Irish, Midshipmen both thankful for long-running rivalry series

Associated Press

SOUTH BEND, Ind. — The belated congratulations came to Roger Staubach on a February afternoon in 2008 at the Daytona 500.

A Notre Dame alumnus wondered how Staubach, an owner of a NASCAR team with fellow Dallas Cowboys Hall of Fame quarterback Troy Aikman, felt about Navy’s 46-44 triple-overtime victory at Notre Dame the previous autumn. The earto-ear smile spoke volumes for Staubach, who at the time was the last Navy quarterback to beat the Irish — back in 1963 while winning the Heisman Trophy.

It’s been 56 years since Staubach led Navy to a 3514 win at Notre Dame Stadium and the Midshipmen will return Saturday for the 93rd meeting in what is billed as the nation’s longest continuous intersectional football rivalry.

It will be the first time since 1978 that both teams come in ranked in The Associated Press Top 25: Notre Dame (7-2) is No. 16 and Navy (7-1) is No. 21. The

Midshipmen are coming off a bye week following their fifth straight victory, 56-10 over Connecticut. The Irish beat Duke 38-7 last week and return home, where they’ve won 16 consecutive games.

SERIES,

Notre Dame won 43 straight games against Navy — the longest in history between two FBS rivals — before that 2007 win that had Staubach smiling months later. Notre Dame’s 78-13-1 dominance has often provoked criticism from outsiders as to why the series has continued. Notre Dame’s response remains one of honor and perpetual thanks to the U.S. Navy for putting an officer’s training center in South Bend to boost attendance during World War II.

“For both of us to be ranked, it’s kind of cool,” said Navy coach Ken Niumatalolo, an assistant to coach Paul Johnson in that streak-ending 2007 Navy victory who has since orchestrated three victories over the Irish starting with a 23-21 triumph over Charlie Weis’ last team in 2009.

Niumatalolo’s last two wins came against Brian Kellycoached teams in which Navy was the designated “home” team: 35-17 in New Jersey in 2010 and 28-27 in Jacksonville, Florida, in 2016. That team finished 4-8 for Kelly’s only losing season with the Irish.

“We had a nine-win team that beat them in Jacksonville,” Niumatalolo recalled. “They only had the ball six

Jennie Coker Calhoun Softball senior Carlie Henderson signs with the University of South Carolina at the Calhoun High School Media Center on Wednesday, Nov. 13.

AP-Gerry Broome Notre Dame wide receiver Chase Claypool (83) celebrates a touchdown against Duke during the first half of an NCAA college football game in Durham, N.C.

AP-Gerry Broome Notre Dame wide receiver Chris Finke (10) is congratulated by teammates following Finke’s touchdown against Duke during the second half of a game in Durham, N.C.