Well, the school year is over, which means we'll have to find ways to entertain ourselves for the next three months while we wait for the return of Navy sports. And what better way to pass the time waiting for Navy sports than by talking about them? Let's get to it.

Do you think Coach Newberry is content to stay at USNA or once his success gets suitors interested he will make the move to a P5 job?

- @bomac1986

I was struck by your BN quote about him needing to be dragged out of Annapolis. Do you believe that or is it just coach speak?

- spartanmid

In Jax, Coach New said Coach Cronic had multiple FBS head coaching offers. Who was it, and what (if anything) would it take for someone to convince him to leave?

- Monty93

Coaches tend to be cagey when it comes to discussing their futures. It's understandable why. They have the same right to manage their careers that we all have, but the nature of their job is more emotional than your average cubicle farm. Fans don't like to be told that their coaches might not feel the same lifelong commitment to a place that they do. For that matter, neither do recruits; there are practical reasons for coaches to keep a poker face, too.

That's what makes Newberry's and Cronic's repeated statements about not wanting to leave Annapolis so striking. I've never heard coaches so blunt about their intentions, especially at a point in their careers where they are in demand. They go out of their way to say things like "I hope I'll be coaching here for a long time" and "They'll have to drag me out to get me to leave Annapolis." Life can change in an instant, so one day, maybe that sentiment will, too. But right now, I don't see any reason to look at these comments as anything but genuine.

Newberry has lamented the changing nature of college football, calling it "transactional" as players shop themselves around every year. If you talk to coaches, you'll find that the biggest job satisfaction they get is from building teams and the personal impact they have on individual players. Thanks to NIL and the transfer portal, that's not really what it's about anymore, but it's still very much the job at the Naval Academy. In the long run, I wonder about how changes in college athletics will affect what kind of people will want to get into coaching. But right now, Navy is an oasis for the kind of coach who still wants the job they thought they signed up for.

For Cronic, it's even more personal, since his son will actually be a plebe this year. I don't know what schools came after him, but my guess would be southern Sun Belt or C-USA type programs. I actually think he's enjoying himself calling plays again, too. I can't read his mind, so I can't tell you what it'd take for him to leave, but I feel confident saying that he likes what he's doing enough that it'd have to be pretty extraordinary, whatever it is. When you talk to him, he doesn't exactly hide how happy he is.

Hey Mike,

How in the world does Army lax go 12-2, win the Patriot League regular season, and still get left out of the NCAA tournament? I get that the selection committee loves their metrics and strength of schedule arguments, but it really feels like there’s an uphill battle for Patriot League teams no matter what they do. Is this just a case of Army getting unlucky, or do you think there’s a bigger perception problem when it comes to Patriot League lacrosse? Seems like if you swapped the name on the jersey with an ACC or Big Ten team, we wouldn’t be having this conversation.

- Chris M.

Are we talking lacrosse? I guess we're talking lacrosse!

The Patriot League doesn't have a perception problem because the selection committee doesn't rate conferences. They rate teams, and lately, the Patriot League just hasn't had many upper-echelon teams. There is no such thing as a "P4" dynamic in lacrosse or "major vs. mid-major" when it comes to tournament selection. The Patriot League was the #5 conference by RPI this year. The A-10 was #4, and they were a one-bid league, too. They have a performance problem, not a perception problem, and it has nothing to do with the name on the jersey.

In Army's case, the last spot in the tournament reportedly came down to them and Harvard. While Army's 12-2 record looks better visually than Harvard's 10-4, every other relevant metric favored the Crimson. Their RPI was one spot higher. They had a harder strength of schedule. Army's best win was against UNC (RPI 9), which was legit, but not as good as Harvard's best win over Syracuse (RPI 6 & ACC champ). The average RPI of Harvard's wins was better (28.6-36.25). And while Harvard had more losses, Army's were worse. The average RPI of Army's losses was 14.5; for Harvard, it was only 6.33. Both teams lost to Colgate, but while Army lost to BU, Harvard blew them out. In the end, I don't think the decision was all that hard for the committee. Choosing Army despite all this is what would've had the appearance of bias, not the other way around.

But that doesn't mean everything is awesome for lacrosse. Army was never as good as their high-water mark at #2 in the polls, but they were still a legitimate top ten team. Leaving a team of that caliber out of the NCAA tournament just looks bad for the sport. But in this case, it's a numbers problem.

When the NCAA sets the size of their tournament fields, they aim for around 20 percent of the teams in the sport. With an 18-team field for 77 participating schools, lacrosse is actually a little bigger than 20 percent. But there are ten conferences that get an automatic NCAA tournament berth for their champions, which leaves only eight at-large opportunities. That ratio of at-large spots (44.4 percent) is lower than most NCAA tournaments. In basketball, 53% of the field goes to at-large teams. In baseball, it's almost 52 percent. In soccer, it's 50/50. That means teams that would be tournament-caliber in any other sport get left out in lacrosse.

