Cleared for Takeoff: A Deep Dive into Navy Sports

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In this episode of the Beyond the Game podcast, we connect with Karl Darden, a US Naval Academy graduate, 20-year veteran, former helicopter pilot, and dedicated Navy sports podcaster.

• Naval Academy graduate (Class of '84) with 9 years active duty as a helicopter pilot and 11 years in the reserves
• Started Navy Sports Nation blog during COVID in 2020, followed by the Navy Sports Central podcast
• Focuses on highlighting athletes across all Navy sports, not just revenue-producing programs
• Navy athletes balance 17-20 credit hours per semester with military duties while competing at Division I level
• Women's lacrosse upset over undefeated Loyola stands as his top Navy sports moment of the past season
• The Army-Navy rivalry represents "the most storied rivalry in college athletics" due to its deeper meaning
• Navy football finished 10-3 last season with wins over Army and Oklahoma in their bowl game
• Wrestling, rowing, women's lacrosse, swimming, and tennis are among the underappreciated Navy sports with significant achievements
• Athletic expectations at Navy focus on beating service academy rivals, winning the Commander-in-Chief's Trophy, and bowl appearances

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