Navy (4-4) at Notre Dame (1-7)

Year-To-Date/Last Year
Navy (4-4) comes to South Bend off a surprising, upset home loss to 1AA Delaware last weekend, 59-52 (Editor’s note: IFP refuses to use the ‘Championship Subdivision’ moniker in place of Division 1AA when describing teams like Delaware or Appalachian State regardless of how non-PC that might be in these cautious, troubled times). Repeating a common 2007 Navy football theme, the Midshipmen gave up 581 yards of total offense to the Blue Hens, an Appalachian State-like 1AA power in their own right (7-1 on the year). The teams pretty much traded scores throughout, neither stopping the other with any consistency. But before anyone says, “well, Navy was clearly looking ahead to Notre Dame,” note that Navy has held an opponent under 20 points only once this year and has given up an average of 45 ppg in their four 2007 losses (41-24 at Rutgers, 34-31 vs. Ball State, 44-24 vs. Wake Forest two weeks ago, and the Delaware shootout loss last weekend). Navy’s four 2007 wins have been similarly high scoring track meets (30-19 at Temple, 46-43 vs. Duke, 31-20 vs. Air Force, and 48-45 vs. Pitt in 2OT).

#11 Notre Dame piled up 471 yards of total offense to beat Navy 38-14 in front of 71,000+ fans in sold out M&T Bank Stadium in Baltimore last year. Brady Quinn threw for 295 yards and three TDs (two to Rhema McKnight, one to David Grimes). Darius Walker had 103 yards rushing on 20 carries.

Navy Offense
Kaipo-Nao Kaheaku-Enhada (5-11, 195, junior from Kapolei, Hawaii whose 12-vowel name likely shatters all existing NCAA records in the category -- IFP Research Staff confirming), is the Naval Academy’s run-first, run-second, run-third, throw-fourth-if-and-only-if-absolutely-necessary starting QB. He is both the leading passer and leading rusher for the Mids, out of their semi-traditional service academy, one fullback, two slotback, spread offense. K-Enhada was dinged-up in the Wake Forest game two weeks ago (neck), however, and split time with backup Jarod Bryant last week vs. Delaware because of it. Bryant (5-10, 185 junior from Hoover, Alabama) might be the better passer of the two (8-11 for 126 yds vs. the Hens) whereas K-Enhada has ripped off two of the longest runs from scrimmage in Naval Academy history this year (80 yard TD vs. Ball State and 78 yard TD vs. Air Force) and has six 100+ yard rushing games for Navy since his first career start in last year’s Notre Dame-Navy game. I would not be the least bit surprised to see Navy juggle QBs on Saturday, flipping back and forth between these two in an attempt to keep the Irish defense off balance. I would imagine Chas and Corwin are game-planning for both.

From a yards/game vantage point, Navy is the top rushing team in the country and it really isn’t that close (343 ypg vs. #2 West Virginia’s 298 ypg). What is a little misleading, however, is that “rush” is just about all Navy does. The Mids have run the football on 509 of 598 offensive plays this year (84%) and their top 3 receivers (OJ Washington, Zerbin Singleton, and all-purpose threat Reggie Campbell—see below) have combined for only 27 catches, 509 yards, and 4 TDs. Besides K-Enhada, fullback Eric Kettani (6-1, 220, junior) is the feature back (558 yards, 5.6 ypc, 6 TDs). Senior center Antron Harper (5-11, 275) is on the watch lists for the 2007 Remington Award, Lombardi Award, and Outland Trophy.

Navy Defense
Challenged. To say the least. Navy returned only 3 starters from 2006, has been crippled by injuries, and is allowing opponents 38 points/game, 180 rushing yards/game, 4.6 yards/carry, 280 yards passing/game, and a 70% pass completion rate (167-237) because of it. Senior linebacker Irv Spencer (6-0, 240) leads Navy in tackles/tackles-for-loss, and junior cornerback Ketric Buffin (5-7, 170) has 4 INTs, but losing two of their best defenders to season-ending injuries (junior linebacker Clint Stovie and senior safety Jeff Deliz) might be the real Navy defensive “story” this year.

Navy Special Teams
Senior Joey Bullen and junior Matt Harmon have split Navy place kicking duties this year (Bullen = 7-11 on FGs, long of 44 yards, Harmon = 6-9, long of 46). Bullen’s 44-yarder was a game-winner vs. Duke. Senior Greg Veteto, a former walk-on, is a returning starter at punter averaging 36 yards/punt with a long of 50 yards (OK but not great by any stretch). Reggie Campbell (5-6, 170, senior from Sanford, FL) returns kicks and punts, trails only Napoleon McCallum in career all-purpose yardage for the Naval Academy, and has been invited to the Hula Bowl.

