Navy, Ga. Southern teams have some similarities - Navy News | News from Afghanistan & Iraq - Navy Times

Navy, Ga. Southern teams have some similarities

ANNAPOLIS, Md. — The pregame ceremonies at Navy’s home opener Saturday should include a special salute to Paul Johnson.

Johnson, who coached at Georgia Southern before coming to Annapolis, was head coach at the Naval Academy in 2006 when he scheduled a game against Georgia Southern. Johnson left for Georgia Tech a year later, and now a pair of his disciples will be on the sideline when the Midshipmen (0-1) face the Eagles (1-0).

After Johnson left, Navy elevated assistant Ken Niumatalolo because of his knowledge of the triple-option offense. Niumatalolo worked with Johnson for 14 years and learned the unique offense from the ground up.

Georgia Southern coach Jeff Monken has similar experience with the triple-option, having served as an assistant under Johnson at Georgia Southern (1997-2001), Navy (2002-07) and Georgia Tech (2008-09). When Georgia Southern officials decided to bring back the triple-option after four years of running a more conventional offense, they hired Monken.

It sets up a rare meeting: Two head coaches who worked together for six years and now lead programs that employ the same unique offense will meet at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium.

“It is a bit ironic,” Niumatalolo said. “This game originally got scheduled for Paul. Coach Johnson wanted to play Georgia Southern.”

Navy has set the standard for how to play option football, stringing together seven consecutive winning seasons capped by bowl berths while leading the nation in rushing five times since 2003. The Midshipmen rolled up 412 yards on the ground in their season-opening loss to Maryland on Monday.

“I love showing our players film of Navy because Navy plays the game the way it’s supposed to be played in terms of speed, toughness and effort,” Monken said. “Kenny was the perfect choice to succeed Paul, and Navy hasn’t missed a beat. They have just kept on chugging along.”

Georgia Southern captured six Division I-AA national championships while employing the triple-option. Johnson led the Eagles to a 62-10 record and two national titles while serving as head coach from 1997-2001 and was offensive coordinator at the school in 1995-96 when it went 26-4 and won consecutive national crowns.

Georgia Southern stopped running the triple-option after Johnson disciple Mike Sewak was fired in 2005. Brian VanGorder replaced Sewak and implemented a pro-style attack while also making some critical comments about the previous regime. That angered Johnson and prompted him to contact Georgia Southern to set up a game.

Monken has been forced to convert players recruited to a spread-style system into the triple-option. His effort included moving wide receivers to slotback and finding five new starting offensive linemen that were athletic enough to execute the blocking schemes that are required for the option attack.

“We are a fledgling offense right now. We are still trying to teach the fundamentals and techniques of the triple-option,” Monken said. “I kind of like that we’re playing Navy because our kids will see firsthand how this offense is supposed to be run.”

Monken is fortunate to have a big-time quarterback with solid experience in the system directing the attack. Junior Jaybo Shaw transferred to Georgia Southern after playing in 13 games for Georgia Tech while serving as backup to Josh Nesbitt.

Shaw looked sharp in directing an efficient attack that piled up 48 points and 540 total yards in the season opener against Savannah State.

Navy quarterback Ricky Dobbs will be looking to bounce back from a poor performance in Monday’s 17-14 loss. Dobbs fumbled four times, losing two fumbles at the Maryland 1-yard line, and averaged only 2.2 yards on 29 rushing attempts.

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