Sunday, Nov. 08, 2009

After stunning loss to Navy, options running out for Notre Dame

SOUTH BEND, Ind. -- The most insidious sight came after, with "Anchors Aweigh" blaring and waking all the wrong kinds of echoes.

After a perfunctory kneel-down to seal victory, Navy players didn't storm the field in rapture. They didn't pierce the silence at Notre Dame Stadium with full-throated roars of delight.

What was most sinister was that Navy beat No. 19 Notre Dame, 23-21, and didn't belie one scintilla of surprise. The Midshipmen walked onto the turf, resolutely shook hands and fell into some celebratory hugs in the gloaming. Joy, yes. But astonishment? That was about the only non-option for them Saturday.

"We're undefeated at Notre Dame," grinning Navy senior Nick Henderson told two teammates as they crossed the field to stand with the Irish for the home team's alma mater.

There Notre Dame swayed with expressions alternating between blank or sour. Heading into 2007, the Irish hadn't lost to Navy since 1963. Even heading into this meeting, a ranked Irish team had beaten an unranked Midshipmen squad 41 straight times. Now, lingering Bowl Championship Series hopes were vaporized. Now, when the band struck up the usual "1812 Overture" homage to the Notre Dame coach, a round of stinging boos followed.

"There never has been a Notre Dame team to lose to Navy twice in the past 50 years," Irish linebacker Brian Smith said. "I mean, we beat them 43 straight times and I've lost to them twice already. It's frustrating."

In every conceivable way.

Irish defensive coordinator Jon Tenuta harrumphed this week he had seen every option, and then Navy chewed up his unit for 348 yards rushing. Fullback Vince Murray - the one guy Irish coach Charlie Weis said you have to stop in the triple option - rushed for 158 yards, 11.3 per carry.

"I'm at a loss for words," Irish nose tackle Ian Williams said. "They out-schemed us and they just played harder. I know we played our hearts out. I played my heart out. I guess they just had a better scheme than we did."

Said Navy coach Ken Niumatalolo: "We had a pretty good clue they were going to come back and do the same things they did last year, and we had a few things."

That produced a 14-0 halftime lead, which was enough cushion against a mistake-addled Irish offense. Notre Dame (6-3) amassed 512 yards of offense, featuring quarterback Jimmy Clausen's career-best 452 yards passing.

But the Irish flubbed too many chances, going 2-for-6 in the red zone. That included two missed field goals and an interception on a pass that bounced off receiver Michael Floyd's back. And instead of last-minute magic, Clausen got sacked for a safety with a minute left.

"It's not about statistics at all," Clausen said. "It's about production and putting points on the board."

Niumatalolo spoke of catching Notre Dame in a "perfect storm" of BCS hype and an imminent showdown with Pittsburgh. But that was a passing sprinkle compared to the typhoon again engulfing Weis.

The Michigan loss was irksome. The USC loss seemed pardonable, if only due to a late charge. Navy may be quite good, but two losses to the Midshipmen in three tries floats no one's boat.

"The sad part about it is, that's this job every week," Weis said. "It's a week-to-week deal. ... As I just told the team, I coach exactly the same way every week ... whether it's a win or loss. One thing they know from me is I never, ever change."

And as it relates to Navy, well, Notre Dame always can get 'em next year.