 2016-20 before losing last year.
The 2022 edition of the game should be a competitive one, as both teams seem to be fairly even. This series has sometimes resulted in lopsided contests, but that shouldn't be the case this year.
Army (5-6) has won four of its past six games and is coming off back-to-back victories over UConn and UMass. The Black Knights haven't beaten any ranked teams, but they took UTSA (the Conference USA champions) to overtime on Sept. 10, before falling 41-38.
Navy (4-7) hasn't played since Nov. 19, but it notched an impressive victory in its most recent action, as it defeated UCF (ranked No. 20 at the time) 17-14. The Midshipmen also lost by only three points to Notre Dame a week earlier.
Per usual, neither Army nor Navy has passed the ball often this season. The Midshipmen have had 122 passing attempts, while the Black Knights have 92. These programs keep the ball on the ground and run it nearly every play.
Among the most exciting players in this year's matchup is Army senior quarterback Tyhier Tyler. He leads the Black Knights in rushing with 601 yards and 12 touchdowns.
Navy's rushing attack has been powered by sophomore fullback Daba Fofana, who has compiled 749 yards and six touchdowns. He's coming off back-to-back games in which he ran for more than 100 yards.
Because of the style of play of both offenses, this should be a low-scoring matchup again this year, and it could be decided by what happens when Army has the ball.
The Black Knights are rushing for a whopping 304.4 yards per game, second most in the country. The Midshipmen are allowing only 85.6 rushing yards per game, which ranked first in the AAC and fourth in the nation.
But Navy should have a good bit of confidence after playing a close game against Notre Dame and then upsetting UCF. So expect the Midshipmen to ride that momentum to a close victory over their biggest rival.
Prediction: Navy 20, Army 16
Navy Upsets Army 17-13 in Rivalry Game Behind Tai Lavatai's 2 TDs
Dec 11, 2021
EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ - DECEMBER 11: Tai Lavatai #1 of The Navy Midshipmen drops back to pass during the first half of a game against the Army Black Knights at MetLife Stadium on December 11, 2021 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (Photo by Dustin Satloff/Getty Images)
The Navy Midshipmen won their second straight game on Saturday with a 17-13 win over the Army Black Knights at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey. It was Navy's first victory over Army since 2019, as the Black Knights took last year's rivalry game 15-0.
It was also Navy's second win in the series over the last six years as Army has dominated the annual rivalry game as of late. However, Navy won 14 straight games against Army between 2002-15. Maybe the tides are beginning to shift in the Midshipmen's favor.
Navy finishes the regular season with a 4-8 record, while Army finishes 8-4.
Notable Stats
Tai Lavatai, QB, NAVY: 4/6 for 82 YDS and 20 CAR for 62 YDS and 2 TDs
Christian Anderson, QB, ARMY: 7/15 for 108 YDS and 9 CAR for 67 YDS, 1 TD
Carlinos Acie, RB, NAVY: 9 CAR for 34 YDS
Jakobi Buchanan, RB, ARMY: 4 CAR for 24 YDS
Mychal Cooper, WR, NAVY: 1 REC for 28 YDS
Recap and Reaction
Saturday's Army-Navy game began with some pretty great trash-talking ahead of kickoff.
Aside from the trash-talking, it was a well-fought contest between Army and Navy, and the Black Knights kicked things off with a 56-yard rushing touchdown from quarterback Christian Anderson.
Army outplayed Navy in the first half of Saturday's rivalry game. The Black Knights had 175 yards of total offense compared to the Midshipmen's 130 yards. Army also had eight first downs compared to Army's five, and Anderson undoubtedly outplayed Lavatai.
Army enters halftime up 13-7 on the back of two Cole Talley FGs and 148 yards from scrimmage from Christian Anderson, who was 5 of 7 passing in the first half.
However, many were quick to note that Lavatai still had a strong first half despite entering the locker room down 13-7, and he didn't disappoint to open up the third quarter.
Halftime: Army 13, Navy 7.
I'm really liking what I'm seeing from Tai Lavatai's passing, I hope we see more.
Lavatai and the Midshipmen came out buzzing after halftime, with a major turning point in the game being the quarterback's two-yard rushing score to help give Navy a 14-13 lead, an advantage they would never surrender.
Navy then added a field goal with 6:10 remaining in the fourth quarter to extend their lead to 17-13, and many praised Lavatai for his second-half performance, which is a big reason why the Midshipmen came out victorious on Saturday.
It should also be noted that the Midshipmen defense stood tall, too, allowing the Black Knights just 102 yards in the second half and forcing the team to punt three straight times before forcing a turnover on downs to seal the win.
Saturday's game marked Army's lowest scoring output since a 20-14 Oct. 16 loss to the Wisconsin Badgers, further emphasizing how good the Midshipmen defense was at MetLife Stadium.
