Academy approach won Gabbard over

Editor's note: This is the second in a week-long series profiling Navy seniors leading up to the Army-Navy game.

Ben Gabbard was once enamored with the idea of playing football for an Atlantic Coast Conference school.

Clemson, Georgia Tech, Maryland and Virginia all contacted Gabbard during his junior year at Broadneck High. Clemson moved to the top of the list after the big offensive lineman attended Coach Tommy Bowden's summer camp and received a scholarship offer.

Which is why Gabbard wasn't all that interested when Navy defensive coordinator Buddy Green stopped by Broadneck for a chat. Gabbard put the Naval Academy...