DALLAS (FWAA) With a 29-26 comeback win over Vanderbilt that
gave them their first 4-0 start since 1979, the Navy Midshipmen are
the FedEx Orange Bowl National Team of the Week, as selected by the
pollsters of the FWAA's Grantland Rice Super 16 Poll for games of
the weekend of Sept. 25.
Trailing 19-14, Navy scored 15 unanswered points in the second half to
secure its fourth straight win. The last time the Midshipmen won their first
four games was 25 years ago, when they started the season 6-0.
Quarterback Aaron Polanco threw for a career-high 176 yards and ran for
84, including a 22-yard touchdown in the win.
Other FedEx Orange Bowl National Team of the Week nominees for the weekend
of Sept. 25 included:
N.C. State (2-1): The Wolfpack opened ACC play with a 17-16
over conference newcomer Virginia Tech in Blacksburg.
Notre Dame (3-1): The Irish extended their winning streak
to three games with a 38-3 win over Washington.
SMU (1-3): The Mustangs snapped the nation's second-longest
losing streak at 15 games win a convincing 36-13 win over San Jose State.
Texas Tech (3-1): The Red Raiders rallied from a 30-5 deficit
late in the first half to edge Kansas, 31-30, in Lawrence.
USC (4-0): Trailing at Stanford at halftime, 28-17, the Trojans
come back to register a 31-28 win and remain unbeaten.
Wyoming (2-1): The Cowboys improved to 2-1, their best start
in five seasons, with a 37-32 win over Ole Miss.
The FWAA has named a national team of the week since the 2002 season.
This is the first season that the award has been sponsored by the FedEx
Orange Bowl.
The 16 pollsters of the Grantland Rice Super 16 Poll decide the weekly
honor. Each Monday during the 2004 college football season, the FWAA will
name the FedEx Orange Bowl National Team of the Week through Nov. 29. This
season, FedEx Orange Bowl will match the two top-ranked teams in the final
BCS standings. It will be played at Miami's Pro Player Stadium on Jan. 4,
2005.
The Grantland Rice Super 16 Poll will resume this season on Oct. 11.
The top-ranked team in the final poll will be awarded the Grantland Rice
Trophy as the FWAA's national champion. The FWAA has awarded the trophy
each season since 1954. USC is the defending FWAA national champion and
is ranked No. 1 in the initial 2004 poll.
For more information on the FedEx Orange Bowl National Team of the Week,
go to www.footballwriters.com
or www.orangebowl.org.