Player and Coach Reaction
"It was a mistake." - Ken Niumatalolo confirms the fake punt was an accident.
While Navy's season is officially over, Army will move on to face Missouri in the Armed Forces Bowl on Dec. 22.
Army Cadets Accidentally Kidnap Wrong Goat in Effort to Steal Navy's Mascot
Nov 24, 2021
PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - DECEMBER 14: Bill the Goat has a snack before the game between the Army Black Knights and the Navy Midshipmen at Lincoln Financial Field on December 14, 2019 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)
Army Cadets accidentally kidnapped the
wrong goat during a secret raid of a Maryland farm in search of
Navy's mascot, Bill No. 37, over the weekend.
Dave Philipps of the New York Times
reported Tuesday that the long tradition of trying to steal the opponent's
mascot has continued despite pleas from military officials to stop
the practice, which typically happens during the lead-up to the
annual Army-Navy football game.
This year's clash between the Black
Knights and the Midshipmen is scheduled for Dec. 11, and Army tried
to strike first with its "spirit mission" in search for Bill
No. 37.
Instead, the cadets returned to West Point—the United States Military Academy—with Bill No. 34, a retired
mascot who's 14 years old and deals with arthritis, according to a
joint statement from Army and Navy provided to the New York Times.
A military employee told Philipps the
goat was returned to the farm Monday and that a veterinarian said the
animal was in "good health" following a checkup.
Lt. Gen. Darryl Williams and Vice Adm.
Sean Buck, the superintendents of the academies, confirmed in the
joint statement the situation is under investigation, saying they are "disappointed by the trust that was broken recently between our
brothers and sisters in arms" and the Cadets' actions don't "reflect either academy's core values of dignity and respect."
They also reiterated the stealing of
animal mascots is "off limits."
Army (7-3) will likely be the heavy
favorite over Navy (2-8) when the teams meet to close out the regular season next month at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey.
Notre Dame's 2023 Game vs. Navy to Be Played in Dublin, Ireland
Nov 5, 2021
ARLINGTON, TEXAS - JANUARY 01: The " Notre Dame" end zone logo prior to the 2021 College Football Playoff Semifinal Game at the Rose Bowl Game presented by Capital One between the Alabama Crimson Tide and the Notre Dame Fighting Irish at AT&T Stadium on January 01, 2021 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Carmen Mandato/Getty Images)
Notre Dame and Navy will take their college football rivalry overseas in 2023.
The Fighting Irish announced on Thursday that their game against the Midshipmen two years from now will be played in Dublin, Ireland. The teams have faced each other in Dublin twice before, in 1996 at Croke Park and in 2012 at Aviva Stadium.
Notre Dame and Navy are set to meet this Saturday for the first time since 2019. Their 2020 matchup was originally scheduled to be played at Aviva Stadium in Dublin but the COVID-19 pandemic forced it to be moved to Annapolis before being canceled altogether.
It would have been Navy's first time hosting the game in the history of the rivalry. The Midshipmen usually hold their "home" games against the Fighting Irish at larger facilities due to the small size of Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium. Notre Dame has played host more often in South Bend.
The rivalry between Notre Dame and Navy has been largely one-sided. The Fighting Irish lead the all-time series 77-13-1 and are on a three-game winning streak. The Midshipmen last won in 2016, a one-point victory.
Notre Dame is 7-1 and ranked No. 8 in the AP poll and No. 10 in the College Football Playoff rankings. The Irish are on a three-game winning streak following last month's loss to then-No. 7 Cincinnati. The team also made a splash in recruiting this week, landing a commitment from 2023 5-star linebacker Drayk Bowen.
Navy is 2-6 this season with two three-game losing streaks. The Midshipmen ended their second skid last week with a 20-17 win over Tulsa and will look to keep the momentum going on Saturday against the Irish.
Cameron Kinley's Request to Delay Commission to Pursue NFL Career Denied by US Navy
Jun 7, 2021
ANNAPOLIS, MARYLAND - DECEMBER 05: Cameron Kinley #3 of the Navy Midshipmen carries an American flag as the team takes the field against the Tulsa Golden Hurricane at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium on December 05, 2020 in Annapolis, Maryland. (Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images)
Undrafted free agent cornerback Cameron Kinley has to put his NFL dreams on hold.
According to ESPN's Adam Schefter, the U.S. Navy has denied Kinley's request "to delay his commission to play in the NFL." Per Schefter, "Kinley is being required to commission into the U.S. Navy as an Ensign."
Kinley signed with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and had a shot to make the team as its fifth cornerback. The Navy's surprising denial of his request caught his agent off guard:
With Bucs rookie Cameron Kinley being denied by the U.S. Navy a waiver to join the Bucs, his agent Ryan Williams-Jenkins issued this statement and quote: pic.twitter.com/hLRQ7dS974
Kinley was his U.S. Naval Academy class president for the past two years and delivered a speech at his graduation May 28.
