2007-08 Bowl Coverage

Davis Sports Deli's

Poinsettia Bowl Preview

By: Joshua Fischman

Poinsettia Bowl Preview

Event: Poinsettia Bowl - San Diego, California

Time: December 20, 2007 at 6:00 P.M. (PST)

Matchup: Utah Utes vs. Navy Midshipmen

Navy Football Notes

The Midshipmen played a very weak schedule, with seven of their eight wins coming against teams that were a combined 20-64 on the season. This lack of experience against quality teams could lead to major embarrassment against a quality Utah football team.

Navy has won its last four games of the regular season, all of them against sub-par opponents. Note to Navy schedulers: fattening up against weak teams is good for team morale and fan happiness, but not good for Bowl preparation!

The Navy team has a new head coach. On December 7th, Navy's coach of six years announced his departure. Assistant coach Ken Niumatolo's promotion to head coach could mean one of two things: (1) Niumatolo will show his inexperience (he has never been a head coach at a college program before), or (2) the long-time Navy assistant will rely on his knowledge of the system and continue right where departed coach Paul Johnson left off...I expect the former.

Navy has led the nation in rushing the last three seasons, as well as four of the past five seasons. Even QB Kaipo-Noa Kaheaku-Enhada runs almost every time he touches the football. Utah knows that Navy will be running, so the question becomes: Will the Utes be able to stop the run at the Poinsettia Bowl?

Navy allows a ton of points. In a November 3rd game against North Texas, the Midshipmen gave up 62 points, yet still managed to win. Navy will likely give up a lot of points to Utah, but will they score enough to win?

Utah Football Notes

Utah has a very stingy defense, allowing the third-least points per game in the nation.

Having won seven of their last eight games, Utah may not remember how to lose.

The Utes have a stud running back in Darrell Mack, who has been outstanding in Utah's two biggest wins with 3 TDs each against UCLA and Louisville. Wins like that show that Utah played tough opponents and fared well against them. The Utes not only earned victories against UCLA and Louisville, they also battled hard against Oregon State and Brigham Young before losing to each.

Junior punter Louie Sakoda has a magic leg. If Utah gets a lead, they don't even have to worry that much about getting first downs. All the Utes have to do is send out Sakoda and the Midshipmen rushing attack will be backed up into its own territory more often than not.

The Utah football program knows how to win in the postseason. The Utes have won their last six Bowl games, giving them the nation's second-longest postseason winning streak.

Did You Know?

Did you know that prior to the season Navy and Poinsettia Bowl officials reached a deal that if Navy won at least six games, then they would be given a bid to the Poinsettia Bowl? Does anyone else find it disturbing that the Midshipmen could have played a weak schedule (which they did) and made this bowl with their eyes closed (which they did)? On the other end of the spectrum, if Navy played a tough schedule and won all of their games, the team would not have been able to play in a BCS bowl.

Did you know that Navy athletics spokesman Scott Strasemeir rejected the Deli's own Paul Topchyan's request for a Navy player interview with a caustic, "We do not do interviews over e-mail and I have never heard of your website"? For our Bowl series alone, the Deli has done many successful interviews. Mr. Strasemeir was the first and only person to respond to our interview requests so harshly.

Did you know that 80 percent of all flowering poinsettias in the world are grown in greenhouses in the city of Encinitas, which is just north of San Diego, where the Poinsettia Bowl is played?

Prediction and Analysis

Utah will defeat Navy and the game may not even be close. I predict a final score of 34-20. Darrell Mack will find the end zone at least twice for the Utes. And Utah's defense will be at its best in shutting down the vaunted Navy rushing attack.

Check back with the Deli later this week for more Deli Bowl coverage and analysis.

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Davis Sports Deli's Poinsettia Bowl Preview By: Joshua Fischman Poinsettia Bowl Preview Event: Poinsettia Bowl - San Diego, California Time: December 20, 2007 at 6:00 P.M. (PST) Matchup: Utah Utes vs. Navy Midshipmen Navy Football Notes The Midshipmen played a very weak schedule, with seven of their eight wins coming against teams that were a combined 20-64 on the season. This lack of experience against quality teams could lead to major embarrassment against a quality Utah football team. Navy has won its last four games of the regular season, all of them against sub-par opponents. Note to Navy schedulers: fattening up against weak teams is good for team morale and fan happiness, but not good for Bowl preparation! The Navy team has a new head coach. On December 7th, Navy's coach of six years announced his departure. Assistant coach Ken Niumatolo's promotion to head coach could mean one of two things: (1) Niumatolo will show his inexperience (he has never been a head coach at a college program before), or (2) the long-time Navy assistant will rely on his knowledge of the system and continue right where departed coach Paul Johnson left off...I expect the former. Navy has led the nation in rushing the last three seasons, as well as four of the past five seasons. Even QB Kaipo-Noa Kaheaku-Enhada runs almost every time he touches the football. Utah knows that Navy will be running, so the question becomes: Will the Utes be able to stop the run at the Poinsettia Bowl? Navy allows a ton of points. In a November 3rd game against North Texas, the Midshipmen gave up 62 points, yet still managed to win. Navy will likely give up a lot of points to Utah, but will they score enough to win? Utah Football Notes Utah has a very stingy defense, allowing the third-least points per game in the nation. Having won seven of their last eight games, Utah may not remember how to lose. The Utes have a stud running back in Darrell Mack, who has been outstanding in Utah's two biggest wins with 3 TDs each against UCLA and Louisville. Wins like that show that Utah played tough opponents and fared well against them. The Utes not only earned victories against UCLA and Louisville, they also battled hard against Oregon State and Brigham Young before losing to each. Junior punter Louie Sakoda has a magic leg. If Utah gets a lead, they don't even have to worry that much about getting first downs. All the Utes have to do is send out Sakoda and the Midshipmen rushing attack will be backed up into its own territory more often than not. The Utah football program knows how to win in the postseason. The Utes have won their last six Bowl games, giving them the nation's second-longest postseason winning streak. Did You Know? Did you know that prior to the season Navy and Poinsettia Bowl officials reached a deal that if Navy won at least six games, then they would be given a bid to the Poinsettia Bowl? Does anyone else find it disturbing that the Midshipmen could have played a weak schedule (which they did) and made this bowl with their eyes closed (which they did)? On the other end of the spectrum, if Navy played a tough schedule and won all of their games, the team would not have been able to play in a BCS bowl. Did you know that Navy athletics spokesman Scott Strasemeir rejected the Deli's own Paul Topchyan's request for a Navy player interview with a caustic, "We do not do interviews over e-mail and I have never heard of your website"? For our Bowl series alone, the Deli has done many successful interviews. Mr. Strasemeir was the first and only person to respond to our interview requests so harshly. Did you know that 80 percent of all flowering poinsettias in the world are grown in greenhouses in the city of Encinitas, which is just north of San Diego, where the Poinsettia Bowl is played? Prediction and Analysis Utah will defeat Navy and the game may not even be close. I predict a final score of 34-20. Darrell Mack will find the end zone at least twice for the Utes. And Utah's defense will be at its best in shutting down the vaunted Navy rushing attack. Check back with the Deli later this week for more Deli Bowl coverage and analysis.