Navy coach Brian Newberry relishes bowl win vs OU with former Westmoore coaches, teammates

FORT WORTH, Texas — After raising the Armed Forces Bowl trophy, Navy coach Brian Newberry descended from a makeshift stage into a mob of fans waiting to congratulate him on the field. Among them was a rowdy cohort of Westmooreites.

Old teammates and coaches of Newberry’s — Westmoore High School class of 1992 — who greeted him with back-cracking hugs after Navy’s 21-20 win over Newberry’s home-state Sooners.

Thirty-three years after Newberry quarterbacked Westmoore to a runner-up finish in the 1991 Class 5A state championship game, Friday was high time to celebrate a win.

“It was awesome,” Newberry said of the support.

Todd Dilbeck, Westmoore’s offensive line coach when Newberry was there, gathered the group for photos. There was Jeffrey Adams, a former secondary coach at Westmoore. And former teammate Brad Smith, whose son plays for Newberry at Navy.

“We really have a special bond that I don’t think is really common,” Smith said. “It’s been 30 years and we still get together, still talk regularly. To be here on this field celebrating Brian and the Naval Academy’s win over Oklahoma, it’s just an amazing feeling.”

More: OU football suffers ‘humiliating’ Armed Forces Bowl loss to Navy: Social media reacts

From left to right: Former Westmoore secondary coach Jeffrey Adams, Westmoore teammate Brad Smith, Navy coach Brian Newberry and former Westmoore offensive line coach Todd Dilbeck pose for a photo after a 21-20 win against OU in the Armed Forces Bowl on Friday, Dec. 27, 2024, in Fort Worth, Texas.

Said Adams: “Just incredible. So proud of him, so proud of his character and his integrity.”

Added Dilbeck: “What they did today is phenomenal. They played Navy football. They’re a great second-half team and it showed. It was just unbelievable for him and his family.”

Navy, down 14-0…

Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/navy-coach-brian-newberry-relishes-004942288.html

Author : The Oklahoman

Publish date : 2024-12-28 00:49:00

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