It's a crummy situation that doesn't have easy answers. But it has nothing to do with bias against the Patriot League.

Explain to me how Chet gets to hire the basketball coach when he’s on his way out. You’re retiring. You don’t get to make decisions like that on your way out the door. That should be the next AD’s call, period. Feels like he just wanted to have the last word.

- Tom R

Ed DeChellis announced his retirement on March 19. Chet Gladchuk announced his on March 31st. I am writing this on the afternoon of May 18. How long did you want the basketball head coaching job to remain vacant, especially when your best player is in the transfer portal? The AD search was always going to be a lengthy process. Arguing that the basketball program should be in limbo for at least two months so a new guy could come onboard and have to make a hire before he even has a feel for the institution isn't realistic. Hiring Perry was the right call in a tough situation.

Look at it this way: with all the key players returning next year, you'd feel pretty good about next season if DeChellis was sticking around, right? Well, Jon Perry was his right-hand man. Hiring him is the closest thing to DeChellis sticking around. Given the situation, it's the best chance Navy has to make the most of next season. Perry himself acknowledged that he'll get re-evaluated after next year. Everyone involved knows the drill. The new AD will get his say. With any luck, it'll be an extension for Perry after a great season. We'll see.

Please discuss the AD search. Specifically, do you believe that USNA is a desirable job and what sort of candidate is being targeted?

- spartanmid

While we're on the subject of ADs...

I don't have any inside knowledge of who is being considered to replace Chet. Bill Wagner made a list of possibilities, and all those people made sense. I definitely wouldn't limit the search to people with USNA or service academy experience, though.

The Navy athletic director job has traditionally been viewed as aspirational. There have only been two since 1988, and both Jack Lengyel (from Missouri) and Gladchuk (Houston) were hired from high-level Division I jobs. Neither of them had previous stops at a service academy, so while the candidates Wagner suggested are all viable, I don't think they are at all exclusive. If the last two ADs are any indication, I think a current FBS or high-level FCS AD is likely.

As for whether the Navy job is still seen as desirable, I think it absolutely is. The money explosion in the Power Four means Navy probably isn't as competitive as it used to be in terms of pay for those ADs. It will be for almost every other AD out there, though. And at Navy, the next AD won't have to deal with NIL.

There is a storm coming that is about to make ADs at a lot of schools very unpopular. Money that used to go to the athletic department to fund multiple sports is now being donated to NIL collectives and going straight to football and basketball players. As a result, it won't be long before you see schools cutting sports. For any AD who doesn't want to make the Sophie's choice of which student-athletes' dreams to shatter, the Navy job looks awfully nice.

Mr. James,

First, I want to thank you for all that you do for Navy fans. I promote this month so I thought the wisest use of my pay raise was to subscribe to the Mid Report. I think that means I can call myself a “real” fan now.

Second, here is my question: Will Chet’s departure have any immediate effect on Navy Football this coming year? And, what changes does the new AD need to make to keep Navy relevant and successful in the landscape of college football?

- Emmett J.

Who wants to throw a wetting-down when you get promoted? The real ones don't throw a party with the extra money, they buy subscriptions to TheMidReport.com. You, sir, are clearly a gentleman of punctilious courtesy.

ADs are more strategic than tactical, so in the short term, I don't think the change will have much of an immediate effect. The long term is a different story. Fundraising will be a top priority if Navy wants to remain competitive as the power conferences continue on course for an eventual separation. Chet was also an influential voice in the conference, which made Navy an influential voice in the conference. Will the new AD have the same gravitas? There's a non-zero chance the new AD could even come from another AAC school. They know what Navy is all about as well as anyone.

In a practical sense, there are a lot of issues that will have to be dealt with. Chet was a proponent of a 13th game for Army and Navy. Will the new AD feel the same? The last game of the current Army-Navy cycle is in 2027, which means potential host cities for the next cycle will be putting their bids together now. That is another looming major decision. And the American will have to deal with the fallout of any Playoff changes the Big Ten and SEC throw at the sport. There will be a lot on the next AD's plate, but fundraising remains job one.

Defense has been a strong point during recent seasons, but several good players have graduated like Ray and DP etc. Can they be effectively replaced?? Why do you have confidence?

- Rob

Oniha vs Ross seems like an interesting battle? Do you see both of them starting or one edging out the other. I think Oniha when healthy can be pretty special.

- @Hollywood4x_

Rayuan Lane and Dashaun Peele were special players, and I agree that you can't just assume it'll be business as usual after losing an NFL safety and an all-conference cornerback. But it's a similar story every year, isn't it? Every year we wonder what will happen after someone leaves, whether it's Diego Fagot, John Marshall, Jacob Springer, Jacob Busic, etc. And every year, someone steps up. That's a product of good coaching, both in developing players and tailoring the defense to take advantage of the talent it has.

