Bill Wagner Profile
Bill Wagner

@BWagner_CapGaz

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357
Following
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25,212
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I cover Navy sports for Capital Gazette Communications

Joined October 2012
Don't wanna be here? Send us removal request.
@BWagner_CapGaz
Bill Wagner
6 years
To all my Twitter follows. I am okay. Thank God I was not at the office when this horrible incident occurred. However, many of my colleagues and friends are not okay and that is solely where my thoughts are right now. Please do not attempt to contact me via text or phone call.
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Bill Wagner
3 years
On Memorial Day, we remember former @NavyRifle captain Joshua Kaleb Watson, whose heroic actions saved countless lives during a terrorist attack at Naval Air Station Pensacola in December 2019.
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Bill Wagner
4 years
The Miami Dolphins have confirmed that Naval Academy graduate Malcolm Perry has made the initial 53-man roster.
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Bill Wagner
3 years
The Capital has heard from several sources that @espn will bring its popular College GameDay show to Annapolis for the Navy-Air Force showdown, which is being played on the 20th anniversary of 9/11.
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Bill Wagner
1 year
Xavier Arline will juggle two sports during the spring semester, playing attack for @NavyMLax while also participating fully in @NavyFB activities as the starting quarterback and soon-to-be senior leader.
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Bill Wagner
6 years
Statement from Coach Niumatalolo: "After much prayer and pondering it has become crystal clear that USNA is a special place with special people and I love it here. Plus, I have unfinished business!"
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Bill Wagner
4 years
Breaking news: Defensive coordinator Brian Newberry has decided to remain at Navy, turning down an offer from Mississippi State.
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Bill Wagner
4 years
Sadly, during my 30-year career as a sportswriter, I've had to write about athletes that died way too young. This may have been the toughest one yet due to my personal connection to the Forney family. May God bless them and strengthen them.
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Bill Wagner
4 years
Former Navy football standout Malcolm Perry has been approved to pursue pro football and signs his rookie deal.
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Bill Wagner
6 years
Exciting news!! The Seattle Seahawks have promoted Keenan Reynolds to the active roster to replace injured slot receiver Doug Baldwin
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Bill Wagner
3 years
No. 68 will once again be playing left guard for @NavyFB Saturday against archrival @ArmyWP_Football . Billy Honaker will honor fellow offensive lineman David Forney by wearing his jersey number in the Army-Navy game.
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Bill Wagner
1 year
Navy scoreboard operator Dave Hoffman, a "true American hero," has never missed a game. March 28 marks the 50th anniversary of Hoffman's release as a Prisoner of War in Vietnam.
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Bill Wagner
1 year
"I wasn't ready to be over." Ken Niumatalolo tells The Capital he was hoping to have the opportunity to turn around the @NavyFB program. Niumatalolo also reflected on his coaching career and 25 years with @NavyAthletics
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Bill Wagner
5 years
The Capital has learned that former Navy baseball pitcher Noah Song has officially signed with the Red Sox and has been assigned to the Lowell Spinners of the short season New York-Penn League. In fact, we are told Song will suit up for the Spinners for tonight's game.
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Bill Wagner
4 years
Biggest comeback in Navy football history, according to the ABC broadcasters.
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Bill Wagner
4 years
Cameron Kinley is looking to change the stereotype of a Navy football player. The senior starting cornerback is president of the Class of 2021.
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Bill Wagner
4 years
T.J. Salu's story is one of perseverance. A pectoral injury that required nine surgeries and a Lisfranc injury that was seemingly the final straw could not keep Salu from playing football for Navy as a senior.
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Bill Wagner
2 months
P.J. Volker turns down job offer from the Los Angeles Chargers to remain defensive coordinator for @NavyFB . "I feel like we have a lot of unfinished business here," Volker said. @chargers
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Bill Wagner
4 years
This story hit home for me. I have known Rick Forney a long time. I wrote many stories about Rick when he was a minor league pitcher in the Orioles organization. Rick and I were both thrilled that his son became an outstanding football player for Navy.
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Bill Wagner
2 years
No. 13 jersey in honor of fallen former ⁦ @NavyFB ⁩ player Brian Bourgeois is positioned behind the Navy bench.
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Bill Wagner
3 years
John Kelly III, @NavyFB linebacker and son of 34-year New York City firefighter, honored to be playing @AF_Football on 20th anniversary of 9/11. Kelly was inspired to serve by his father, who responded to World Trade Center on 9/11.
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Bill Wagner
4 months
BREAKING NEWS; Former Navy football player Jacob Busic transferring to UCLA, where he will reunite with former @NavyFB head coach Ken Niumatalolo.
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Bill Wagner
1 year
Navy’s performance the last three games against heavyweight opponents should be applauded.
