Ship to shore thing

When Kyle Eckel picked up the phone Monday afternoon, the first thing he said was, "I can’t wait to come home."

Home is 17th Street and Packer Avenue, where he spent the majority of his childhood. But the Naval Academy junior isn’t coming back this weekend to hang out with the old corner gang at 18th and Johnston. He’s making a business trip, and his priority is beating Army in the 104th annual Army-Navy game. The 21-year-old fullback can’t help but be pumped about playing at the Eagles’ home, Lincoln Financial Field.

"I think it’s pretty cool that we play in the same stadium as they do," Eckel said.

The player has given plenty of support to his troops this season. Last month, Eckel became the eighth athlete in school history to rush for more than 1,000 yards in a season and the first since Chris McCoy in 1997. Eckel, who has 1,026 yards, needs 21 more on Saturday to pass Cleveland Cooper (’72). Add six games of 100 yards or more, including a career-high 176 against Air Force, and the South Philadelphia native is a runaway hit.

Head coach Paul Johnson said Eckel, who wanted to attend the Naval Academy to play football, is a big spark for the team.

"At times, he would rather run over you than go around you," Johnson said during last week’s press conference at the Linc. "Everybody looks up to him and feeds off his toughness."

This will be Eckel’s first chance to make a real impact in the Army-Navy game, which is making its 77th stop in Philadelphia. During his freshman year, the Episcopal Academy grad played limited time on special teams, but didn’t score any varsity time on offense. Eckel finished his sophomore season with 510 yards, but an ACL injury kept him on the sidelines during the big match-up. This time around, Johnson is expecting Eckel to be a key player.

"This will be his first chance to be an integral part of it," the coach said. "I know he is excited about having a chance to come back to Philly, which makes it that much more special."

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One of the toughest aspects about playing in front of a hometown crowd is deciding who gets invitations to the game. Several family members and friends put in their ticket requests early, but each player is only allotted four tickets, which for Eckel, covers his parents, brother and uncle. He managed to pick up four more from teammates who weren’t using their tickets.

"There will be some unhappy people back home," said Eckel, who attended Holy Spirit School and played football for the St. Monica CYO team.

The player was in for a busy agenda once he arrived in town last night. He and his teammates had practices and a number of city-sponsored events to attend. If Eckel can fit in time for a cheesesteak, he said Pat’s will be getting the call.

"Their rolls are better and their steaks are more traditional," he said.

Eckel’s non-food-related memories of home include spending many nights hanging at 18th and Johnston and playing pickup basketball at Barry Playground.

"You get into a routine and build friendships," said the athlete, who is thinking about serving in the Marine Corps.

Eckel’s family moved from South Philadelphia to Haverford when he was in eighth grade, but he remains loyal to his roots. The economics major refers to Philadelphia as "the best place on earth" around his teammates.

Navy quarterback Craig Candeto said Eckel brings a lot to the squad.

"He is a guy that works really hard and gets the job done," the senior co-captain said. "It’s fun to be around him on and off the field."

Combined, the two athletes are a big reason Navy is leading the NCAA in rushing with an average of 323.09 yards a game. The team’s 3,554 rushing yards set a new school record. And Navy’s 5.5 yards per attempt, 323.1 yards per game and 38 rushing touchdowns are also new school records. The Midshipmen became just the second team in NCAA history to have four players with more than 1,000 career yards rushing. Candeto leads the way with 1,801, while Eckel is second with 1,536.

The fullback hopes to have a win to celebrate with his family and teammates Saturday night before heading back to Annapolis on Sunday. Once the squad returns home, the Mids will start preparing for the Dec. 30 EV1.net Houston Bowl to play a yet-to-be-determined team from the Big 12 Conference. The game just happens to fall on Eckel’s 22nd birthday.

The athlete plans to keep racking up the 100-yard games and helping his team win. This year’s 7-4 record already marks a dramatic turnaround from Eckel’s first two seasons, when Navy went 2-20.

"I think next year will be a good season," he said. "As long as we work hard, the team will succeed."

