Take Duke lightly, no way say Mids.

It would be easy for Navy to take Duke lightly on paper. Afterall, the Blue Devils are 1-6. They played Miami tough two weeks ago, put up 48 against Wake Forest and threatened late at Maryland before losing by five.

They are also the same Duke team that gives up over 200 yards a game on the ground and this is the same Navy offense that just ran for 367 on Notre Dame. I did have that capped except Notre Dame is only 4-4.

"They do have some athletes and they have played better than the record,'' Navy Defensive Cooridinator Buddy Green said.

Nose guard Chase Burge and Jordan Marks have done a great job filling in for the injured Shane Bothel and Burge knows this team can't take anyone lightly.

"We know that we have to be focused. we have to put last week behind us and concentrate on our assignments this week,'' Burge said.

Last week's 35-17 win over the Fighting Irish was a sight to behold.

75,000 people saw it in person, a ntional TV audience, and Notre Dame fans watching outside the interview rooms and cheering Navy Coach Ken Niamatalolo and his players as they stepped down from the podium.

No, this wasn't Dr. Lou's 1988 National Title team, but, its still Notre Dame. People noticed.

"We had lots of messages and e-mails, and kids requesting to come visit so it was was very big day from that perspective,'' Niamatalolo said.

Navy's recruiting during the triple-option era has been off the chart for Navy Football. Never, could Navy have withstood losing six senior starters during the course of the season and still managed to not only compete but still WIN against Notre Dame. Navy now has 18 wins against BCS teams since 2002, the most by any non-BCS school.

WHY? Navy started Sophmore Devon Richardson in place of Emmett Merchant, Alexander Teich in place of Vince Murray, Burge for Bothel, Doug Furman/Brandon Turner/Matt Aiken for Mike Shupp, Ryan Bassford for Matt Malloy and kicker Jon Teague for Joe Buckley. Keep in mind too Marks was in on the goal-line stand on Notre Dame's first drive also. Hello?

The Mids have gone into places like Texas, Florida, Georgia, and North Carolina and convinced kids this is a great place to play football and set yourself up for life. Coaches have truly coached them up and just when you thought this program may fade to black after the loss to Air Force, think again. Just ask Notre Dame.