Independent News and Notes

Navy:

Navy quarterback Keenan Reynolds has drawn comparisons to one of his well-known predecessors. In terms of talent, charisma and play-making ability, Reynolds has been likened to Ricky Dobbs, who set numerous school records during his stellar career.

However, Reynolds is about to accomplish something that eluded even the revered Dobbs. Reynolds is going to start for the Midshipmen as a plebe.

Head coach Ken Niumatalolo revealed after practice on Wednesday that the freshman phenom would start on Friday night against Central Michigan.

Miller did not participate in practice on Wednesday so Reynolds took all the repetitions with the first team offense. Miller had practiced on Tuesday, but apparently his sprained ankle did not respond well afterward and Dr. Jeff Fair, the team trainer, recommended rest.

http://www.capitalgazette.com/sports/navy_sports/freshman-reynolds-to-start-at-qb-against-central-michigan/article_8f92ee8e-22ab-5c1f-8c8a-b2e380693c9d.html

BYU:

Provo • When BYU’s defensive players arrived at practice Monday, they quickly learned that Oregon State quarterback Sean Mannion had suffered a knee injury over the weekend and would not be playing against them on Saturday (1:30 p.m., ABC).

But that doesn’t mean the Cougars threw away their game film and went hunting for clips on junior Cody Vaz, who will replace Mannion in the starting lineup.

"Nothing changes at all," said BYU linebacker Brandon Ogletree. "We are still watching the same film. I don’t think we have any film of [Vaz] actually playing, and so we are just going in like we are playing against Oregon State, and getting ready for what they do, and not what their quarterback does."

http://www.sltrib.com/sltrib/cougars/55065187-88/byu-cougars-poyer-quarterback.html.csp

Army:

WEST POINT – Does practice become easier when an eight-game losing streak is no longer hanging around your neck like a noose?

Sort of.

“We try to make it exactly the same,” Army coach Rich Ellerson said. “It's easier on some level, but sometimes it's a little more challenging. You have to put that behind you. The danger is you'll take some of those `atta boys' into the next week. You have to leave it all behind, believe what the tape tells us and improve on those things. We have to look forward to the next opportunity. The payoff is game day; it's not the stuff after the game and it's not the week leading up to it. It's the game itself. Our focus and our preparation is all focused on this next opportunity."

http://www.examiner.com/article/army-needs-super-effort-vs-kent-state