Navy and Cincinnati are meeting for the first time as American Athletic Conference opponents. Perhaps more notable, the Midshipmen and Bearcats are getting together on the football field for the first time since way back in 1956.
However, the respective coaching staffs have familiarity with each other. Cincinnati head coach Luke Fickell previously served as defensive coordinator at Ohio State and faced Navy twice – in Columbus to open the 2009 season and at M&T Bank Stadium in Baltimore to begin the 2014 campaign.
In both instances, Fickell had the entire preseason to practice for Navy’s unique triple-option.