The Brigade of Midshipmen has not returned to the Naval Academy campus, so Bancroft Hall is not full as usual. Coach Ken Niumatalolo has players rooming together mostly by position, and quarterbacks Maasai Maynor, Xavier Arline and Tai Lavatai are sharing a dormitory space.
After practice Tuesday, Lavatai told Arline he had treatment in the training room and would be returning to the room later than usual. “So, you aren’t going to make dinner?” Arline asked. That exchange exemplified the sense of friendship and camaraderie that has developed among the three.
“Competition is great, it brings the best out of everybody.