I’m the last person to pander to Navy football fans. Just last year, I rankled the feathers of Midshipmen fans everywhere when I opined, quite accurately, that Navy’s team was inferior to Maryland’s.

Navy fans, in their sincere fervor, have taken their recent seasons of success against Division I also-rans as a sign the program is on the level of their in-state rivals in College Park, which has victories over top-flight programs like Tennessee, West Virginia, Miami, Florida State and Clemson in recent years.

Here’s my honest bone tossed your way, though, Navy fans: on Nov. 3, you’re finally going to watch your team beat Notre Dame.

It’s been 43 long years for the fans of the Academy since they have seen the Midshipmen beat the vaunted Fighting Irish. While there have been some close games here and there, Notre Dame’s dominance over Annapolis’ finest has rarely been questioned.

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Since Roger Staubach won the Heisman in 1963, Notre Dame’s superior talent has overwhelmed Navy. While the Irish routinely has the pick of the All-American litter, Navy must succeed with players who have loftier goals in life than playing in the NFL.

The divide in talent has always been prevalent between the two teams, as Notre Dame has won lost just nine of the 79 games in the yearly rivalry.

Overall success has not come easily for Navy. Since Navy coach Paul Johnson came on the scene with his triple-option attack in 2002, the Midshipmen have gone 36-17. Against anyone, that’s impressive.

Given that Navy is 1-2 right now, with key injuries suffered by quarterback Kaipo-Noa Kaheaku-Enhada, linebacker Clint Sovie, safety Jeff Deliz and linebacker Irv Spencer, the outlook should look bleak when the Midshipmen head to South Bend, Ind.

Just this past weekend, Navy ran for over 500 yards and still couldn’t beat Ball State, a team without a winning record since 1996.

Here’s the caveat to all of this: Notre Dame is terrible this season. They are like scientists making breakthroughs in playing really bad football. This past weekend, the Irish fell to 0-3 and have yet to score an offensive touchdown this season.

Granted, Notre Dame has lost to powerful teams like Georgia Tech, Penn State and Michigan, but the Irish lack passion. It’s certainly not talent, as so many in the national media would like you to believe.

Notre Dame coach Charlie Weis has had highly ranked recruiting classes in each of the past two years, and is working on another. Johnson would kill to work with the type of talent Weis has at his disposal.

This year, Notre Dame is ripe for the upset—Johnson just needs to stick to his tricky offense, if only because the Irish have proven they are lacking in something Navy has in abundance: desire.

Matt Palmer is a staff writer for The Examiner who regularly writes columns on college football. He can be reached at mpalmer@baltimoreexaminer.com.