Navy Coaches
Paul Johnson, a former 1AA coaching legend (4-time 1AA Coach of the Year at Georgia Southern), has done an outstanding job in Annapolis considering what he inherited six years ago. Johnson has led the Midshipmen to four straight Commander-in-Chief trophies (and counting), four straight bowl bids, is 39-19 overall at Navy, and, perhaps most importantly to those close to the program, has never lost to Army. Johnson, who is his own offensive coordinator and is entering his 6th season at Navy, has created a consistent winner out of the Naval Academy football program, a feat many thought impossible. Buddy Green, a former NC State defensive coordinator, left the Wolfpack to run the Navy defense in 2002. Green was head coach at UT-Chattanooga from 1994-99.

Worth Noting
No team has ever led the NCAA in rushing three years in a row…until this year if Navy can stay on top in the category. Nebraska led the nation in rushing in 6 of 8 years from 1988-1995 but never three consecutive years.

Notre Dame has not punted against Navy since 2004.

Vegas
Notre Dame (-3.5). Not a lot of love considering home field is typically worth 2.5 to 3.5 points. Guess we don’t deserve much love at this point.

Summary/Prediction
I’m afraid IFP has some bad news for the vocal “this is the year Navy ends the 43-game streak” contingent. This ISN’T the year. This IS a bad spot for a beat up Navy team and the reason is Navy’s defense, or lack thereof. The Mids are simply not stopping anyone, haven’t all year, and now bring their walking wounded into Notre Dame Stadium to face a rested Irish team desperately needing a get right weekend. Or at least a “get the thing pointed in the right direction” weekend. The Las Vegas Gaming Authority clearly expects a close one here. IFP does not. Notre Dame 38 – Navy 21.

Notre Dame Opponents Schedule – November 3, 2007
Georgia Tech vs. #11 Virginia Tech (Thursday 11/1)
Wreck RB Tashard Choice down with a scoped knee. Hokies apparently only play on Thursdays. T. Roland, please confirm.

Penn State vs. Purdue
Winner gets their Alamo Bowl ticket punched?

#15 Michigan at Michigan State
If the Wolves look ahead to OSU, do they get wrenched by the Lansing Lugnuts? Henne and Hart both expected to play. Sparty (+4) at home. A live dog?

Navy at NOTRE DAME

UCLA at Arizona
Another yo-yo season not good for Dorrell’s short-term coaching health in Westwood.

#2 Boston College vs. Florida State
Somebody stop this nonsense.

#13 USC vs. Oregon State
Trojan offense ordinary without Booty, even with more RB depth than anyone in the NFC West?


#25 Clemson at Duke
Tigers piling on the points against lesser foes of late and might put 40 on Dook in Durham.

Stanford vs. Washington
The “Ty Gets Exposed” tour continues. Cardinal by a FG.

Other Games of Interest – November 3, 2007
#1 Ohio State vs. Wisconsin
Can Bucky, with a nicked PJ Hill, in The Horseshoe? Probably not.

#3 LSU at #17 Alabama
Saban assumes demigod status in Tuscaloosa County with a win here. Tigers more lucky than good vs. Auburn.

#4 Oregon vs. #6 Arizona State
Ducks defense only OK; offense is for real. First time ASU has been a dog this season, which might say more about their schedule than their team. Too soon for Erickson’s Sun Devils? IFP thinks so. Ducks by 10.

Indiana vs. Ball State
IU has five wins. Six guarantees bowl eligibility, but does not guarantee a bid. Given the logjam of mediocrity in the middle of the Big Ten, IFP suspects the Hoosiers will need 7 wins to stir up any interest from post-season matchmakers…making this one a must-get. Absolutely not a gimmee, however. Hoosier head coach Bill Lynch was BSU’s head coach 5 years ago.

Butler at Dayton
The 4-5 Bulldogs, who have lost 5 straight, visit Pioneer League league-leading Flyers. Dayton blew out previously unbeaten U. of San Diego last week. Bad spot for the Dawgs? Butler beat Dayton 23-20 last year.

Rose-Hulman vs. Manchester
6-3 Fighting Engineers conclude the 2007 season with a Senior Day matchup vs. the 3-5 Spartans in Terre Haute. A victory would give RHIT its most wins in a season since 1994. See the attached link for the most important kernel of knowledge in Rose-Hulman football history:

http://www.rose-hulman.edu/sports/football/records/fbgame.htm#RECEPT.IRC

Checking Who’s Reading
The U. S. Naval Academy is one of just four schools to produce a President of the United States and a Super Bowl winning QB (Jimmy Carter, Roger Staubach). Name the other three schools and the corresponding President + QB.

Sources/References
Phil Steele’s 2007 College Football Preview
2007 Blue Ribbon College Football Yearbook
www.espn.com
http://navysports.cstv.com
http://butlersports.cstv.com
http://www.rose-hulman.edu/sports