Navy Sports Central
What if I told you about a group of elite college athletes who compete in 36 different sports at one of the toughest institutions in the nation. For them, it’s not about name, image, and likeness or any other kind of major endorsement deal. Because at the end of the day, their ultimate goal is to serve their country. These young men and women represent the best our country has to offer. They compete at a high level on both the national and world stage, and their stories have mostly gone untold. I’m here to change all of that.
With Navy Sports Central, you'll get the latest news on the athletes, and their teams, gain some unique insights in our Deep Dive segment and hear from some great guests along the way.
So please join me, Karl Darden, and check out Navy Sports Central wherever you get your podcasts to learn more about these incredible athletes and our nation’s future leaders.
Episodes
84 episodes
Blazing a Trail and Securing a Legacy: Mary Brigden Shares Her Story
A fun open-water race winds up becoming a fight for survival. One moment Mary Brigden is navigating heavy weather off Fort Lauderdale. And in the next, she’s underwater in the dark, trapped beneath an overturned yacht with rigging pinning her d...
Grit, Wind, and the Madeleine Cup: Mary Brigden Makes Navy Sailing History
In this installment of 50 Years of Excellence in Women's Athletics at the Naval Academy, we bring you Mary Brigden from the Class of 1981. Mary was an accomplished sailor by the time she was in high school, winning several junior national champ...
Trust, Discipline, and the Power of Eight: Alexandria Vallancey Becomes a World Champion
In our second of installment marking 50 years of excellence in women's athletics at the Naval Academy, Alexandria Vallancy joins us to continue her story. She shares her journey as she prepares for the U23 World Rowing Championships and what...
Finding the Catch: Alexandria Vallancey's Transition From Basketball To Navy Rowing Champion
In today's special edition of Navy Sports Central, we kick off a series honoring 50 years of women at the Naval Academy. And we begin with the story of Alexandria Vallancey, a Corvallis High basketball star who arrived at Annapolis intent on...
Mid-Term Grades: The Navy Football Report Card
Welcome to Navy Sports Central, the official podcast of the Navy Sports Nation!Today, we take a look at how Navy Football is doing at midseason We will shine a spotlight the playmakers driving a 6–0 start, and pinpoint wh...
Countdown 2025: Knocking Out the Bully (and Much, Much More)
Welcome to Navy Sports Central, the official podcast of the Navy Sports Nation!Have you ever thought about what defines a truly unforgettable sports moment? Is it the stakes, the rivalry, the upset, or the individual brilliance...
Playmakers & Disruptors: An Early Look at the 2025 Navy Football Team
Welcome to Navy Sports Central, the official podcast of the Navy Sports Nation!In this episode, we'll get you caught up on some of the outstanding performances of the spring sports season. • You'll hear about how t...
Raging Back: An Up Close and Personal Look at the Navy Heavyweight Rowing Team's 1984 IRA National Championship
Welcome to Navy Sports Central, the official podcast of the Navy Sports Nation!In today's Deep Dive segment, we will visit with two members of the Navy Athletics Hall of Fame. You will get a first hand account on how the Heavyw...
Big Picture Focus: Taking Down the Pirates and Preparing for Army
Welcome to Navy Sports Central, the official podcast of the Navy Sports Nation!It is December, and that means Army week is right around the corner. Join me, Karl Darden and Navy Sports superfan Doug Conkey, as we break down th...
The Navy Blitz, Volume 4: Climbing Out of the Quicksand
Get ready for another edition of the Navy Blitz!Today's installment covers the Mids' two tough losses to Notre Dame and Rice. And with their conference championship game hopes slipping away, Navy's season was definitely at a c...
Coming Home: Navy Sports Central's Special Class of '84 Reunion Episode
Welcome to Navy Sports Central, the official podcast of the Navy Sports Nation!We've got a very special episode for you today. We are back in Annapolis to celebrate the Naval Academy Class of '84's 40 Year Reunion.
