Sean Burns

  (1:32 PM)

Hey folks, we're just settling in for a nice long Thursday chat... We've got Mike Kimmel and Sam DeVore from Johns Hopkins for a half hour, then guests to follow from Army and Navy at 2 and 2:30 - fire away with your questions and we'll get as many as we can answered.

Bob (Hartford)

I love the weapon of choice articles - can you guys tell me what you use for gamedays?

Mike Kimmel

  (1:32 PM)

I am using the new Nike Legacy chrome head with old monster mesh and three hockey laces. I don't play with any whip

Sam Devore

  (1:34 PM)

I go with the new X10 and a sci-ti shaft. I like the wide head for gbs and picking off passes.

John (Cleveland)

Mike, what's it like being an upperclassman and working with the younger players the way that some of the guys that came before you worked with you as a freshman?

Mike Kimmel

  (1:36 PM)

I learned from the best with Paul Rabil and Stephen Peyser showing me the ropes for two years. The main thing they taught me was to keep the young guys loose. Make them understand how cool it is that they are playing right away and to make sure that they enjoy every moment. I try and get guys up to shoot and lift and show them the hard work that has to be put in to see results

John (Cleveland)

Any worries about the streak of NCAA appearances? Is Saturday a must-win?

Sam Devore

  (1:36 PM)

Not really, we are just taking one game at a time and trying to do our best every week.

Jacob (NC)

Mike, how did you perfect your shooting on the run, and what workouts did you use to become that dominate?

Mike Kimmel

  (1:38 PM)

I actually watched the Mark Millon shooting on the run video and it taught me tips on how to get power and accuracy out of your shot. I had no clue what I was doing in terms of shooting on the run until that video when I was a sophomore in high school. I start off breaking it down shooting on the walk, then jog, then sprint.

Nag Jay (Homewood)

What's it like playing at Ravens Stadium... Are any of you Ravens fans?

Sam DeVore

  (1:39 PM)

Playing at a venue like Ravens stadium is awesome its a great feeling. Im actually a Jets fan but a bunch of the guys on our team are Ravens fans. Kimmels is always wearing his tie dye Ravens shirt

James (Baltimore)

For both Sam and Mike, It seems like Hopkins is one of those schools that is loved by its fans and really, really hated by its non-fans. Is it tough to play road games and deal with that stuff?

Sam DeVore

  (1:45 PM)

Playing the toughest schedule in college lacrosse every year is definitely difficult. Playing UVA and Hofstra on the road is a tough task but those games are in the past and we are looking towards Maryland on Saturday

Mike Kimmel

  (1:46 PM)

Our fans are some of the most die-hard fans in all of college lacrosse and like you said the non-fans cannot stand us. People claim we play way too slow and that we are boring to watch. We never have a guy put up 80 points in a season like some other places. Our scoring is much more balanced due to the way we play and due to our tough schedule. Playing in opposing stadiums is a blast because the intensity the opposing fans bring.

Bob (Philly)

Hey Sam - what's it like learning defense from one of the greats in the game?

Sam DeVore

  (1:48 PM)

Sam DeVore - Its a great honor to be playing at Hopkins and when you add in one of the greatest defensive players as your coach, its just a great experience. Every day our defense learns something new and tries to improve because Coach Petro is constantly making us better.

Bob (Philly)

Mike, who's the toughest long pole you've gone against in your college career?

Mike Kimmel

  (1:53 PM)

Joe Kelly who plays at UPenn. We played at Loyola High School in Baltimore together. He used to hound me everyday in practice. He was the toughest kid to get by.

Adam (OH)

With Gvozden having some consistency issues over the course of your career, how do you guys stay positive in helping him remain confident?

Sam DeVore

  (1:59 PM)

Gvozden has been a really good friend and I have a good time playing with him everyday. Hes been really positive with our other goalies so I think hes doing a great job.

Bob (Philly)

So what's your prediction for Saturday? How important is it for you to keep the streak alive against the Terps?

Sam DeVore

  (2:03 PM)

Playing Maryland is always a great challenge. Weve been fortunate enough to have beaten them the past 3 years. We are working hard this week and we will play as hard as we can to get a win on Saturday.

Mike Kimmel

  (2:04 PM)

Maryland is going to try and come out and bully us. We have to match their intensity and scrap for every loose ball. This game is important because of where we are in our season. Because the game is against Maryland, it adds even more to the importance of showing up and executing

Sean Burns

  (2:05 PM)

Alright fans, we've got to let Mike and Sam roll to practice, so thanks a bunch to both of them for coming by and best of luck on Saturday!

Sean Burns

  (2:06 PM)

We'll have Army senior co-captains Alex Gephart and Andrew Maisano coming up in a hot second, so fire them your questions now!

Beating Navy? (Plano)

I've heard a lot of cheers/chants recently from the cadets about beating navy and washing your hands afterwards, what does this mean?

Alex Gephart

  (2:14 PM)

Beating Navy is a pretty common phrase used around here. Whenever you salute an officer, you say 'Beat Navy'. Whenever we have a brief and the speaker tells us to take our seats, we say 'Beat Navy'. Beat Navy is used with everything and anything around here.

