CFI: ND LOOKS FOR WINS NUMBER 44 AND 2

BY SHANNON O’KEEFE
NOTRE DAME INSIDER

We are often told that one is the loneliest number. In South Bend, Indiana – and for Notre Dame supporters the world around – one is indeed the loneliest number, and the 1-7 Irish know it going into this Saturday’s game against the 4-4 Midshipmen. The Irish have won 43 straight games against Navy, and for the last 119 seasons, they haven’t lost five games at home in one season – let alone five straight. These facts, combined with an extra week of rest and practice coming out of a bye week, should provide enough fire and enough life for the ailing Irish to add a win.

Evan Sharpley will start for the Irish at quarterback for the second consecutive game, leaving Jimmy Clausen on the sidelines to rest up. If nothing else, this season will be a humbling experience for Clausen, one that should leave him well prepared to lead the Irish to victory in the coming years. Freshman running back Robert Hughes, who made headlines this week following the apparent homicide of his older brother in Chicago, has been granted extended leave from the team, but returned to practice and hopes to play on Saturday. James Aldridge is healthy again, after sitting out the (disastrous) game against USC with an injury.

Having strong personnel in the game should be an asset to the Irish, who are measly 3 1/2-point favorites against the Midshipmen. Given the turn this season has taken, getting that one win a friend in the W column might be enough to raise morale a bit, whether it’s by 3 1/2 points or 30.

“I think when you're 1-7 you're trying to beat whoever you're playing," was how Coach Charlie Weis out it this week.

Navy’s numbers on offense coming into the game are strong. The team is averaging more than 35 points a game and 343 yards a game rushing, while the Irish continue to struggle mightily on offense, having scored 34 points in their last three games combined. Navy’s defense, however, is posting some of the worst numbers in the country and is certainly the most woeful defense Notre Dame has played against this year. The Irish will need such an advantage to start scoring again; just to give their offense an opportunity to score, they’re going to need a few breaks.

The Irish offensive line has been so porous to date that the quarterback hasn’t had a second to drop back and the receivers don’t have time to start their routes. Thus the dinky pitches and short yardage ad nauseum. I don’t imagine that one week off will give the players and coaches adequate time to field a new team or develop their current players into meaty blockers. Instead, Coach Weis has suggested that we’ll see even more of his young, inexperienced talent. Expect to see Golden Tate get a lean on one, maybe two long balls. Look for Armando Allen to get yet more carries, and we’ll likely more of Kerry Neal, Brian Smith, Raeshon McNeil, and perhaps Mike Ragone or Will Yeatman at tight end.

It has certainly been a growth year – both for the team and its fans. With only four games left in the season, expect to learn new names to scream after glitched or golden plays. Growing pains indeed, but the team shouldn’t be quite so lonely for long. Given Navy’s defensive pains, look for an Irish victory, halting – for a moment, at least – one more broken record on Touchdown Jesus’ watch.