Blue and Gold Illustrated

December 2017

Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football

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www.BLUEANDGOLD.com DECEMBER 2017 5 FAN FORUM TOO MUCH RESPECT? For the past decade the Navy team has given Notre Dame fits, despite Notre Dame's clear talent superior- ity. The mutual respect between the two schools and teams is obvious (including standing at each other 's Alma Mater). Is that part of the puzzle? Perhaps we are looking at an older brother/ younger brother syndrome, wherein the smaller guy is determined to show his older sibling he can hold his own. I do know that as the Navy game approaches each season, I cringe and worry, knowing they can hurt us. They are a very well coached, dis- ciplined team with obviously smart young men, and they are dangerous! Tim O'Reilly, ND '61 Via the Internet TIME NOT ON THEIR SIDE The Navy team deserves our admi- ration, respect and gratitude. And if we had to play them every week, no one on the Notre Dame of- fense would log enough minutes to earn a monogram! Jim Brady '72 Via the Internet WRONG ROAD TAKEN Your edition following the Miami game listed the Notre Dame record versus undefeated teams in Novem- ber as 3-9-3, with the victories being over Oklahoma 1957, Pittsburgh 1982 and USC 1988. What about beating undefeated Florida State on Nov. 13, 1993? Per- haps you are only referring to road games, since the examples of wins and ties cited were on the road but the beginning of the paragraph on page 25 doesn't make that clear. Bob Madden '86 Via the Internet Mr. Madden, yes, the 3-9-3 record re- fers to only road games, so the numbers are accurate. Where we were remiss is not specifying the mark represented only road games — not home — in November. Thank you for helping us clarify. BE HEARD! Send your letters to: Letters Blue & Gold Illustrated P. O. Box 1007, Notre Dame, IN 46556 or e-mail to: lsomogyi@blueandgold.com For the fourth time in the last five years, Navy took Notre Dame down to the wire. It has de- feated the Irish four times since 2007 and come close several other times. The Midshipmen used to be the "automatic W" on the Notre Dame schedule — with an NCAA-record 43 straight wins from 1964-2006 — but the triple-option attack has become an annual headache. Here was a small sample of thoughts after the Irish survived the 24-17 contest: Mes34: I know the history. I don't care about it. I wish this game didn't exist. Nothing good comes from it. While the other big programs are playing Mercer and the likes, we are in a dogfight with Navy. Some traditions are simply not worth it. We should cut them a check for what they did back in the day and get on with it. It means more to them. This team has been playing high-profile games for like a month. How do you get up for Navy and their silly offense? It's a no-win situa- tion for us. NDAFarly: This season Ohio State played Army, and Michigan played Air Force. If ND can't handle Navy that is ND's problem. I've never seen a fan base bitch, moan and complain more than us. Simmer007: Ha ha, we loved this rivalry when we won 43 straight. CharlestonIrish25: I hate how often we have to complain about the Navy game because our head coach can't figure out how to blow out a team that he rightfully should 9 times out of 10. JohnnyH: Navy bailed Notre Dame out years ago when ND was damn near broke. This series will end when Navy says so. Inamar: I don't know what the guy who was calling plays was thinking in the first couple of offensive series. You had a Navy defense that has been run on all season, and you come out [in crappy weather to boot] with pass, pass, pass. 4Simm: I would tell Navy we are moving the game to be an annual season opener if they want the series to continue. Too difficult stick- ing them in November annually when we are already banged up. Gives us a little more time to prepare. Ohio State would only play their home and home a few years ago with Navy if it was the opener. We should follow suit. Irishcliff: The ND staff made adjustments in the second quarter and then outscored Navy 21-7 the rest of the game. BGIUser2232: I don't want them on the sched- ule because watching them play is like watching paint dry. Even if it was done by Picasso, it's still tedious as hell. From the opening kickoff, my only thought is "I want it to end." No disrespect intended to anything about them or tradition or what the Navy did for ND in '42. JMURPHY163: This was not about coaching or game planning, and more about needing Bran- don Wimbush to be more consistent. FROM THE WEBSITE Navy gave Notre Dame another tough battle this season before falling 24-17. PHOTO BY BILL PANZICA

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