As an away fan and DC Metro local, I have to say that Navy is a first class away day. I am also willing to give tips from when I went.

ECU flat out has to look like they are at least competently coached and have a real game plan against the option. Really every time we have played Navy aside from the one time in the Skip Holtz era we literally have looked like we never saw the option before. In the 5 games against Navy since 2010 ECU has given up an average of over 55 points per game. This is nothing personal to Navy as they've been a great program throughout that time, but that's nothing short of incompetence.

Should be an interesting match-up. Can't tell much at this point for either program except ECU is probably going to struggle on offense in AAC play. Defensively we look much better, the NCSU was not indicative of how they played as they held NCSU to 4/12 on 3rd downs. That game rested solely on the shoulders of our offense. Special teams has looked fantastic both games and we'll need another big day from John Young and Tyler Snead.

I think they key is obviously jumping out on them but I just do not believe our offense is capable of that at this time, not unless we see a great improvement in the passing game this week. Defense will need to get some strips or force them into 3rd & long to try to pick a pass or two.

Oh... that time Dominique Davis went off and ECU beat Navy.




Dominique Davis Passing:
40/45 for 372 yards, 2 TD's, 0 INT.. that included going 26 for 26 in the 1st half.

(09-11-2019 05:52 AM)slhNavy91 Wrote:  

(09-11-2019 05:42 AM)chess Wrote:  I am excited because I am attending this game. I have a conference next week and scheduled a trip to Annapolis on the way. I hope ECU has a great game.

It seems like it's been a little while since I've run down my tips on how to enjoy gameday/weekend in Naptown...do you have ypur plans set?

I'd be interested in that. We're not going to make it to the game this weekend, but will be in Annapolis for a long weekend in October.

The most blackout drunk I've ever been in my entire life was at an ECU/Navy game in Annapolis. Thankfully, Navy folks are wonderful people... not only did they NOT throw me in jail, they also helped me find my ride after the game. (Or so I'm told.) I do remember one Navy fan offered me an entire family-size bag of pretzels after the game to help me out.

I was pretty embarrassed the next day... but at the time, I didn't have much experience with liquor (mainly a beer drinker). I've grown up since then.

(09-11-2019 12:00 PM)CoastalJuan Wrote:  

(09-11-2019 05:52 AM)slhNavy91 Wrote:  

(09-11-2019 05:42 AM)chess Wrote:  I am excited because I am attending this game. I have a conference next week and scheduled a trip to Annapolis on the way. I hope ECU has a great game.

It seems like it's been a little while since I've run down my tips on how to enjoy gameday/weekend in Naptown...do you have ypur plans set?

I'd be interested in that. We're not going to make it to the game this weekend, but will be in Annapolis for a long weekend in October.

Glad someone asked - would have felt a little pathetic just putting it out unasked.

