Strong senior leadership combined with sound veteran coaching can go a long way toward achieving success on the football field.
Navy had both in spades this season, and the result was a series of historic accomplishments.
The Midshipmen set a single-season school record with 11 victories while reclaiming the Commander-in-Chief's Trophy by beating service academy rivals Army and Air Force.
This year's crop of 32 seniors left an indelible mark on the program, setting standards that could last for decades. Navy's Class of 2016 compiled 36 wins over four years, equaling the school record set more than a century ago by the Class of 1909.