On Saturday, Navy will try to defeat Army for the fourth time in five seasons. The Midshipmen won last year’s contest 58-12. One look at the Black Knights’ 0-12 record makes this year’s game look just as lopsided, but Eckel said that is far from the case. It’s Army who leads the all-time series 49-47-2. A win will give Navy its first Commander-in-Chief’s trophy since the 1981 season. The award is presented annually to the winner of the football competition among Army, Navy and Air Force.

"I predict that both teams are going to play pretty hard," Eckel said. "I wouldn’t look at last year’s game as a sign of what is going to happen this year.

"We win by playing hard. If we cut back, we have a chance of losing the game."

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Saluting the Linc

When Navy quarterback Craig Candeto walked into Lincoln Financial Field last Tuesday afternoon, he couldn’t help but say "Wow!"

"It’s almost like a country club or something in here," said the junior, who was in town for the Army-Navy Game press conference and luncheon. "I am sure it’s going to be different when I am on the field."

Coaches and players stopped in town last week for a sneak peek at the new home of the classic game. Saturday will mark the 104th meeting between the two schools, and the 77th in Philadelphia. They’ve met 18 times at Franklin Field, 41 times at Municipal/John F. Kennedy Stadium and 17 times at Veterans Stadium. The Linc is the 15th venue to serve as host site for this historic battle. Philadelphia was recently awarded five of the next six Army-Navy games, and will host all but the 2007 contest between now and 2009.

Navy head coach Paul Johnson had nothing but raves for the home of the Philadelphia Eagles.

"It’s a great opportunity for young men to play in a first-class environment," Johnson said. "It’s exciting anytime you have a facility like this."

The Navy Midshipmen, who are 7-4 on the season, have fared well in Army-Navy games played in a stadium for the first time. Since 1980, Navy has won each of the four meetings that took place in a venue for the first time, which includes defeating the Army’s Black Knights 42-12 in the Veterans Stadium debut.

Army interim head coach John Mumford said he enjoyed the tradition that came with playing games at the Vet.

"I had a great feeling in the Vet a couple years ago because we won there," Mumford said. "To know who has passed before you on that field is pretty special."

Saturday, the Black Knights will look to start a new tradition at Lincoln Financial Field by winning their first game of the year. Army leads Navy 38-34-4 in games played in Philadelphia, and a win this year would ease the pain of an 0-12 season. Either way, Mumford said it’s always exciting for a coach and especially college athletes to come to a pro venue.

"When it comes down to it, I think it’s more for the fans because there is not a bad seat in here," the coach said of the Linc. "I’ve looked the whole stadium over and every seat has a great view."

–by Bill Gelman

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R&R; for the troops

The city will host several military-themed events tomorrow and Saturday to get fans ready for the 104th Army-Navy Game. (Fortunately, mandatory push-ups are not among the events!) One of the highlights will be the first-ever Patriot Games between the cadets and the midshipmen. The two schools will face off in a Tastykake-eating contest, a relay up the famous "Rocky steps" at the Philadelphia Museum of Art and a Constitution quiz at the National Constitution Center. For more info, visit www.phillylovesarmynavy.com. Here are some of the other happenings:

Open to the public:

Army/Navy Pep Rally

Tomorrow, noon

The Shops at Liberty Place, 16th and Chestnut streets

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Philadelphia Welcome Party

Tomorrow, 7 p.m.

Amtrak’s 30th Street Station, 30th and Market streets

Will include Mummers, face painters and Philadelphia treats.

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Visiting Naval Ships

Tomorrow-Monday

Penn’s Landing, Columbus Boulevard at Chestnut Street

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Post-Game Fireworks

Saturday, 7:30-10 p.m.

Penn’s Landing

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At Lincoln Financial Field:

(Game tickets required)

Army/Navy Fanfest

Saturday, noon (halftime)

Lincoln Financial Field, Head House Plaza

Will include live entertainment, face painting, interactive activities and prize giveaways.

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March-On

Saturday, 1-2:30 p.m.

Thousands of the cadets and midshipmen make their traditional procession.

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104th Army-Navy Game

Saturday, 4 p.m.

The game also will be broadcast on CBS and WDAS 1480 AM.