A handful of lucky Navy Midshipmen were allowed in the room today when President Bush, Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas spoke today at the Middle East peace conference in Annapolis.

One of Middies was Jarod Bryant, a junior whose sister works in the White House advance office.

Mr. Bryant, it turns out, is also Navy's second-string quarterback, who started Navy's last game against North Illinois on Nov. 17.

I asked Jarod how tall he was, and when he said he likes to say he's 5'10", I told him that's not very tall for a quarterback.

"Yeah, but we run the option," he said, smiling.

Indeed. Mr. Bryant ran 27 times against Northern Illinois for 139 yards and a touchdown in Navy's 35-24 victory. He threw only six times, completing three passes for 60 yards.

Mr. Bryant said he is uncertain whether he'll start this Saturday's game against Army, which is Navy's biggest game of the year every year. The first string quarterback, Kaipo-Noa Kaheaku-Enhada, is reported to be ready to play again.

-- Jon Ward, White House correspondent, The Washington Times