Anchors Aweigh! United States Naval Academy Torpedoes Notre Dame

Once upon a time, whenever the Midshipmen of the United States Naval Academy got on the football field with the Notre Dame Fighting Irish, a Notre Dame victory was all but guaranteed.

For 43 straight years (dating back to when Heisman Trophy winner and Dallas Cowboy Hall of Famer Roger Staubach played for the Mids), Notre Dame owned this rivalry (if you could call it that).

Yesterday, in New Meadowlands Stadium, the two teams met for another epic battle. And when it was all said and done, the end result was another blowout.

However, if I told you beforehand that the final score would be 35-17 in favor of Navy, you would have laughed.

That was the final score in a rivalry where the balance of power has shifted in favor of the Naval Academy, with a once-proud Notre Dame football program clearly reeling.

The Navy offense sailed to over 430 yards against the Irish D, fueled by quarterback Ricky Dobbs, who ran for three touchdowns and threw for another, and its destroyer, fullback Alexander Teich, who ran for over 200 yards and caught Dobbs's only touchdown pass. 

Defensively, the Midshipmen never really allowed the Irish to get into the flow of things, harassing quarterback Dayne Crist all day, coming up with a sack and two interceptions. 

While this lopsided loss by Notre Dame underlies just how far this storied program has fallen, it should also serve notice that the Navy football program, once considered Division I doormats, can no longer be taken lightly.