I think the situation at cornerback makes for some interesting possibilities in the secondary overall. The coaches have not been shy about their high expectations for Justin Ross, which is unusual for a player who has yet to play any meaningful snaps. And Ira Oniha, you may recall, actually was on top of the depth chart in fall camp last year before his injury. The coaches have expressed just as much excitement about him. Meanwhile, Andrew Duhart is the most experienced player in a secondary unit that needs veteran leadership, and he played well last year. I imagine all three will see the field regularly, especially with Duhart getting cross-trained at safety and nickel.

The more options the coaches have like that, the less pressure there is on Giuseppe Sessi or Aaron Rose to duplicate Lane and Mbiti Williams at safety. It's defensive back Moneyball: they don't have to replace Rayuan Lane if they can recreate his playmaking in the aggregate within the group.

How stable do you think AAC membership is right now? Are you surprised Memphis is still in the conference?

-spartanmid

AAC membership is only as stable as ACC membership is. That's the next domino to fall. If the ACC gets picked apart, then the shuffle will begin again. Until then, everyone's just in wait-and-see mode.

As for Memphis, where are they going to go? You can’t leave if no one’s calling, and other than the vaporware Pac-12, nobody has. Their fans can complain about the American all they want, but it's easily their best conference option right now. To be fair, losing traditional rivals like Cincinnati, Louisville, and Houston and watching them move on to bigger paydays has to be frustrating; I'm sympathetic toward Memphis fans to some extent. But right now, there is no realistic landing spot to improve that situation.

The power conferences never really considered Memphis for the same reason why they passed over Boise State. It's university presidents who make the final call on conference expansion, and they don't feel like those schools fit the profile they're looking for. But hey, in a world where Rutgers and USC are in the same conference, who knows what wonders we'll behold in the future?

What takes instantly and consistently piss you off?

- 81Zoltan

Not as many as you might think. I might get worn out from repeatedly addressing some things, but I try to consider the source. Not everyone is a die-hard, and some people genuinely don't know the things savvy, well-informed readers of TheMidReport.com do.

The only thing I can think of that really gets me spun up is when people argue against Division I athletics at USNA. I don’t mind the question-- it’s fair to ask and easy to answer-- but some of the arguments people use are infuriating. Division I athletes are exceptional people who make the Naval Academy and the Navy better, and I have little tolerance for those who argue otherwise. The "most qualified" candidates for admission are not simply the best 1,000 SAT scores, but that's what some people would have you believe. The whole-person multiple exists for a reason.

Anyway, there are a lot of misconceptions about Navy football out there, but there would be fewer if more people subscribed to TheMidReport.com. Tell a classmate!

If you could schedule any home and home FB opponent not already on the schedule, who would it be?

- spartanmid

I go two ways on this. On the one hand, I'd love to see Navy play UCLA. The two teams have never played, it'd have the visual appeal of an all-time uniform matchup, and who doesn't want to see Navy in the Rose Bowl again?

On the other hand, I'd love to see a series against any of the traditional Eastern independents like Pitt, BC, Syracuse, or Penn State. If you forced me to choose, I'd probably go for one of the Eastern teams. I'm a romantic when it comes to Navy history.

This is a bit hard to formulate in a pithy way, but I will start by saying that I love the chess match side of sports - which beyond Navy is one of the reasons I like to watch TO football and follow this blog/other sources so I catch as much as possible about what is going on.

The flip side of that is the "match up" idea - that fans want to see the best athletes matched up against each other. (As opposed to my interests in seeing how a team without the best players compensates for it through scheme or whatever. ) The professional leagues market on this and I think NCAA is trending that way because big names and simple story lines, that sort of thing.

I believe that when the rules for cut blocking were changed, it was in part to limit the ability of teams to use TO successfully (I don't care what they said about safety, that was an excuse. ) So the question is, is our current scheme on O or D vulnerable to similar rule changes and if so is there anything on the horizon that we should be concerned about?

- Vonz90

You are correct about the reason for the cut blocking rule change. The driving force behind it was David Cutcliffe, who was tired of playing Army and/or Navy every year. As long as Paul Johnson was on the rules committee, the proposal didn't go anywhere. But as soon as he retired, it gained momentum until it was passed.

It's difficult to speculate what kind of rule changes might be proposed down the line. Off the top of my head, I can't think of any on-field rules being discussed that made me concerned. Off the field is a different story, as every rule passed lately seems hand-crafted with the sole purpose of marginalizing the service academies. There is a proposal to eliminate redshirts and just allow players five years of eligibility. I don't think that changes much for Navy, though, since it's already a four-year program operating in a five-year system. I'm more nervous about what expanded rosters could mean in the long run. Navy has traditionally gotten a lot of players with preferred walk-on offers at power schools. If those become scholarship offers, that could cut into Navy's recruiting.

I don't know how or even if any of this will affect Navy, but when the program already walks such a fine line to success, it's only natural to worry when something could potentially upset the balance.