GAME PREVIEW: NAVY
BY JORDAN WELLS
N
otre Dame fans should be
cautious about this year 's
matchup against Navy, and for
good reason. One concern is its
location on the schedule. Notre Dame
hosts the Midshipmen between the trip
to Clemson Oct. 3 and the home show-
down with USC Oct. 17.
Any worry about an emotional let-
down, however, also applies to the op-
posing side this year. Navy played Air
Force Oct. 3, and even though Notre
Dame is certainly a game that's circled
on their calendar every year, the Mid-
shipmen also invest an abundance of
pride in capturing the Commander's-
In-Chief trophy, awarded every season
to the winner of the triangular series
between Navy, Air Force and Army.
The last time Navy had to play Air
Force prior to the Notre Dame game
was 2004. The Midshipmen opened
that season 5-0 before falling 27-9 to
the Irish, when they hosted them at
Giants Stadium in East Rutherford,
N.J. Navy is off to a similar hot start
11 years later.
"Fans are very excited obviously; it
was Navy's first 3-0 start to the season
since 2006," said Gene Wang, who cov-
ers Navy for The Washington Post. "For
the players, though, it's very typical
of what you see from Navy. I know
it's a cliché, but it really is one game
at a time for the players. They don't
Smooth Sailing
The Midshipmen are off to a
fast start in their first season in
the American Athletic Conference
Senior Keenan Reynolds has posted a 24‑11 record
as Navy's starting quarterback, while racking up
3,491 yards and 73 touchdowns on the ground dur‑
ing his career.
PHOTO COURTESY NAVY
