Irish hope to extend streak

Navy hasn't beaten the Irish for 41 straight years.
SOUTH BEND, Ind. (AP) -- It is known simply as "The Streak."
It comes up in almost every conversation involving the Navy-Notre Dame game, and there is no need for elaboration.
For 41 years now, the Fighting Irish have beaten the Midshipmen. Through nine presidents, three popes, 23 secretaries of the Navy, seven Notre Dame coaches and 10 for Navy, the streak has grown into an NCAA record.
The Midshipmen have lost to the Irish in two countries, eight cities and 10 stadiums during the streak. There have been embarrassing losses -- including four of 40 points or more -- and heartbreaking defeats -- including Irish cornerback Allen Rossum pushing Pat McGrew out at the 1-yard line as time expired in 1997 and Jay Johnson's 16-yard TD catch with 36 seconds remaining in 1999.
"There's a reason why you win 41 years in a row, usually," Navy coach Paul Johnson quipped.
That might be true, but the streak has survived both good Navy teams and bad Irish squads.
Some close games
"There have been some close games when we've caught them when they didn't play well and we played well," Johnson said. "But clearly every year they have a tremendous talent advantage. So it's an uphill battle."
Apparently. The second-longest such streak in Division I-A ended at 36 games last Saturday when Kansas beat Nebraska 40-15. The second-longest current streak now is Tennessee's 22-game win streak over Vanderbilt, and that one could be in jeopardy next week.
Johnson said he believes the Midshipmen (5-3) face a stiffer challenge from Notre Dame this year than in recent years. He believes the seventh-ranked Irish (6-2) are the best squad Navy has faced in his four years as coach.
"They just have so many weapons," he said.
Aware of streak
Players on both Navy and Notre Dame are painfully aware of the streak and agree on one thing -- it will have no bearing on Saturday's game.
"I've beaten them three times. There are freshmen here who haven't beaten them at all," Notre Dame center Bob Morton. "It comes down to our team in 2005 against theirs in 2005."
Navy quarterback Lamar Owens said the Midshipmen take a similar approach.
"The way we have to go about it is we can't rewrite history. All we can do is try to win this game for our team and for our fans," he said. "Hopefully we can end this streak and go on from there."
Doesn't want to be first
Notre Dame coach Charlie Weis had no problem admitting he doesn't want to be the coach when the streak ends and expects the Irish players to feel likewise.
"Let's hope they're thinking that way," he said. "But I'm not looking at what happened the previous 41 games."
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