Notre Dame 49 Navy 39

Notre Dame just validated the Playoff Selection Committee ranking them number 10. Look for that to drop further after this game. There is just no way Navy would even be competitive against the current top 5. So wait til next year once again.

Notre Dame had to make this a statement game and they did not. You just cannot play a 4-4 team and almost lose… Does anyone seriously think that the Navy FB would have a 50 yard TD run against Alabama? Hell if they played another 1/2 hr. Navy probably wins.

So ND had over 500 yds offense while Navy had 450 or so, Golson was outstanding 3 rush TD’s and 3 pass TD’s. Folston runs for about 150 yards and inexplicably he gets yanked at a crucial time in the game.

History, I’m not the least bit interested in what happened 70 years ago… We have long ago paid off that debt. Unless College Football bans the cut block, say goodbye to Navy.

We can’t afford the injuries. We lost 3 DL last year and last nights game we had injuries to Sheldon Day, Jarron Jones and the guy we can least afford to lose ILB Joe Schmidt who is now sporting an ankle boot and probably won’t play against ASU. Schmidt’s the only guy that can call Van Gorder’s defense.

A number of freshman had to play and ILB Martini really looked good, Jaylon played outside and N. Morgan filled in for Schmidt.

Check out Kelly’s post game presser. He said something to the effect they wanted Jaylon unencumbered by playing inside, you just lose his versatility. He should not be an ILB, he’s just to good like Lawrence Taylor. Move him around – that’s what I’ve been saying from the start. Now based on this game ND should start Martini inside and keep Jaylon outside. Freshman Morgan probably gets Schmidt’s position.

All this does not look good going up against ASU who happen to have one of the best CFB coaches in Todd Graham who runs a fast high scoring offense. Then we have a raft of good teams to finish the season.

So is it really worth the injuries and the $$$ to continue to play Navy?

Final thought – better hope nothing happens to Golson or we are dead.