Touring USNA - "The Yard"
You can't drive on without a military I.D. (active or retired). Pedestrians can enter at Gate 1, two blocks away from the heart of Downtown Annapolis. Must have a photo i.d. - and some states have recently had issues with getting driver's licenses especially older ones up to the DHS Real ID standards required. Passport always works. There is also a metal detector check - think airport TSA standards.
Once you walk on, the visitor center is to your right. Some good displays maybe not museum quality, and also gift shop.
You can get paid guided tours, or just walk on your own with this to guide you.
At the visitor center, you can see Ricketts Hall - the football offices and ticket office are there and the construction to the water side is the new football weight room and the "Physical Mission Center" evidence of Navy's investment in facilities to keep up with our P6 brethren.
Back to the pedestrian entrance / Gate 1 you can see a statue of Bill the Goat across the street. Back in the day, plebes had to brasso his balls so they shined, but the institution has gotten soft lately. Right behind him is a statue of General LeJeune.
From there, visually guide yourself to the chapel dome - you'll walk up Porter Rd, past "Captains' Row" and turn right to go by Buchanan House, the residence of the Superintendent. (There is a little cafe "DryDock" in Dahlgren Hall to your right) Instead of going on to the Chapel continue straight up the brick walkway to get to "Tecumseh Court." The figurehead of the USS Delaware looks across the Court to the main entrance of Bancroft Hall - the single dorm (okay, there are eight wings) that houses all 4,200 midshipmen.
If you are in town early enough on Friday, start your weekend on the Yard to see the noon meal formation in T-Court.
Go across T-Court and enter the Rotunda of Bancroft Hall. To your right is a public access area which has a sample midshipmen room and other displays. Straight ahead in the Rotunda, you see stairs leading up to Memorial Hall, identifiable from the doors by the "Don't Give Up the Ship" flag which Oliver Hazard Perry flew to honor the dying words of CDR Lawrence in the War of 1812...actually that's a replica, but the original is a few hundred yards away in the Museum. Memorial Hall honors all those graduates who gave their lives on duty. The full list, class plaques. Please visit it. Also a great place for ceremonial occasions like retirements, promotions, re-enlistments.
Departing the Rotunda, going past Tecumseh down Stribling Walk there are a few monuments of interest, and you can see the academic buildings on your right. At the end of Stribling Walk, the Naval Academy Museum in Preble Hall is caddy-corner from you. Good museum for the general public, GREAT museum if you have any interest in ship models etc.
The chapel is a must see. If you are a churchgoer, consider planning your Academy tour part of your weekend for Sunday and attend service there. John Paul Jones' crypt is in the basement. Guided tours will walk you there, it should be open business hours...on a Sunday, when we went to chapel with small children, the "children's church" was down there.
Speaking of dead people, I would also recommend the Academy Cemetery if you have the time. It is a little hike from Preble Hall / the end of Stribling Walk - past the parade field, across the creek, and on your right. Senator McCain, Admirals like Arleigh Burke (the epitaph on his headstone says "Sailor" his wife is buried next to him with the epitaph "Sailor's Wife), a monument to a tragic Arctic expedition identifiable by the icicles on the cross, LCDR Erik Kristenson class of '94 who was played by Eric Bana in the "Lone Survivor" movie.
In addition to noon meal formation on Friday, Friday afternoons often have a formal parade.

Gameday Environment
On-site Gameday parking is not available. If you score a parking pass from a season ticket holder, you are a big winner, congratulations.
If you want to park and tailgate on the periphery, your two options are the Germantown Elementary School and the Lutheran Church. I know at the church, they'll ask if you are tailgating or not, and either park you in tight or give you a little room for setup.
Other parking is available in neighborhoods.
Tailgating in the lots is actually pretty hospitable to visitors. Around the perimeter of the stadium are reserved spots used by classes or state parents' associations. Find a connection, and introduce yourself.
If you see the Class of __ that is your graduating year from the opposing school, I recommend you walk right up.
Flags are flying everywhere, so ECU fans might see a NC state flag flying. For an ECU or Temple, I bet you can find sympathetic fans on either the Gold / Visitors side (closer to Rowe Blvd / Rte 70) or on the Blue side. Here's the thing - vast majority of tailgaters aren't diehard Navy football fans, they are Navy Gameday fans. Having you as a guest once you find a connection will enhance the gameday experience on both sides.
The midshipmen march on about 3:15 - I recommend being in your seats for that if you haven't seen it. (However, depending on where you are tailgating, you can watch their approach up Taylor Avenue, then go in for maybe the last few of 30 companies being announced.) March-on is followed pretty quickly by national anthem and flyover.
If you have time in the stadium, walk around the concourse - it truly is a memorial with class arches, plaques all over etc. That's in addition to the battle names ringing the stands - I think Lou Holtz's comment is just shtick that one of his WVU players said "man, look at their schedule!"
In stadium concessions - I think limited locations but if you see Bo Brooks get the crab pretzel. Otherwise...I can't think of any must-haves.
You can leave at halftime and return after, as long as you get your ticket scanned.
Post game tailgating wraps up pretty quickly. A few state parent associations feed the mids, but in general the 'gating is a noon to kickoff then halftime thing.

