Navy opens camp today -- yes, a college football team is underway in July -- and that means all the usual mundane things that camp brings.
It also means coach Paul Johnson will be holding court in his own droll way, and that was enough to get me down I-97 to Annapolis yesterday afternoon for the program's media day and -- coupled with the promise of a stop at artery-clogging Pat’s King of Steaks -- Navy’s opener at Temple exactly a month from today is penciled into my calendar.
Johnson, of course, did not disappoint as he assessed a team that lost nine starters from last year's 9-4 team.
One of those taking a new starting spot could be sophomore Nate Frazier, who is listed atop the depth chart at nose guard.
"Nate hasn’t ever played a down," Johnson said. "I don't want everybody to be building him up like Deacon Jones. Let's watch him play. He may get beat out before the season starts."
Well, he did play in three games last year. But garbage time against Duke and Eastern Michigan isn't exactly a strong indicator of future success.
Some other Johnson witticisms:
* A reporter asked about so many starters at "key spots" -- read: skill positions — returning this fall, then dropped in the loss of three starters on the offensive line. "That might be a key spot," Johnson observed.
* Apparently, Temple is trying desperately to drum up interest in its opener against the Mids at Lincoln Financial Field ... not that such chicanery will mean much to the visitors. "If you're not ready to play your opening game, you're in real trouble. It's going to be a long year," Johnson said.
* It might be mildly surprising Johnson has yet to parlay his success at Navy into a bigger gig, but he seems genuinely amused by all the attention.
"As long as I beat Army, they'll let me stay another year. A lot of that stuff you guys just drum up in the press. I get chuckles out of it. I jokingly told somebody it's better to be talked about for other jobs than for them to be talking about who's going to take your job."
Even with the issue of rebuilding the defense, Johnson could hear those murmurs again after this season. The quirky schedule -- with two Friday games at the start and a Wednesday trip to Pittsburgh -- sets up decently, with meetings against only four bowl teams from a year ago.
Actual news was relatively sparse yesterday -- cornerback Rashawn King might not make it back for the opener after undergoing offseason shoulder surgery -- but Johnson was already counting on being overlooked (as usual) again this fall.
"When teams see us get off the bus, nobody’s going to run for cover," Johnson said. "I guarantee everybody we play has us circled on the schedule as a win. They all think they should beat us. That's not going to change no matter who’s playing us."
