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An Unforgettable Day

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By JOEY JOHNSTON

jjohnston@tampatrib.com

Published: December 13, 2008

For the 109th time, Army played Navy in one of college football's enduring classic matchups last Saturday afternoon.

For the first time, Army sophomore quarterback Chip Bowden, the former Durant High standout, experienced that atmosphere.

With President Bush looking on, the Black Knights (3-9) broke out the camouflage helmets, pants and uniform numbers.

Although his team wasn't successful - Navy 34, Army 0 - Bowden had an experience he won't forget.

It was typified by the sentiments of Army coach Stan Brock, who was fired Friday: "I played in the Super Bowl, and this Army-Navy game is 10 times bigger than the Super Bowl. At the Super Bowl, you might have 70,000 fans, and most of them don't care who wins the game. But at the Army-Navy game, there are 70,000 people the game means the world to."

Bowden finished as Army's second-leading rusher (572 yards) and together with running back Collin Mooney (1,339), he was part of Army's third-best rushing tandem of all time.

Bowden was the starting quarterback in Army's option offense for the season's last nine games. In his first start, against Texas A&M, Bowden rushed 34 times for 128 yards, becoming the first Army quarterback to rush for 100 yards or more since 1999, when former Armwood player Joey Gerena ran for 122 against Ball State.

FORMER BUCS ASSISTANT HONORED: Ball State University offensive coordinator Stan Parrish, the Bucs' quarterback coach during the franchise's Super Bowl-winning season of 2002, was a finalist for the Broyles Award, which goes to the nation's top assistant coach.

The winner was Oklahoma offensive coordinator Kevin Wilson, whose Sooners became the first team to score 60-plus points in five consecutive games.

Other finalists included Florida defensive coordinator Charlie Strong, Utah defensive coordinator Gary Andersen and Texas Christian defensive coordinator Dick Bumpas.

Parrish oversaw an explosive offense for the Cardinals (12-1), one of the nation's biggest surprise teams. Ball State lost in the Mid-American Conference title game and will now face Tulsa (10-3) in the GMAC Bowl on Jan. 6 at Mobile, Ala.

Cardinals quarterback Nate Davis ranks sixth nationally in passing efficiency and 17th in total offense.

GEORGIA ON THEIR MIND: Warner Robins, Ga., was announced this week as the new site for the Southeast Region Headquarters of Little League Baseball and Softball, replacing Gulfport.

In August, Gulfport hosted its final Southeast Region Tournament, which was won by Citrus Park, to clinch a berth in the Little League World Series at Williamsport, Pa.

Eighteen cities in six states were in the field for consideration. Warner Robins was selected over Morganton, N.C.

While the Warner Robins site is developed, the 2009 Southeast Region Tournament will be played at Ceredo-Kenova, W.Va.

The tournament had been held in Gulfport since 1957. But the property was purchased in March by the Pinellas County School Board, which will use it for the expansion of Boca Ciega High School.

Reporter Joey Johnston can be reached at (813) 259-7353.

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