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NORMAN — Growing up in Oklahoma, Navy coach Brian Newberry was a lifelong Sooners fan.
His first-ever college football game he attended was an OU game in 1985 when Barry Switzer patrolled the sideline against Colorado. That Sooners squad ran the triple option and went on to win the national championship.
Newberry’s Midshipmen, which still runs the triple option, will face OU in the Armed Forces Bowl on Dec. 27 in Fort Worth, Texas. Even 1,355 miles away from home, Newberry somewhat follows the program he rooted for as a child.
“I keep up,” Newberry said. “I mean, not extremely closely, but obviously I still root for the Sooners and my parents, my sister and my brother live there in Oklahoma City, so it’s a big Sooner Family. … I keep up with them and follow them, but maybe not as close as if they were a team in our conference or something like that.”
When he was in third grade, Newberry’s family moved from Oklahoma City to the Moore Public Schools district. Newberry played basketball, football and ran track at Westmoore High School.
Newberry played defensive back at Baylor before getting into the coaching profession. Newberry is in his second season as Navy’s coach after serving as the program’s defensive coordinator beginning in 2019.
He still remembers that day in 1985 as a pivotal point in his life.
“That was when I decided I wanted to play college football, going to that first game there,” Newberry said. “I grew up a big-time Sooners fan. It’s great to be playing an historic program like Oklahoma.”
Led by quarterback Blake Horvath and fullback Alex Tecza, the Midshipmen’s offense ranks eighth nationally in rushing offense, averaging 247.4 yards per game. When Navy and OU meet Amon G. Carter Stadium in Fort Worth, the triple option will serve as a unique test for OU’s defense.
First, Navy has to face rival Army…
Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/facing-ou-football-means-navy-113058698.html
Author : The Oklahoman
Publish date : 2024-12-09 11:30:00
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