NEW YORK Notre Dame's game with Navy shouldn't be a pushover today

The Irish lead the overall series, 67-9-1. This year, however, Navy is unbeaten. Need more be said?
NEW YORK (AP) -- For four decades, the routine has been pretty much the same: Notre Dame players and coaches talk up the Navy Midshipmen during the week and beat them up on game day.
It's often been hard to take the Fighting Irish seriously when they've tried to convince others -- and maybe even themselves -- that defeating Navy would be a problem.
Recently, though, things have changed. Now, when the Irish say Navy will be a challenge, nobody questions their sincerity.
The records
Notre Dame (4-2) has won an NCAA record 40 straight against Navy (5-0) heading into today's game at the Meadowlands in East Rutherford, N.J., but the last two were thrillers. The Middies have clearly closed the gap on their tormentors.
"Those games don't have anything to do with this game," Notre Dame coach Tyrone Willingham said. "We're going to play a Navy team that is a very good football team. It's an undefeated team. That's the team we will face. We've got to be prepared to play that team and play very well."
The last time Navy beat Notre Dame was 1963, with Heisman Trophy winner Roger Staubach leading the Middies to a 35-14 victory. Notre Dame leads the overall series 67-9-1.
The reason for the dominance is obvious.
"We don't have anybody on our team that Notre Dame recruited," Navy coach Paul Johnson said. "I don't know if we have anybody on our team that Notre Dame sent a letter to. They're supposed to win."
And with a few exceptions, the Irish have done so with ease.
Navy played Notre Dame tight in 1997, falling 21-17, and again in '99 (28-24).
Former I-AA coach
The Irish restored order in 2000 and 2001, winning by a combined 79-30 against two woeful Navy teams. After winning just one game combined in those two seasons, Navy hired Johnson from Georgia Southern, where he went 62-10 with two Division I-AA championships in five years.
Navy won just twice in 2002, but a change was evident in the Notre Dame game.
The Middies had a 23-15 lead in the fourth quarter before the Irish rallied with two late touchdowns for a 30-23 victory.
Last season, Navy's turnaround was one of the best in the nation. The Midshipmen went 8-5 and played in the Houston Bowl. Notre Dame slumped to 5-7, but still managed to beat Navy when D.J. Fitzpatrick kicked a 40-yard field goal as time expired for a 27-24 victory in South Bend.