Notre Dame Football is facing off against an undefeated service academy for the second time this season. However, head coach Marcus Freeman wants to make sure his team understands the two squads aren’t exactly the same.
He knows that there is an understandable habit of comparing Navy and Army. After all, their offenses are similar, their uniforms are even similar, and they are often dismissed in the same way when they go up against bigger programs.
“I met with the defensive staff,” Freeman said during his Monday press conference. “And the first thing we said is the biggest mistake we can make is think this is Navy 2.0. It’s not. It’s a different offense. They do some different things. They’ve got a different identity and present a different challenge.” That warning wasn’t just for the media either. The Notre Dame football team needs to prepare as though Army is the best team in the country.
Notre Dame football not looking for Navy 2.0
“Yes, it’s still a version of the triple option, which you see with some of the military schools, but they run it with different personnel. They’re led by their O-line. They come off the ball. They’re physical. They’re big — bigger than what you usually see when you play academy schools. But it’s going to be a great challenge on all three phases.”
The Irish coach is even making sure his squad takes Army’s special teams seriously.
“They’re aggressive in special teams. I think since 2020 they’ve blocked more kicks than anybody else in the FBS. All three phases present some issues that we have to be prepared for.”
It’s not a mystery why the Notre Dame football coach is being so careful in the leadup to Saturday’s game. More than a few people have pointed to the Irish loss to Northern Illinois this week. There are some who think ND is letting its guard down in its 8 game winning streak. It’s clear Freeman isn’t letting that happen.