Navy borrows Patriots’ plane for flight to Liberty Bowl

Navy hitched an extra special ride to their upcoming bowl game by heading to Memphis, Tennessee in the Patriots’ custom team plane. 

The Midshipmen borrowed one of the Patriots’ two Boeing 767’s for their flight from Annapolis, Maryland to Memphis, Tennessee for a two-hour flight that left the team feeling a bit spoiled. 

“We were all pampered for a little bit,” Navy coach Ken Niumatalolo told the Washington Post.

Thank you @Patriots and Team 125 for sending us to the @AZOLibertyBowl the right way! #NavyFB | #BuiltDifferent pic.twitter.com/dGtS3qGHzQ

— Navy Football (@NavyFB) December 26, 2019

“It was awesome,” he continued. “There were people coming with the candy tray, the chocolate chip cookie was nice and warm. It’s obviously designed for a football team, so the spacing was awesome. I was kind of sad when they said it was only a two-hour flight, you know usually you want a quick flight but this time, I was a little sad.”

“Just very grateful to Robert Kraft, the Patriots, Mr. (Bill) Belichick,” Niumatalolo added.

New England coach Bill Belichick has a special connection to Navy – his father Steve worked as an assistant coach and scout at Navy while Belichick was growing up. 

Navy will play against Kansas State tomorrow, December 31st, at the Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium in Memphis, Tennessee at 2:45 p.m. Central Time.

. @NavyFB traveling to the @AZOLibertyBowl in STYLE. Thank you @Patriots pic.twitter.com/kDxXlc0t7X

— Navy Athletics (@NavyAthletics) December 26, 2019