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Cleared for Takeoff: A Deep Dive into Navy Sports
Manage episode 495792269 series 3646462
In this episode of the Beyond the Game podcast, we connect with Karl Darden, a US Naval Academy graduate, 20-year veteran, former helicopter pilot, and dedicated Navy sports podcaster.
• Naval Academy graduate (Class of '84) with 9 years active duty as a helicopter pilot and 11 years in the reserves
• Started Navy Sports Nation blog during COVID in 2020, followed by the Navy Sports Central podcast
• Focuses on highlighting athletes across all Navy sports, not just revenue-producing programs
• Navy athletes balance 17-20 credit hours per semester with military duties while competing at Division I level
• Women's lacrosse upset over undefeated Loyola stands as his top Navy sports moment of the past season
• The Army-Navy rivalry represents "the most storied rivalry in college athletics" due to its deeper meaning
• Navy football finished 10-3 last season with wins over Army and Oklahoma in their bowl game
• Wrestling, rowing, women's lacrosse, swimming, and tennis are among the underappreciated Navy sports with significant achievements
• Athletic expectations at Navy focus on beating service academy rivals, winning the Commander-in-Chief's Trophy, and bowl appearances
Subscribe to the Beyond the Game podcast and follow Rocky on social media to catch upcoming episodes, including the 46 Power Podcast dedicated to football at all levels.
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Chapters
1. Meet Karl Darden: Navy Alum and Podcaster (00:00:00)
2. From Naval Academy to Retirement Journey (00:07:30)
3. Navy Sports Beyond Football and Basketball (00:14:40)
4. The Student-Athlete Experience at Naval Academy (00:21:15)
5. Army-Navy: America's Most Storied Rivalry (00:28:45)
6. Navy Football: Recent Success and Future Goals (00:36:00)
7. Episode Closing and Show Updates (00:46:50)
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