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@BWagner_CapGaz
Bill Wagner
3 years
Broadneck High graduate Emmett Davis worked his way off the scout team and onto the depth chart for @NavyFB . He made it through the academy the hard way and will become a Navy pilot after graduation.
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Bill Wagner
1 year
My thoughts on the firing of @NavyFB head coach Ken Niumatalolo and some reflections on his 15-year tenure. It was a sad, disappointing end to a great career that is worthy of the College Football Hall of Fame.
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Bill Wagner
4 years
Navy Football Players Council for Racial Equality has already started attacking a wide-ranging agenda. Assistant Robert Green, a retired lieutenant colonel in the Marine Corps, is leading the council.
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Bill Wagner
4 months
I have now confirmed through my own sources that Ken Niumatalolo will be hired as San Jose State head coach.
@BWagner_CapGaz
Bill Wagner
4 months
San Jose State is reportedly set to hire former @NavyFB coach Ken Niumatalolo. Multiple media outlets have reported that a deal is imminent for Niumatalolo to become head coach of the Spartans.
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Bill Wagner
9 months
Excited to announce that Pete Medhurst and I have started a new podcast covering Naval Academy athletics and the physical mission. Listen each week to the Anchors Aweigh podcast wherever you find your podcasts.
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Bill Wagner
4 years
This photo says it all about the Navy Football Brotherhood. First fourth quarter workout and the team takes a knee to say a prayer for the soul of David Forney.
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Bill Wagner
2 years
Wow! Former @NavyFB defensive end Paul Quessenberry has been promoted from the practice squad to active roster of @HoustonTexans .
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@BWagner_CapGaz
Bill Wagner
7 years
Former Navy standout Keenan Reynolds signs with Redskins.
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Bill Wagner
2 years
BREAKING: Former @NavyFB player Brian Bourgeois killed in Navy SEAL training accident out of Virginia Beach. Bourgeois, a 2001 Naval Academy graduate, will be honored during Saturday's Army-Navy game.
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@BWagner_CapGaz
Bill Wagner
4 years
Inside linebacker Diego Fagot was named Navy Defensive MVP.
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@BWagner_CapGaz
Bill Wagner
4 years
Evan Fochtman, a Crownsville resident and Archbishop Spalding product, has announced his retirement from @NavyFB team. Fochtman started 16 straight games at free safety.
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@BWagner_CapGaz
Bill Wagner
7 years
Sources tell The Capital that Navy graduate Keenan Reynolds had a great workout with the Washington Redskins and might soon be signed to the team's practice squad.
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@BWagner_CapGaz
Bill Wagner
4 years
Coach Ken Niumatalolo announced Wednesday that @NavyFB will begin full-contact practices in the wake of Monday night's blowout loss to BYU. "Touch football is over," Niumatalolo declared.
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Bill Wagner
1 year
Biggest win of the season for @NavyFB , taking down the first place team in the @American_FB
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@BWagner_CapGaz
Bill Wagner
4 years
Sure enough, Bijan Nichols comes through with a career-long 50-yard field goal for Navy, which now leads 31-23. @NavyFB
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Bill Wagner
3 years
Cannot even describe how huge this victory is for @NavyFB . Beating a solid @TulsaFootball team on its home field is so meaningful.
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@BWagner_CapGaz
Bill Wagner
4 years
Ken Niumatalolo, head coach of @NavyFB , recently convened a team meeting to discuss the current climate in the country and race relations. Niumatalolo called it "one of the best team meetings I’ve ever been involved with during my 31 years of coaching."
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@BWagner_CapGaz
Bill Wagner
6 years
Navy fans will not want to miss the premiere of a documentary film about the life of Brendan Looney, the former Navy lacrosse player and Navy SEAL who died in the line of duty while on a mission to Afghanistan.
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@BWagner_CapGaz
Bill Wagner
5 years
Ace starting pitcher Noah Song has made Navy baseball history, becoming the first player ever named first team All-American.
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@BWagner_CapGaz
Bill Wagner
5 years
Navy senior slotback Travis Brannan boasts a 4.0 cumulative grade point average and is a semifinalist for the William V. Campbell Trophy that is awarded to the absolute best scholar-athlete in college football.
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@BWagner_CapGaz
Bill Wagner
2 years
Steve Hinrichs spent 12 years working for @NavyAthletics . He's now head equipment manager for @ECUPiratesFB and will return to Annapolis for the @MilitaryBowl . East Carolina meets Boston College on Monday at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium.
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Bill Wagner
4 years
Former Navy football star Malcolm Perry revealed this week that he contracted and recovered from coronavirus. Perry, now a running back with the Miami Dolphins, donated blood plasma this week as part of a team initiative.
