Navy-Marine Corps Memorial All-Stadium Secondary Named

Oct. 25, 2009

ANNAPOLIS, Md.--Naval Academy Director of Athletics Chet Gladchuk announced today that Gervy Alota (1994-97), Sean Andrews (1994-97), Rick Bayer (1964-67), Marc Firlie (1983-86), Chris Lepore (1997-00), Chet Moeller (1972-75), Josh Smith (2001-04) and John Sturges (1974-77) have been named to the Navy-Marine Corps Memorial All-Stadium Team as defensive backs. The team was selected as part of the 50th anniversary celebration of Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium.

Gervy Alota	Sean Andrews	Rick Bayer	Marc Firlie

Chris Lepore	Chet Moeller	Josh Smith	John Sturges

The eight players were selected by fan balloting that was conducted on navysports.com (50 percent of the vote) and by a committee (50 percent of the vote) made up of Navy Sports Information Director Scott Strasemeier, Navy football historian Jack Clary, former Annapolis Capital Sports Editor and Navy beat writer Joe Gross, current Navy beat writer for the Annapolis Capital Bill Wagner, Navy broadcasters Bob Socci and Pete Medhurst and Navy football historian and former beat writer for the Washington Post Christian Swezey.

Alota earned four varsity letters (1994, '95, '96, '97) and was co-captain of the 1997 team that posted a 7-4 record. In his four years at Navy, the Mids won 24 games including a 1996 victory over California in the Aloha Bowl. He finished his career with 384 tackles, the second most in school history, and started 40-consecutive games. In his senior year, he led the Midshipmen with 105 tackles and was named First-Team All-East.

Andrews earned three varsity letters (1995, '96, '97) on teams that posted a combined 21-13 record and beat California in the 1996 Aloha Bowl. Andrews led the nation and tied a school record with eight interceptions as a sophomore and was named a Second-Team All-American. He was a Preseason First-Team All-American as a junior, but his interception numbers dropped after teams refused to challenge him. He finished his career with 10 interceptions, which is tied for the fifth most in school history.

Bayer earned three varsity letters (1965, '66, '67) and finished his career with 12 interceptions, the second most in school history. Bayer returned two of those interceptions for touchdowns, which is tied for the second most in program history, and his 191-career interception return yards also ranks second. Bayer led the team in interceptions as a junior and senior, picking off five passes both years.

Firlie earned three varsity letters (1984, '85, '86) and led the team in interceptions as a sophomore (five, good for 20th in the nation) and senior (two). His sophomore year the Midshipmen upset No. 2 ranked South Carolina, 38-21, marking the last time Navy defeated a team ranked in the top five. He was named First-Team All-East, Honorable Mention All-American and was selected to play in the Hula Bowl All-Star Game as a senior. He finished his career with 328 tackles, tied for the fourth most in school history, and nine interceptions.

Lepore earned three varsity letters (1998, '99, '00) for the Midshipmen, leading the team in tackles as a junior (127) and senior (109) and in interceptions (five) as a senior. He was selected to play in the Gridiron Classic and Hula Bowl All-Star Game as a senior and was named the winner of the E.E. Rip Miller Award, which is presented to Navy's Most Valuable Player. He was a two-time First-Team All-East selection and was named Honorable Mention All-America as a junior and a Preseason First-Team All-American as a senior.

Moeller earned three varsity letters (1973-74-75) and is considered by many observers to be the finest player on the defensive side of the football to ever play at the Naval Academy. He was co-captain of the '75 squad that posted a 7-4 record and won the Commander-In-Chief's Trophy and was a key contributor to the '73 squad that also won the CIC. As a senior, he was named a unanimous consensus First-Team All-American and was named a Second-Team Academic All-American. He was the ECAC Player of the Year as a senior and was a two-time First-Team All-East selection. He was selected to play in the Coaches All-America Game, where he was named the winner of the Ernie Davis Award, and was also selected to play in the Japan Bowl, East-West Shrine Game and the Hula Bowl. He earned the "Timmie" Award, which is given to the area College Football Player of the Year by the D.C. Touchdown Club; the Silver Helmet, which is awarded to the Navy Most Valuable Player by the Annapolis Touchdown Club; the Naval Academy Athletic Association Sword, given to the midshipman that excelled in varsity athletics over four years; and the Thompson Trophy Cup, award to the midshipman that did the most to promote Navy Athletics over a single season. Moeller is a candidate for the College Football Hall of Fame.

Smith earned three varsity letters (2002, '03, '04) and was co-captain of the 2004 team that won a school-record tying 10 games, including a 34-19 victory over New Mexico in the Emerald Bowl. In Smith's final two years at Navy, the Mids were 18-7, won the Commander-In-Chief's Trophy both years and played in the Houston (2003) and Emerald Bowls. He finished his career with 354 tackles, the third-most in school history. He led the team and recorded more than 100 tackles all three years he played and also led the team in interceptions as a sophomore and junior. He was a two-time All-East selection and played in the 2004 Gridiron Classic All-Star Game.

Sturges earned four varsity letters (1974, '75, '76, '77) and holds the school record for career interceptions with 13, including a school-record tying eight picks in 1977. Sturges was a key contributor on a 1975 squad that posted a 7-4 record and won the Commander-In-Chief's Trophy. As a senior, Sturges was named a Third-Team All-American and First-Team All-East.