Navy coach Brian Newberry has a connection to the Oklahoma father and son

FORT WORTH, Texas – Brad Smith knew where he wanted his son Toran to go to college and play college football, but the decision was Toran’s. After a weekend visit to Annapolis, Maryland, the summer before his senior year at Deer Creek High School, Toran’s mind was made up.

He would attend the United States Naval Academy, just as his father had hoped.

“When you walk across campus,” Brad Smith said, “you just feel like you’re in a special place.” I think it kind of won him over this weekend. Of course I was convinced of it before we went up there.”

Aside from the obvious features of the Navy – the academic prestige, the honor of service, etc. – Brad Smith was convinced that the Navy was the right place for his son because of his coach.

Brad Smith played left tackle at Westmoore High School, protecting his quarterback’s blindside. A guy named Brian Newberry. More than 30 years later, Newberry, the Navy head coach, is something of a protector for Smith’s son, a freshman offensive lineman for the Midshipmen.

“Pretty good,” Newberry said Thursday morning from Fort Worth. “Toran has some good bloodlines.”

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Early Friday morning, about 10 of Smith’s family and friends will come from Oklahoma to watch Navy play OU in the Armed Forces Bowl at 11 a.m. Toran won’t be dressing up – like most plebes, he’s a scout team player – but he and Newberry will be cheering at Amon G. Carter Stadium in Fort Worth.

“It’s a blessing, to be honest,” Brad Smith said of the full-circle moment. “Just the fact that my son was a good player and good enough academically to get into the Naval Academy is an achievement in itself, but knowing that he is being coached by Brian, a good friend of mine since then High School…I know what Brian is about, I know what kind of leader he is and I know he cares about the kids he leads. It definitely gives me peace of mind.”

Newberry, born and raised in Oklahoma, graduated from Westmoore in 1992. Smith was a year behind him. Newberry was a senior and Smith a junior when Westmoore made it to the 1991 Class 5A state championship, which the Jaguars lost in heartbreaking fashion to Putnam City North.

Newberry and Smith were teammates in high school and played against each other in college – Newberry was a safety at Baylor, Smith was a guard at Tulsa. Smith’s first career start at Tulsa was the 1995 season opener against Newberry’s Bears.

Nothing Newberry has done since has surprised Smith, a battalion chief with the Oklahoma City Fire Department.

“I always joked that Brian seemed 10 years older than the rest of us,” Smith said. “He was just that kind of leader. He was a coach on the field. It never seemed to get messed up. And obviously a great athlete.

“Brian is the type of guy who would succeed in anything he does.”

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Navy is grateful that Newberry chose to become a football coach.

The Midshipmen posted a 9-3 record in Newberry’s second season as head coach. Navy will win its fifth 10-win season this century when the Midshipmen beat the Sooners on Friday.

Toran Smith is one of three Oklahomans on Navy’s roster. All are freshmen. Jake Moore, a hybrid linebacker, is from Mannford. Another linebacker, Henry Rothwell, attended Oklahoma Christian School.

Playing football at Navy is not at all like playing college football at Oklahoma. Or any other school that is not a service academy.

“It’s very different,” Navy linebacker Colin Ramos said Thursday. “It’s kind of like a high school schedule.”

Breakfast around 6:30 or 7 a.m. Then a few morning classes. During lunch, Navy football players lift weights and go to meetings. Then there is class again until 3:30 p.m

“From then on it’s football time,” Ramos said.

Until around 8 p.m., then the learning lesson begins.

“It’s a lot in one day,” Ramos said. “Teaches you good time management.”

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All Naval Academy students receive full scholarships. In return, they commit to five years of active service after graduation.

As Newberry put it, service academies are college football’s “unicorns.”

“We’re still a developmental program,” Newberry said.

Developing freshmen like Toran Smith into upperclassmen. Trainee midshipmen are expected to one day serve as officers.

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Navy coach Brian Newberry has a connection to the Oklahoma father and son

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