Reversal of Fortune: Navy Football Erases Four Years of Frustration vs. Air Force in Convincing Fashion
Welcome to Navy Sports Central, the official podcast of the Navy Sports Nation!In this episode, we will break down how the Navy Football team dominated Air Force from the opening whistle. The Mids executed their game plan on both sid...
The Navy Blitz, Volume 3: The Mids Avoid the Trap; Handle UAB for First Road Win
Welcome to the third edition of The Navy Blitz! Today, we will break down the Mids’ convincing win over the University of Alabama-Birmingham. The offense put up another 40+ point performance, while the defense returned to form a...
The Navy Blitz, Volume 2: The Mids Serve Notice; Take Down Conference Favorite Memphis
Welcome to the second edition of the Navy Blitz! Today, we'll break down Navy's huge upset of the Memphis Tigers. Among other things, you will hear where and when the defense came up with the key plays to seize the advanta...
The Navy Blitz, Volume 1: Aggressive Defense and Balanced Offense Fuel the Mids' Solid Win Over Temple
In Today's episode, we’re launching our first installment of the Navy Blitz. Here, you’re going to get all of the insights and commentary on the most recent Navy football game. We’ll start by breaking down the Mids’ opponent, move on and tal...
New Football Season, New Look: The Hybrid Wing-T Era Begins at Navy
Can Navy football overcome last season's scoring struggles with their new Hybrid Wing-T offense? Join me, Karl Darden, as we break down Navy's home opener against Bucknell in their first meeting in nearly a century. We’ll take an in ...
Not For Self: Breaking Down the Navy Women's Tennis Team's Championship Season
Today on Navy Sports Central, we celebrate the Navy Women's Tennis Team's exciting run to their first Patriot League Championship! Coach Keith Puryear sits down with us to share how the team laid the groundwork in the fall to put them in the...
Start the Countdown: A Look At Navy Athletics' Top 10 Most Memorable Moments of the Season
It's time to celebrate the accomplishments of Navy athletes over the last year! Join us as we take a look back at the top 10 most memorable moments in Navy sports. First, we'll get you caught up on how t...
The NCAA Outdoor Track & Field Championships: One Mid's Experience
Welcome to Navy Sports Central - The Official Podcast of the Navy Sports Nation!The conclusion of the 2024 sports season saw the Men's and Women's Outdoor Track & Field teams continue their streak of Patriot League Championships....
Making a Statement: Navy Women's Lacrosse Beats Army to Clinch the Star Series
Welcome to Navy Sports Central - The Official Podcast of the Navy Sports Nation!The Mids continued their strong month of April by chalking up two big wins over Army and two Patriot League Championships in women's golf and wome...
Ball to Bat & Bat to Ball: A Conversation with Navy Baseball Hitting Coach Jeff Kane
Welcome to Navy Sports Central - The Official Podcast of the Navy Sports Nation!The Army-Navy Star series looks like it could go down to the wire!. Find out how the Women's Tennis team came from behind to post a huge win in ou...
Navy Sports Central Rewind: The 2004 Navy Men's Lacrosse Team's Season to Remember
Welcome to Navy Sports Central - The Official Podcast of the Navy Sports Nation!Today, we're going to jump into the Navy Sports Central time machine and revisit the 2004 Navy Men's Lacrosse team's unforgettable season. &nb...
Adaptability & Collaboration: How the Navy Women's Swimming & Diving Team Continues to Outshine Their Competition
Welcome to Navy Sports Central - The Official Podcast of the Navy Sports Nation!In today's episode, you'll get a complete update you on the Army-Navy Star Series, where in the month of February we saw some truly exceptional pe...
Forging a Championship Culture: Navy Men's Swimming & Diving Coach Bill Roberts Shares His Thoughts
Welcome to Navy Sports Central - The Official Podcast of the Navy Sports Nation!We are back with a terrific start to the new year! In our sports update, we will be checking in with the Track & Field and Wres...
Total Disruption: Unveiling the Effects of Transfer Portal on College Football and Breaking Down the CFP's Latest Screw Up
Welcome to Navy Sports Central - The Official Podcast of the Navy Sports Nation!Today, we will take a look at the college transfer portal and how it has basically become college football's version of the free ...