It never seems right to root against the United States Military. After all, don’t we want our military to be the best at combat, intelligence and protection? However, does that also go for football?

The Naval Academy (3-8, 2-5 AAC) came into the American Athletic Conference game with Tulsa last Saturday with only two wins this season. Not a good record regardless of the conflict or battles that have been waged. So, were we supposed to want to see Navy win or the Tulsa Golden Hurricane (2-9, 1-6 AAC)? Tulsa was also trying to improve on a two-win record this season.

As it turned out, the Midshipmen came out the victor, with a 37-29 win over Tulsa, in front of 31,517 fans at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium, in Annapolis, Maryland.

Tulsa scored first on a one-yard touchdown run by Corey Taylor with 5:53 left in the first quarter.

Navy quickly responded as Nelson Smith carried the ball 10 yards for a touchdown with 5:37 remaining in the first quarter.

By halftime, Navy led 27-16.

Tulsa cut the Midshipmen lead to eight in the fourth quarter on a three-yard run by Taylor, to make it 30-22. After another Navy touchdown, Taylor scored his third touchdown of the game with a one-yard run into the end zone with 4:46 remaining in the game, for the final score.

Tulsa quarterback Seth Boomer completed 19-of-28 passes for 206 yards, while running back Shamari Brooks rushed for 81 yards on 22 carries

Tulsa will be at home on Saturday to close out the season against the SMU Mustangs (5-6, 4-3 AAC). Kickoff is set for 2:30 p.m. at H.A. Chapman Stadium. The Mustangs (5-6, 4-3 AAC) will be playing to become bowl eligible.

ROY CLARK AND BASEBALL

Former star of the television sketch comedy show Hee Haw, and country music icon, Roy Clark died in his Tulsa home last Thursday at age 85. He leaves behind a legion of fans who loved him as an entertainer and knew him as a top-notch guitarist and banjo player. However, there’s also thousands of baseball fans in the Tulsa area that owe Clark a debt of gratitude.

Following the 1976 baseball season, Tulsa Oilers owner A. Ray Smith announced he was moving his Triple-A franchise to New Orleans. Smith’s desire to leave town was predicated on the fact that the team’s stadium, Oiler Park, was old and run down, and partly because of the stadium situation, the team didn’t draw very many fans.

The following winter, Tulsa businessman Bill Rollings along with Clark purchased the two-year-old Lafayette (La.) Drillers in the Double-A Texas League, and relocated them to Oiler Park. Three years later, after the stadium collapsed, a new ballpark on the Tulsa County Fairgrounds was built, and was known as Drillers Stadium.

Clark and Rollings remained owners of the team until Went Hubbard bought the Drillers in 1982.

On April 30, 2004, I had the opportunity to interview Clark as he was at Drillers Stadium to be inducted into the Drillers Wall of Fame. I remember how excited he was to receive the honor, and although he had won many Country Music awards and Grammys, he was a big baseball fan and very proud to be recognized as having been a major part of the Drillers history.

I also remember what a kind and down-to-earth man Clark was. In fact, that evening I had my kids with me at the game and we all received Roy Clark bobblehead dolls on the way into the stadium. Clark spent time chatting with my kids and then he signed each of our bobbleheads. My son even commented later that even though Clark was a big star, he was impressed with how friendly he was and how he spoke to him and his sister.

I, too, will never forget not only what an amazing talent Clark was, all those many hours of watching Hee Haw every Saturday night in the 1970s and 1980s and laughing until my side hurt, and what a truly nice guy he was to me and my kids. Tulsa lost a true treasure and great ambassador for our city.