Facing the Irish, Mids See Fighting Chance

Navy football Coach Paul Johnson gathered the team Monday afternoon and delivered a simple message: The Midshipmen have a chance to make history. Beat Notre Dame, and the team would not be remembered for four losses or giving up an average of 49 points per game in October. It would be remembered as the team that ended a 43-year losing streak.

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Throughout the week, other messages followed. Senior center Antron Harper told his teammates to "enjoy the moment" of playing in a nationally televised game before a sold-out crowd at Notre Dame Stadium. Defensive coordinator Buddy Green pared down his game plan, so the unit would be more ready to move quickly and decisively.

Well wishes came at every turn from the Brigade of Midshipmen, at least 500 of whom will attend today's game.

"Kids in class were saying that maybe this is the year the streak will end," starting left guard Anthony Gaskins said. "I just hope we can come back with a win. It would be a great honor to be on that team."

The Midshipmen (4-4) face Notre Dame (1-7) today at 2:30 p.m. in South Bend, Ind. The Fighting Irish have won 43 straight meetings dating from 1963, the longest streak over a single opponent in NCAA history.

Most, if not all, of those Navy teams traveled more in hope than expectation. To a certain extent, that has not changed this year: Notre Dame still has an advantage in size, strength and talent. As a Navy official once said, Notre Dame has Parade all-Americans; Navy has guys who march in parades.

But there is reason for the Midshipmen to be confident. The last victorious Navy team in the series beat a Notre Dame team that finished 2-7, a nearly identical record to the one the Irish have today. Since then, there have been only two Notre Dame teams that lost seven or more games.

Both nearly lost to Navy.

In 1999, Notre Dame finished 5-7. The Midshipmen led by three and appeared to stop Notre Dame on a fourth and 10 with 1 minute 37 seconds to play. The players and coaches on the sideline had begun to celebrate -- a little too early, because it turned out Notre Dame had gained a first down "by a centimeter," one Navy player said later. The decisive touchdown in a 28-24 victory came six plays later, with 36 seconds left.

In 2003, the Fighting Irish also went 5-7. They did not clinch a 27-24 victory over Navy until they made a 40-yard field goal as time expired; though then-senior Josh Smith got a hand on the ball, he only partially blocked it.

Navy defeated eight-loss Notre Dame teams in 1956 and 1960.

"I think they've been scoring points on everyone," said Notre Dame senior Tom Zbikowski, a starting safety. "They play hard every single year. They always give us our money's worth."