As Mid linebacker, Bruce made a stand

Clint Bruce truly believes his experiences inside Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium helped mold him into the man he is today.

Bruce played college football with a rare passion and intensity. The Texas native poured his heart and soul into every single play and left all he had on the field every game.

So, needless to say, it means an awful lot to Bruce to be named to the Navy-Marine Corps Memorial All-Stadium team, being announced throughout this season to honor the 50th anniversary of the facility.

"I absolutely loved that stadium. I tell people all the time that a lot of who I am was born between the goal line and the 25-yard line at that stadium," Bruce said. "As a defensive player in football, the times you are backed into the red zone are when you find out a lot about what you are made of as a team and an individual. That is when you have to dig deep inside yourself."

Bruce didn't have to think long when asked to name his favorite memory of Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium. It came in 1995 against Delaware when the Navy defense stopped Delaware from scoring on seven straight plays inside the seven-yard line. Bruce combined with fellow linebacker Travis Cooley, linemen David Viger and Andy Person as well as defensive backs Joe Speed and Gervy Alota to keep the Blue Hens out of the end zone and force a them to turn it over on downs.

"That defensive stand totally epitomized the character of that team and the heart of those players," Bruce said.

Bruce was a rare four-year varsity letterman and co-captain of the 1996 squad that went 9-3 and defeated California in the Aloha Bowl. He piled up 328 tackles, fourth-most in school history, and was selected to play in the Blue-Gray and Hula Bowl senior all-star games.

"I was an average player who made up for my lack of natural talent by being passionate. That's what carried me," said Bruce, who earned the Silver Helmet Award from the Touchdown Club of Annapolis as a senior. "I loved the men I played with and I couldn't fathom letting them down."

Bruce learned the history of Navy football while at the academy and strived to meet the standard set by previous standout linebackers such as Andy Ponseigo (1980-83) and Vince McBeth (1983-86). Ponseigo became a starter as a freshman and wound up accumulating more than 500 career tackles - 146 more than any other player in school history. The Colorado native is one of only two defenders to lead the team in tackles for three straight seasons since Navy began recording the statistic in 1977.

"Being named one of the best linebackers in the 50 years that Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium has been opened ranks as the highest honor I've ever received," Ponseigo said. "There have been so many great linebackers to play at Navy over the years. It's very humbling to have been chosen to this elite list."

Ponseigo, who hailed from Littleton, Col., tried to gain acceptance to the Air Force Academy but was turned down. An Air Force assistant coach called Ponseigo after learning he was being recruited by Navy, which really rubbed the youngster the wrong way. Ponseigo had some great games against the Falcons, recording 22 tackles in one of the service academy rivalry games.

McBeth also earned four varsity letters and finished sixth on Navy's all-time list with 306 career tackles. He was an honorable mention All-East selection and also received the Silver Helmet Award.

Mike Kronzer (1978-80) preceded Ponseigo as Navy's primary tackler, leading the team in that category as a junior and senior. He notched 148 stops, fourth-highest single-season total in school history, in helping the Midshipmen to the 1980 Garden State Bowl.

Andy Bushak (1973-75) was an honorable mention All-American as a senior and was selected to play in the Coaches' All-American Game. He was the leading tackler on a defense that ranked third nationally.

Rounding out the list of All-Stadium linebackers was a duo that played four straight seasons together. David Mahoney and Tyler Tidwell were bookend outside linebackers for the Midshipmen squads that went to four straight bowl games from 2003-2006.

Mahoney ranks second all-time at Navy in sacks (21) and tackles for losses (42). The Florida native earned the Silver Helmet Award after totaling 16 tackles for loss and eight sacks in 2005, single-season figures that rank third and fourth, respectively, at Navy.

"It's a real privilege to be selected to this team along with David because I felt like he was the best player on the team for a couple seasons," said Tidwell, a Lieutenant in the Marine Corps currently stationed at Camp Pendleton.

Tidwell had a huge junior campaign, setting a single-season school record with 10 sacks and ranking No. 2 on the all-time list with 19 tackles for losses. The Oklahoma native was selected to the East-West Shrine Game.

"David and I were similar in that we were small, undersized 'backers who made up for that good instincts, strong fundamentals and nonstop motors," said Tidwell, who recently returned from a deployment to Hawaii, Guam, Jordan and Dubia aboard the USS Boxer.