"Choose to be the light at all times," he said, per Greg Auman of The Athletic. "Make sure you lead by example, but more importantly, lead with humility. Your legacy will not be solely measured by your accomplishments, but rather by the impact that you left on the lives of others."
Buccaneers head coach Bruce Arians said last week he "got goosebumps" when he watched the graduation speech and called Kinley a "tremendous young man."
While Kinley wasn't guaranteed to make the team—he likely would have had to prove himself as a special teams contributor—his dream to play in the NFL has been put on hold.
Navy's Ken Niumatalolo Apologizes for Calling Out Pentagon for CIC Trophy Series
Sep 15, 2020
Navy head coach Ken Niumatalolo looks ontonthe field during the second half of an NCAA college football game against the BYU, Monday, Sept. 7, 2020, in Annapolis, Md. (AP Photo/Tommy Gilligan)
When you coach at a service academy, you can't necessarily vent your frustration toward the powers that be within a traditional university structure.
Navy head football coach Ken Niumatalolo criticized the decision to carry on with the Commander-in-Chief's Trophy series despite the fact Air Force has only two games scheduled this season. Niumatalolo directed his ire toward "guys at the Pentagon," per ESPN:
"Where else in the country would you play for something of value and everybody's schedules are not the same? This is the No. 1 thing we fight for every year—the Commander-in-Chief's Trophy. We're playing a full schedule. You got Air Force playing just two games? I don't think those people care. [...]
"This is above us. This is guys at the Pentagon making decisions. I have no idea where they're getting their data from. They didn't get it from me, so they're not getting any football data. Like I said, nobody asked me."
Niumatalolo has since apologized for his remarks, per the Capital Gazette's Bill Wagner: "I should not have said some of the stuff I said and I'm sorry I did. The Pentagon has nothing to do with this and it was wrong of me to suggest that was the case. ... I sometimes get myself in trouble by speaking my mind. This was an instance when I should have kept my thoughts to myself."
Army is an independent in football, while Navy and its American Athletic Conference colleagues are carrying on with a 2020 fall football season. As a result, the Black Knights and Midshipmen will be playing 12 and 11 games, respectively.
Air Force, on the other hand, saw the vast majority of its schedule scrapped when the Mountain West Conferencepostponedits fall season.
Naval Academy athletic director Chet Gladchuk told Wagner the superintendents from the Air Force, Army and Navy agreed to move forward with staging the three games for the Commander-in-Chief's Trophy.
"The question mark has always been Air Force and whether or not they would field a team," Gladchuk said. "There was some question within their leadership as to whether or not it was appropriate to conduct out-of-season practice to that degree to play two games."
Air Force plays Navy on Oct. 3 at home in Colorado Springs, Colorado, before facing off with Army on Nov. 7 in West Point, New York.
The Falcons' unique schedule could work to their benefit or detriment. On one hand, head coach Troy Calhoun has extra time to draw up a game plan. On the other hand, his team could face a difficult adjustment to actual game situations.
Should Air Force go on to lift the Commander-in-Chief's Trophy for the first time since 2016, this might not be the last Niumatalolo has to say on the matter.
Navy vs. Lafayette Football Game on Sept. 12 Canceled Amid COVID-19
Jul 3, 2020
Navy players sing their alma mater after beating Kansas State in the Liberty Bowl NCAA college football game Tuesday, Dec. 31, 2019, in Memphis, Tenn. Navy won 20-17. (AP Photo/Mark Humphrey)
Navy announced Friday its Sept. 12 football game against Lafayette has been canceled.
Lafayette College made the decision, determining it wouldn't have enough time to prepare for the game once football players are brought onto campus.
Navy is attempting to find a new opponent for that date.
It's the second time the Midshipmen have been forced to adjust their schedule amid the coronavirus pandemic. The squad was expected to face Notre Dame in Ireland on Aug. 29, but the game was moved to Annapolis, Maryland, and will now take place Sept. 5.
The NCAA allowed players to participate in team activities beginning in early June, but the Patriot League announced student-athletes cannot return to campus until the rest of the student body does, perKeith Grollerof theMorning Call.
Classes aren't scheduled to begin at Lafayette until Aug. 17.
The Leopards were originally slated to start their season on Sept. 5 against Sacred Heart. The team's next game is currently a Sept. 19 home matchup against William & Mary.
Meanwhile, Navy now has an 11-game schedule, with eight games against fellow AAC squads, two against military academies (Army and Air Force) and the one against Notre Dame. The Lafayette battle was the only matchup scheduled against an FCS opponent.
Though the coronavirus pandemic has already created some changes to the college football season, NCAA president Mark Emmert said recently "we are likely to have football" in the fall, perSeth Davisof The Athletic.