James (Baltimore, MD)

Alex, Andrew and Patrick Thanks for dedicated so much of your life to our country. Describe your thoughts going into the game with your archrival as well as the importance in the Patriot League race. I am looking forward to the game at M&T

Alex Gephart

  (2:21 PM)

Getting the opportunity to play Navy in Ravens Stadium is something that you grow up dreaming about as a kid. Army-Navy is one of the best rivalries in sports. We understand that they're a talented team and we need to play well regardless.

Alex Gephart

  (2:22 PM)

In terms of the Patriot League, we treat this game as its own individual season. There's so much pride associated with it that it doesn't need to be placed in the greater context of the Patriot League to make it special.

Bob (Philly)

What has been your favorite moment in the Army-Navy series since you've been in school? What are you looking forward to on Saturday?

Alex Gephart

  (2:26 PM)

In terms of the best Army-Navy moment, it would definitely have to be our victory at home on Senior Day in 2008. It was the first time we had beaten them in a while and to send those seniors out with a victory is something we'll never forget.

Alex Gephart

  (2:27 PM)

We talk about this game being something that you'll remember for the rest of your life. Coach A still gets emails from 1948 graduates about the Army-Navy games played in their semior year. I'm excited to have these bonds for the rest of my life.

Little Jimmy (Upstate)

Who is the best COD player on your team?

Alex Gephart

  (2:29 PM)

I'll take this question because Andrew Maisano can't answer about himself, that'd just be vanity. But Maisano can shake and bake with the best of 'em. Kids like Devin Lynch really have wheels as well.

Champ Kind (San Diego)

Who's the toughest defender that you've faced in your career? How about from Navy since they're notoriously tough on D

Andrew Maisano

  (2:36 PM)

I would say the toughest guy I have faced are the Syracuse guy. Joel White is a heck of an athlete and Jovan Miller is a tough SSDM to get by. As far as Navy goes, Jaren Woeppel and Zach Schroeder are two of the best LSMs and last year Geoff Leone was a very hard guy to beat.

Tanner (Plano)

Alex, Everyone knows that people in the army must have short hair, do you think the inability to grow out a nice head of "Lettuce" is detrimental to army on the field?

Alex Gephart

  (2:40 PM)

Not to build myself up, but I had some pretty serious flow in high school. That was also when I played offense. Once they cut my hair off at West Point, I was relegated to defensive midfield and have been there ever since. I still ponder what could have been.

Andrew Maisano

  (2:40 PM)

In my experience, ladies love a good medium fade.

Sean Burns

  (2:41 PM)

Alright folks, we've got to move on to our OTHER service academy, so special thanks to Andrew and Alex and a wish of the best of luck against their Arch-Rival on Saturday.

Sean Burns

  (2:41 PM)

Be back in one second with Navy's Patrick Moran, who will be around for the next half hour to answer your questions...

Susan Moran (Annapolis)

Hi Patrick,It's mom....What would you like me to make for the tailgate on Saturday???? Love You!!! GO NAVY!

Patrick Moran

  (2:43 PM)

Hi mom! You always make all of my favorites, but if I had to choose one thing it would be grilled chicken sandwiches in your famous sauce! I love you too!

Patrick Moran

  (2:43 PM)

Hi mom! You always make all of my favorites, but if I had to choose one thing it would be grilled chicken sandwiches in your famous sauce! I love you too!

Lilly (Annapolis)

Why do you like using a blue lacrosse pole?? I really like it!

Carson Watson (Miami, FL)

Pat, Where do you get those sweet looking blue shafts? Does the Naval Academy give you those shaft? What kinds of cool gear do you get for playing lax at Navy? I like # 13 too. Good Luck vs Army

Patrick Moran

  (2:45 PM)

Hi Carson! STX actually does not make that color shaft anymore. I have used the light blue vanadium shaft since my freshman year so now I have to get them on my own. We are always taken care of with all of our equipment but I can't imagine playing with another shaft.

Champ Kind (San Diego)

Patrick, Navy has had some tough injuries to deal with this year, how have you guys managed to get to 4-1 in the league despite your injuries?

Patrick Moran

  (2:54 PM)

Hey Champ! We have always prided ourselves on having a lot of people who can step up when others get hurt. We have a lot of capable players who are anxiously awaiting their shot and when we lost Tim Paul at the start of our season, Ryan O'Leary and Kyle Kapron have really stepped up and have been playing well. We never look back at the past but instead look ahead to the next game.

Sean Burns

  (2:58 PM)

We'll have Patrick answer one from before that applies to him: What is your favorite memory from the Army-Navy rivalry since you've been there, and who is the toughest player you've gone against in that span?

Patrick Moran

  (3:03 PM)

One of my favorite moments from the Army-Navy game has to be running out of the tunnel at Ravens Stadium as a team with the American Flag. It is a great feeling to be a part of such a storied rivalry. Tim Henderson has been playing great and I really think he has stepped up. I'm looking forward to that matchup on Saturday.

Bob (Bmore)

Does it add anything to Saturday that you guys are fighting for your playoff lives, or does this one not get any bigger than it already is?

Patrick Moran

  (3:11 PM)

It definitely adds a little extra to the game. Army has been playing great and this game could very well determine how the seedings shape up. So when we meet on Saturday there will be much more on the line than just bragging rights. Go NAVY! Beat Army!

Sean Burns

  (3:11 PM)

And with that, we're gonna call it a wrap, sports fans. Thanks again to all five guys for participating this week and hopefully we'll see you all this Saturday at the Smartlink Day of Rivals!