Notre Dame-Navy: How This Rivalry Has Changed

The  Navy game is one of those traditions that Notre Dame can never get away from. Just like USC and Michigan, Notre Dame's and Navy's pasts are linked and always will be.

The difference is the history of this rivalry is really more about friendship more than football.

This was a game that Notre Dame could pretty much pencil in as a victory the moment they saw the game on the schedule. It really wasn't about two of the elite programs battling it out for bragging rights since Notre Dame had won 43 straight.

However, because the Irish always respected what the servicemen did, this game never lost importance for Notre Dame. This rivalry was born during World War II. It happened when enrollment at Notre Dame was down due to more males enrolling in the military.

As a result, Notre Dame was hurting financially. Navy needed a place to train their soldiers. Notre Dame allowed Navy to train it's soldiers in South Bend. They were allowed to use Notre Dame's classrooms and facilities. That saved Notre Dame financially. 

The football game is really an annual celebration of that event.

This game really was always more about the friendship and respect the two schools generated more than it was a rivalry. Since Notre Dame had won it so many times in a row, it was hard to call it a rivalry.

That all changed two years ago. We all remember the double overtime win for Navy. Personally, I was happy for Navy. While most totally hammered the Irish and the state of the program for this loss, I had a much different view of it.

That was a rebuilding year for the Irish. Navy wasn't the easy win it used to be. In fact, they have been a bowl eligible team for a few years now. I knew that the streak against Navy wouldn't last forever.

My feeling after that game was that it is better that it happens in a year in which the Irish aren't going anywhere than in a year where the loss can really hurt their bowl picture. I also expected a bowl eligible team to beat a 1-6 team. Therefore, I thought the media hammered the Irish too hard for the loss.

Then last year the game in Baltimore was a real scare. Notre Dame got off to a big lead and pulled their starters with eight minutes left. Notre Dame's backups almost blew it with sloppy tackling and the inability to recover an onside kick.

In the end the Irish did survive the scare to avoid the humiliation of two straight defeats to Navy. The Irish guaranteed themselves a bowl with the win.

This Saturday this rivalry is renewed and just has a different feel to it. Instead of Notre Dame just being able to show up and blow them out, both teams have clinched bowl eligibility and want to fight for the best position to get a good bowl game. This also marks Navy's first trip to South Bend since that historic day two years ago.

I do expect Notre Dame to win but it is now a victory they will have to fight for.

This article is also posted on http://fightingirishgameday.com/