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Bill Wagner
4 years
Got a give a shout out to defensive coordinator Brian Newberry and his unit. Navy defense pitches a shutout in the second half.
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@BWagner_CapGaz
Bill Wagner
2 years
Former @NavyBaseball pitcher Noah Song has completed flight school and earned his wings of gold. Song has now submitted a waiver request seeking to convert his service time to reserves so he can resume his career with the @RedSox
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@BWagner_CapGaz
Bill Wagner
5 years
Attendance is 37,957 - fourth-largest crowd in Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium history. @NavyFB
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@BWagner_CapGaz
Bill Wagner
3 years
Will Harbour is determined to succeed Diego Fagot as the starting MIKE linebacker for @NavyFB . The plebe from Texas made a major impression during spring camp and earned the Admiral Mack Award as Navy's most improved player.
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@BWagner_CapGaz
Bill Wagner
4 years
On a Zoom press conference with @NAVYCoachKen of @NavyFB and he received a text while answering a question that he had become a grandfather again!! Daughter Alexcia Niumatalolo just had her second child.
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@BWagner_CapGaz
Bill Wagner
4 years
My byline brought almost 30,000 page views to the Capital Gazette website last week. I'd like to think I'm helping keep the paper alive. No matter. The Tribune Company could care less about my content production, which is why I am on unpaid furlough AGAIN this week.
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Bill Wagner
4 years
Even as recently as a few weeks ago, no one was certain the college football season would start. It gets real starting Monday night as Navy hosts BYU in the marquee matchup of the weekend, which will be nationally televised by ESPN.
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Bill Wagner
4 years
I have learned from a source not affiliated with the Naval Academy athletic department that this year's Army-Navy football game will not be played in Philadelphia. According to the source, the 121st Army-Navy game will be held at Michie Stadium in West Point. @NavyFB
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Bill Wagner
3 years
Class act on the part of @NavyAthletics to leave an open seat in the press box in memory of Bob Hough, who covered many @NavyFB games here.
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@BWagner_CapGaz
Bill Wagner
6 years
Jarren Jasper recovering nicely two days after heart transplant, family reports.
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@BWagner_CapGaz
Bill Wagner
7 years
Congratulations to Navy's Ken Niumatalolo for being named AFCA Region 1 Coach of the Year.
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Bill Wagner
5 years
Respect! First-year head coach Joe Amplo gets it!!!
@mattkinnear
Matt Kinnear
5 years
Tomorrow marks nine years since @navymlax Lt Brendan Looney was killed in action in Afghanistan. The team closed practice tonight with 40 pushups in his honor
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Bill Wagner
4 years
Naval Academy pays tribute to fallen football player during commissioning ceremonies.
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Bill Wagner
4 years
Navy is No. 23 in the final College Football Playoff rankings.
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Bill Wagner
3 years
Starting center @piercebanbury will wear No. 68 in honor of fallen former teammate David Forney. @NavyFB put 68 back in rotation after not issuing that jersey number last season out of respect for Forney, who died of sudden cardiac arrest in February 2020.
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Bill Wagner
5 months
Navy football suffers a significant loss as longtime assistant Ashley Ingram departs to become head coach at Division II Carson-Newman. Ingram spent 16 years on the @NavyFB staff.
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Bill Wagner
2 years
Baltimore Ravens linebacker Diego Fagot and New York Red Bulls center back Matt Nocita head a list of four Naval Academy athletes who have been approved to pursue professional sports by the Department of Defense. @Ravens at @iNYredbullsfc @NavyAthletics
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Bill Wagner
2 months
Severna Park High product Jackson Merrill is set to make history with the San Diego @Padres of Major League Baseball. Merrill will become just the third @MLB player in the past 50 years to start in center field on Opening Day before turning 21.
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@BWagner_CapGaz
Bill Wagner
4 years
Va'a Niumatalolo has returned home as assistant director of football operations for the program directed by his father.
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@BWagner_CapGaz
Bill Wagner
5 years
I often get in trouble for acting like a write for a magazine instead of a newspaper with tight space restrictions. However, I'm not apologizing about the length of this feature story about two great young men and future officers.
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Bill Wagner
4 years
It is with a heavy heart I post about the sudden, very unexpected passing of former @capgaznews high school sports editor Bob Hough. I hired Bob to cover prep sports back in 1996 and worked together until he left the business at the start of this year.
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Bill Wagner
3 years
They say @NFL means Not For Long, but that term applied positively to former @NavyFB star Malcolm Perry, who wasn't out of work long after being waived by the @MiamiDolphins . Perry was picked up by the @Patriots on Wednesday.
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@BWagner_CapGaz
Bill Wagner
6 years
Finally got my hands on the Stanley Cup!! It felt wonderful!!!!