Annapolis bars and restaurants
Downtown Annapolis is a nice, scenic, historic area of just a few blocks with plenty of watering holes. Friday night pub crawl? Check.You can do it Saturday night also, but nowhere downtown is truly a sports bar if you want to watch the later games.
In the City Dock / Market Square area, McGarvey's is THE quintessential Annapolis pub. Right next door, Middleton's Tavern is truly a George Washington drank here place and has an outdoor seating area. Dock Street is a little more "club" atmosphere. Pusser's across the city dock area has a bigger dockside area right by Ego Alley where the big boats pull up. Federal House I still call "used to be Griffin's / Riordan's" but does have Riordan's crab dip recipe, so... Go up Main Street for O'Brien's or Acme (which goes for the dive bar feel).
Good restaurants, I actually recommend going across Spa Creek to Eastport. My #1 recommendation is always Carrol's Creek. The Creek has the best wine list in town, imho, and while it is fine dining, there is a deck looking back across the creek to DTA and you can get bar food in the lounge, so it's not snooty. (Disclaimer - a friend of mine is the owner, so I want you to spend money there so I can take it away at poker or golf.) Otherwise, Eastport has the local Lewnes' Steakhouse right beside Ruth's Chris. The Dockyard is where Jimmy Buffett hangs out when he's in town, but the true sailors' bar is Davis' Pub a couple blocks away.
Best breakfasts are back at city dock/ Main Street: Iron Rooster or Chick and Ruth's Delly. Both are good for lunch too, or Chick and Ruth's for late night food on top of your drinking.
For Maryland steamed crabs, Buddy's Crabs and Ribs on Main Street is adequate, but if you have a car and the time and good navigational skills, Cantler's will give you the true experience.

Washington or Baltimore
My recommendation is that you spend the whole weekend in Annapolis.
Baltimore might make sense if you're going for a sports nirvana weekend and taking in the Orioles or Ravens. If you stay in Baltimore, don't go all the way down I-97 and then back east on Rte 50 towards Annapolis - you're buying yourself traffic trouble. Come down Rte 2, go 50 west across the Severn, and then take Rowe Blvd / 70 in to the stadium - any delays coming down 2 will be made up in avoiding the 50 east to the stadium backups.
Washington DC is great, but give yourself enough time to get into the stadium area - much more backup coming from eastbound 50 exiting for stadium/downtown.

I think this one is going to be an all out war that may come down to a single possession.

Mike Houston stated during this weeks presser “If you can ever get them behind the chains and get them off schedule. When we used to run it, if we were second-and-six or second-and-four, you were in trouble. Because then we can get to third-and-two and then it’s first down. As long as you can stay on schedule, it’s almost unstoppable. But if you can ever get them to second-and-10, third-and-nine, those situations they’re not quite as effective. So being successful on those early downs and getting them behind the chains, if you can ever do that, you can give them some problems.”

I don’t think this is going to be a lopsided affair on either side. It’s going to be hard-nosed and physical from the first snap to the end. The Pirates will be prepared to play them. They will just need to effectively execute what they are taught. I feel good about this one. In the past, I always dreaded Navy. This year I think we’ll compete with them to the end.

(09-11-2019 12:03 PM)ECUGrad07 Wrote:  The most blackout drunk I've ever been in my entire life was at an ECU/Navy game in Annapolis. Thankfully, Navy folks are wonderful people... not only did they NOT throw me in jail, they also helped me find my ride after the game. (Or so I'm told.) I do remember one Navy fan offered me an entire family-size bag of pretzels after the game to help me out.

I was pretty embarrassed the next day... but at the time, I didn't have much experience with liquor (mainly a beer drinker). I've grown up since then.

Barely...

(09-11-2019 10:51 PM)NoQuarterBrigade Wrote:  I think this one is going to be an all out war that may come down to a single possession.

Mike Houston stated during this weeks presser “If you can ever get them behind the chains and get them off schedule. When we used to run it, if we were second-and-six or second-and-four, you were in trouble. Because then we can get to third-and-two and then it’s first down. As long as you can stay on schedule, it’s almost unstoppable. But if you can ever get them to second-and-10, third-and-nine, those situations they’re not quite as effective. So being successful on those early downs and getting them behind the chains, if you can ever do that, you can give them some problems.”

