Navy Center Ineligible

This from The Capital newspaper, reporting a lineup switch for Navy at center in the Texas Bowl:

Navy head coach Ken Niumatalolo told The Capital today after practice that starting center Eric Douglass and reserve cornerback John Angelo are ineligible and will not participate in Thursday's Texas Bowl.

Niumatalolo was responding to a question from The Capital about why sophomore Brady DeMell was working with the starting offensive line at center in practice on Monday and Tuesday. He said the coaching staff got the news about Douglass after the Oklahoma native traveled to Houston for the bowl game. Douglass, a former nose guard who started the final four games of the regular season at center, practiced with the team, but worked with the second unit.

DeMell was slated to be Navy's starting center going into the season, but just prior to the opener the coaching staff decided to switch senior Curtis Bass from right guard to center. Bass started at center for the initial nine games before giving way to Douglass and moving back to right guard.

Niumatalolo said the staff considered moving Bass back to center, but chose to keep him at guard since Missouri plays an even front. In a 4-3 alignment, the center is not covered so it is more important to have a guard going head-to-head with the defensive tackle.

Niumatalolo said Douglass came up just short in one class and expected the youngster to regain his eligibility in time to participate in spring practice.

Angelo has appeared in seven games this season as a member of the special teams. Niumatalolo said the coaching staff was told that Angelo would be ineligible prior to Christmas and thus the California resident did not make the trip to Houston