Forty-three wins in a row against Navy. Think Notre Dame really cares about that now?
“When you’re 1-7 you’re trying to beat whoever you’re playing,” said Notre Dame coach Charlie Weis. “The streak isn’t nearly as important as winning a game at home. That’s the streak we?re most concerned with,winning a game at home.”
The Irish, who host Navy (4-4) today in South Bend, Ind., haven?t lost to the Midshipmen since 1963. But, despite last season?s 38-14 victory, Notre Dame may be hard-pressed to make it 44 straight.
The Irish are having one of their worst seasons ever and enter the Navy game on the heels of a 38-0 loss to Southern California two weeks ago. They have been outscored 237-80 and have suffered two shutouts. Incredibly, they have scored at least 20 points only once.
Senior center John Sullivan said there?s still a lot of motivation for the team?s final four games.
“There’s a long tradition at Notre Dame,” Sullivan said. “Everybody that’s ever played here, ever coached here, people who are part of the university … those guys feel like they’re part of the team, and they are.
“That’s just part of being here at Notre Dame. I’ll definitely feel like I’m part of next year’s team. And that’s why I feel a lot of responsibility to help them move into next season on a positive note.”
Though the Midshipmen aren?t in the national title chase like USC and Boston College, which defeated Notre Dame, 27-14, on Oct. 13, the Irish don’t expect any less of a challenge. Navy?s offense is averaging 36 points a game, among the nation?s Top 25. On the opposite end, only winless Florida International ranks behind Notre Dame?s 10 points-a-game average.
“[Navy?s] been scoring points on everyone,” Irish senior safety Tom Zbikowski said. “It’s not like it would be tough to lose to them, but it would be a big deal outside the locker room with the streak and everything. They play hard, and they always give [fans their] money’s worth every single year.”
