Will Harbour has always enjoyed working as a part of a team, contributing to a cause that prioritizes selflessness and effort over individual accolades.
That desire was one of the driving forces behind his commitment to the Naval Academy, and now the senior linebacker now has a chance at a bowl game for the first time in his career.
As such, the Mids’ upcoming game against SMU carries immense meaning to Harbour, someone with no prior link to Navy.
“There was no connection really at all, honestly,” Harbour said on Glenn Clark Radio on Nov. 21. “I just did my research, knew a little about the place, then I came here, visited, talked with the coaches, and I just fell in love with the place.”
Harbour has spent four years in Annapolis, helping anchor one of the fiercer units of the American Athletic Conference. The 6-foot-1, 230-pound linebacker has made 71 tackles this year, more than half of his career total (122). He also has three sacks for the third-ranked scoring defense in the AAC.
Upon graduation, Harbour will embark on the Academy’s five-year service requirement in which the Navy will assign him to work as a pilot. That transition from battling on the gridiron to soaring through the sky is one he’s ready for.
“It’s kind of like a football game,” Harbour said, comparing his present and near future. “You’ve got the nerves before you take off, and then you’re flying. You relax, you really start to enjoy it and you’re having fun.”
Navy has allowed more than 20 points from their opponents only once in its last five games. The team also leads the FBS with three shutouts. Harbour credits the defense’s steady improvements throughout the course of the fall to attempting to get 1 percent better every day.
“[We] really focus on the things that we aren’t the best at in practice, so when it comes to the game, we’re all good to go,” he said. “… It shows both that [defensive coordinator P.J.] Volker has a great plan and that we executed at a high level, so doing both of those at the same time is a great experience.”
Volker, along with head coach Brian Newberry, headline a staff that takes a 5-5 squad into the Thanksgiving weekend. The new man in charge was elevated from defensive coordinator to the top job last December when former head coach Ken Niumatalolo was let go after failing to crack the five-win mark in each of the last three seasons.
Now, with just one more win required for postseason eligibility, Navy looks to Nov. 25 as a potential breakthrough game. The team is riding high after two straight wins against UAB and East Carolina, but the Mids need to beat SMU to become bowl eligible. The regular-season finale against archrival Army on Dec. 9 comes after bowl announcements.
“It would truly be amazing, and it would just show the dedication of this team,” Harbour said of what a win against the 9-2 Mustangs would mean. “… We were 3-5, so it’s not really looking our way and just given up, honestly, but the guys have been pushing. Getting to a bowl game would be awesome for us.”
Harbour is excited for Navy’s final two matchups. The upcoming SMU showdown serves as his chance to make a statement against one of the North Texas programs local to his Frisco upbringing. The following week offers the opportunity to determine the legacy of the Mids’ against Army, a foe representing his own dedication to his leg of the Armed Forces.
Harbour is readier than ever to seal a win that would clinch a .500-or-better record, along with whatever’s next for his relationship with the Navy.
“I always wanted to be a part of something bigger than myself and more than just a football player, so getting an opportunity to serve my country is huge,” Harbour said.
For more from Harbour, listen to the full interview here:
Photo Credit: Kenya Allen/PressBox