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@BWagner_CapGaz
Bill Wagner
4 months
If you review the Army and Air Force rosters it is very clear and obvious which players were fifth-year seniors or fourth-year juniors in 2023. Apparently, I am supposed to contact Army and Air Force sports information to confirm that their roster bios are accurate.
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Bill Wagner
2 years
COMMENTARY: The @NavyFB offense was clicking on all cylinders for the first time since 2019 and it was a sight for sore eyes. Triple-option football was back in Annapolis and it was beautiful to watch.
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Bill Wagner
3 years
"Such a huge smile." Former @NavyFB player and Naval Academy midshipmen Myles James remembered for ebullient personality.
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@BWagner_CapGaz
Bill Wagner
3 years
Former @NavyFB player John Vereen, who is a @SevernSchool graduate, almost lost his home in Fultondale, Alabama, to a powerful tornado Monday night. The Navy Football Brotherhood immediately sprung into action to help Vereen.
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@BWagner_CapGaz
Bill Wagner
3 years
Spencer Rees waited eight years to become a starting goalie. The Boys' Latin product is making the most of his lone opportunity as a senior for @navymlax , ranking third nationally in goals-against average and save percentage.
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Bill Wagner
4 years
Dalen Morris never considered leaving the Navy football program despite being buried on the depth chart. Morris simply worked hard, believing all along he could eventually earn the starting job.
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Bill Wagner
2 years
Model Midshipman: @NavyBasketball senior John Carter Jr. "does whatever he’s supposed to do academically, militarily and athletically," coach Ed DeChellis said. Carter is a four-year starter and recently surpassed 1,000 career points.
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Bill Wagner
4 years
I am very fortunate to have worked in the newspaper business during a time when I could log 30 years. I hope and pray things turnaround so the many talented young journalists that I currently work with have a chance to reach three decades if they want.
@ChesapeakeGuild
Chesapeake News Guild
4 years
We know we’re usually pretty gloomy on this here page. But today, we are a Bill Wagner stan account. @BWagner_CapGaz celebrates 30 years with the @capgaznews today. We would not be a paper without him.
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Bill Wagner
4 months
Newly-hired San Jose State coach Ken Niumatalolo tapping into @NavyFB connections in assembling his staff. Slotbacks coach Marcus Thomas has left Navy to become running backs coach for @SanJoseStateFB
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@BWagner_CapGaz
Bill Wagner
4 years
Navy athletics officially announced Malcolm Perry has received an invitation to the NFL Combine. The Capital reported a few weeks ago that was a possibility. We will be talking to Perry tomorrow morning about this tremendous honor. Look for a story in the Thursday edition.
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@BWagner_CapGaz
Bill Wagner
7 months
Legendary quarterback Roger Staubach will have his No. 12 placed on the field at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium. @NavyAthletics will pay tribute to the 1963 Heisman Trophy winner during the Oct. 21 service academy showdown against Air Force.
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Bill Wagner
1 year
Noah Song has been granted early release from active duty and will immediately report to spring training with the Philadelphia Phillies. The former @NavyBaseball pitcher hopes to regain the form that made him a two-time @PatriotLeague Pitcher of the Year.
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@BWagner_CapGaz
Bill Wagner
2 years
The Capital has learned that Navy placekicker and senior captain Bijan Nichols will make his season debut tomorrow against Notre Dame.
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@BWagner_CapGaz
Bill Wagner
4 years
It went down to the wire, but Navy standout Malcolm Perry has been drafted by the Miami Dolphins in the seventh round.
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@BWagner_CapGaz
Bill Wagner
3 years
In Monday online press conference, @NAVYCoachKen just announced that Ivin Jasper has been reinstated to the @NavyFB coaching staff. Jasper will no longer be the offensive coordinator. He will only coach quarterbacks.
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Bill Wagner
4 years
Meet new Navy football assistant James Adams, who has replaced Brian Norwood as cornerbacks coach.
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@BWagner_CapGaz
Bill Wagner
4 years
You have to root for Dalen Morris the rest of this season. After being benched in the wake of a shaky outing in the opener, the senior regained the starting QB job for @NavyFB in grand style by leading an historic come-from-behind victory over Tulane.
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@BWagner_CapGaz
Bill Wagner
3 years
Ivin Jasper returns to work, vows to move forward and not dwell on the past. Jasper is now strictly the quarterbacks coach for @NavyFB .
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@BWagner_CapGaz
Bill Wagner
4 years
Army West Point and Navy are exempt from this decision and can pursue competitions in order to fulfill the mission of developing officers.
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@BWagner_CapGaz
Bill Wagner
3 years
Every player for both @NavyFB and @AF_Football came out of the tunnel carrying an American flag. All the players then knelt in the end zone. Very moving.
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