Navy football didn't have a whole lot of success during the early portioin of Eddie Erdelatz's coaching tenure. The Midshipmen compiled a 15-17-4 record during the first four seasons of the Erdelatz era (1950—58).
As preseason practice got underway in 1954, team captain Phil Monahan declared that things were going to change.
"We're going to win this year. We're going to win for ourselves and for the Naval Academy," Monahan told his teammates.
Inspired by their captain's words, the Mids played inspired football and fashioned a memorable campaign – compiling an 8-2 record and receiving their first bowl bid since 1924.