I don’t think this is going to be a lopsided affair on either side. It’s going to be hard-nosed and physical from the first snap to the end. The Pirates will be prepared to play them. They will just need to effectively execute what they are taught. I feel good about this one. In the past, I always dreaded Navy. This year I think we’ll compete with them to the end.

I do think the defense will be respectable. Houston knows the system. He's been preaching assignments, and has been drilling with no football this week to keep everyone on their job.

I don't, however, think we have the offensive consistency yet to keep our defense off the field. My guess is that Navy pulls away after halftime and we lose by 20ish.

(09-12-2019 09:55 AM)CoastalJuan Wrote:  

(09-11-2019 12:03 PM)ECUGrad07 Wrote:  The most blackout drunk I've ever been in my entire life was at an ECU/Navy game in Annapolis. Thankfully, Navy folks are wonderful people... not only did they NOT throw me in jail, they also helped me find my ride after the game. (Or so I'm told.) I do remember one Navy fan offered me an entire family-size bag of pretzels after the game to help me out.

I was pretty embarrassed the next day... but at the time, I didn't have much experience with liquor (mainly a beer drinker). I've grown up since then.

Barely...

Haha... I'd say getting married, buying a house, and having 2 kids since then has accelerated the process.

So this still a good game week thread. I could post the ***Official*** game thread, but not yet. I'm pretty sure I will before the ***Official*** window opens for the visiting team fans

Oh - I forgot to mention - CLEAR BAG POLICY is in effect this year.

Especially with most visitors parking offsite, I would hate for someone to carry a purse and have to figure out how to handle the discovery of clear bag policy at the gate.

https://navysports.com/sports/2019/7/24/...-html.aspx

(09-11-2019 05:52 AM)slhNavy91 Wrote:  

(09-11-2019 05:42 AM)chess Wrote:  I am excited because I am attending this game. I have a conference next week and scheduled a trip to Annapolis on the way. I hope ECU has a great game.

It seems like it's been a little while since I've run down my tips on how to enjoy gameday/weekend in Naptown...do you have ypur plans set?

I am sorry for the delay. The Navy game, with the exception of ECU's performance, was so much fun! Navy has a special mission. My conversations with the alumni and spouses during the game was fun. -Lots of tradition and reminders that these young people are our future leaders. I had a great time and ate some crab cakes.

(09-29-2019 06:21 PM)chess Wrote:  

(09-11-2019 05:52 AM)slhNavy91 Wrote:  

(09-11-2019 05:42 AM)chess Wrote:  I am excited because I am attending this game. I have a conference next week and scheduled a trip to Annapolis on the way. I hope ECU has a great game.

It seems like it's been a little while since I've run down my tips on how to enjoy gameday/weekend in Naptown...do you have ypur plans set?

I am sorry for the delay. The Navy game, with the exception of ECU's performance, was so much fun! Navy has a special mission. My conversations with the alumni and spouses during the game was fun. -Lots of tradition and reminders that these young people are our future leaders. I had a great time and ate some crab cakes.

Cool!
Glad that the tailgating was hospitable. I like to think we are.
Did you do anything downtown, or get onto the Yard?

(09-29-2019 07:57 PM)slhNavy91 Wrote:  

(09-29-2019 06:21 PM)chess Wrote:  

(09-11-2019 05:52 AM)slhNavy91 Wrote:  

(09-11-2019 05:42 AM)chess Wrote:  I am excited because I am attending this game. I have a conference next week and scheduled a trip to Annapolis on the way. I hope ECU has a great game.

It seems like it's been a little while since I've run down my tips on how to enjoy gameday/weekend in Naptown...do you have ypur plans set?

I am sorry for the delay. The Navy game, with the exception of ECU's performance, was so much fun! Navy has a special mission. My conversations with the alumni and spouses during the game was fun. -Lots of tradition and reminders that these young people are our future leaders. I had a great time and ate some crab cakes.

Cool!
Glad that the tailgating was hospitable. I like to think we are.
Did you do anything downtown, or get onto the Yard?

I met some friends downtown at the restaurant area. I had an early meeting in Richmond on Sunday morning, so I had an early evening in Annapolis.