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NAVY PREVIEW SEAWORTHY? T Unknown product to leave the Navy shipyard BY WES MORGAN he United States Naval Academy foot- ball team and fifth-year head coach Ken Niumatalolo lost five games last sea- son by a combined 11 points, missing out on a bowl game for the first time since 2002. The Midshipmen, who finished 5-7 overall in 2011 (Niumatalolo's first losing season), will attempt to get back on a win- ning course with 11 returning starters (six on defense and five on offense). At least that was the plan at the start of fall camp. Like any program, Navy has suffered its share of August injuries, but a rare lack of focus forced the Mids to take a step back before moving forward with the 2012 season. On the first day of practice, Niumatalolo announced that junior cornerback Albrey Felder, sophomore outside linebacker Josh Tate and senior wide receiver Josh Turner had failed their physical readiness tests and were suspended from practice until classes ✦ GAME FACTS Navy — Ken Niumatalolo (32-21, fifth season) Series Facts: This is the 86th meeting between the two schools. Notre Dame holds a 72-12-1 advantage, but Navy Coaches: Notre Dame — Brian Kelly (16-10, third season), Date: Sept. 1, 2012 Site: Aviva Stadium, Dublin, Ireland (51,700) Kickoff: 9 a.m. ET Television: CBS Radio: This broadcast can be heard live on SIRIUS Satellite Radio (channel 129) AUG. 29, 2012 resumed on Aug. 20. They were to be al- lowed to retake the tests then. Turner, how- ever, won't be making the trip to Ireland. "With those losses it's kind of a mixed bag," said Patrick Stevens, a Navy beat writer for the Washington Times. "You look at a guy like Brandon Turner, a guy who has started 14 games at wideout for them, and has made himself into a pretty good blocker. You combine that with the fact that they just lost [junior] Matt Aiken to a knee injury … and suddenly they're a little down on wideouts at this stage. If they had to play today, they would have gone with [junior] Casey Bolena, who had one start last season, and [junior] Shawn Lynch, who came to the Academy as a re- ceiver, switched to safety and started five games last year, and then switched back to receiver." Tate was apparently a guy the Navy coaching staff was high on, but has since been passed by sophomore Chris Johnson Quarterback Trey Miller played in seven games as a sophomore last year, including his first career start at Notre Dame, and finished the season 12-of-29 passing for 205 yards with three touchdowns to go along with 49 car- ries for 150 yards. has won three of the last five matchups (2010, 2009, 2007). The Irish defended their home turf in 2011, throttling the Mids 56-14. Prime Personnel: Offense — Junior quarterback Trey Miller was named to Phil Steele's All-Independent first team in the preseason. For The Record: Seven kickers tried out during fall camp started one game last season (at Notre Dame) and has the ability to keep defenses honest with downfield passes. Re- views this fall have been mixed after he completed 12 of 29 passing attempts for 205 yards with three touchdowns, and rushed for 150 yards on 49 carries, as a reserve in 2011. Defense — Senior Tra'ves Bush, a 5-10, 192-pounder out of Johnson, S.C., is at rover full-time in 2012 after starting eight games last season at outside linebacker and two at rover. He after a 2011 season that featured one hiccup after another. Jon Teague missed five field goals and four extra points in a year when the Midshipmen lost five games by three or fewer points. That battle is expected to continue until the opener in Ireland … When senior linebacker Brye French and senior slot back Bo Snelson were stripped of their captaincies at the start of fall camp for breaking team rules over the summer, it meant 2012 would be the first time in Navy football history the team entered a year without at least one designated captain. PHOTO COURTESY NAVY