Navy Football Hype

Tomorrow Navy (5-0) takes on Notre Dame (3-2) in an attempt to erase a 40-game losing streak to the Fighting Irish. I was a witness to last year's nail-biter at South Bend. With Touchdown Jesus at their backs, Notre Dame kicked a field goal that split the uprights as time expired, sending the fans and players into the type of frenzy that you would expect of a team that had just won the national championship. Strange, since it was their 40th win in a row against the Midshipmen. It was kind of sad, really. But you can see what is at stake in this rivalry. There is a lot of pride on the line. I, along with a small contingent of Middies, sat through that frigid game on the edge of my seat, thinking this could be the year. Navy was this close!

Tomorrow, Navy arrives with a perfect record but plays a better Irish team. The Irish have beaten Michigan and Stanford, and have lost only an early season game to BYU and to the red-hot #5 Purdue Boilermakers. Navy has eked out wins against much lesser teams than Notre Dame plays. Playing the Irish, however, brings out the fight in both teams. So this should be a close one. Unfortunately, I have to give the Irish a ten-point win, 24-14.

Read more about Navy's incredible season here.