Ken Niumatalolo and his Navy Midshipmen football team got to travel to the Liberty Bowl in Memphis in style. New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft loaned one of the defending Super Bowl champs planes to Navy to get to their bowl game against Kansas State.
Kraft purchased two team planes in 2017 and with the Patriots playing at home Sunday against the Miami Dolphins, the team could afford to loan Navy the ride.
Patriots head coach Bill Belichick has had a long standing connection with the Naval Academy that started with his father, Steve Belichick. The older Belichick served as a scout for over 30 years as well as a being a backfield coach.
Bill Belichick has been a supporter of Navy through the years. He addressed the team team back in 2017. He also advised Niumatalolo in revamping their Midshipmen’s defense before the 2019 season. Additionally, Patriots long snapper Joe Cardona attended the Naval Academy and was a fifth-round pick of the Patriots in 2015.
Navy enters the Dec. 31 contest against Kansas State with a 10-2 record and as a -2.5 point favorite.
