November 13, 2009 in Sports

Irish receive special honor

Steve Harvey Special to the Los Angeles Times
 
Associated Press photo

Notre Dame players are looking for some answers after last week’s disappointing loss to Navy.
(Full-size photo)

While the EMUs of Eastern Michigan (0-9) remained No. 1, the Bottom Ten gave a career lack-of-achievement award to No. 20 Notre Dame.

USA Today pointed out that over the last 16 years, the Fitful Irish are 1-9 in bowl games, 7-25 against teams in the top 10, and 22-40-1 against ranked opponents – true Bottom Ten-type numbers.

Notre Dame’s latest setback came against Navy, a team that had thrown 28 passes in six previous games – none against Wake Forest.

So what happened?

Navy attempted three passes in a 23-21 win over the Irish and afterward a Notre Dame defensive tackle said Navy had “outschemed us.”

What, Navy ran left more than it ran right?

WreckLast LossNext Loss
1. E. Michigan (0-9)6-50, No. Ill.W. Michigan
2. New Mex. (0-9)14-45, UtahBYU
3. W. Kentucky (0-9)20-40, TroyLa-Monroe
4. Miami (Ohio) (1-9)32-34, TempleBowling Green
5. Ball State (1-8)17-20, Ohio (Ohio)N. Illinois
6. San Jose St. (1-7)7-62, NevadaUtah State
7. Vanderbilt (2-8)3-27, Florida

8. North Texas (2-7)

6-33, La-Mon.

Fla. Int.

9. Washington St. (1-8)

7-48, Arizona

UCLA

10. Fla. Int. (2-7)21-48, Mid Tenn

North Texas

11. Maryland (2-7); 12. Syracuse (3-6); 13. Tulane (3-6); 14. Memphis (2-7); 15. Florida State (4-5); 16. Michigan (5-5); 17. Out of the country on business; 18. Tie among Notre Dame, Penn State, Iowa (all winless in November).

Crummy game of the week: North Texas (2-7) at Florida International (2-7).

Rout of the week: Brigham Young (7-2) at New Mexico (0-9).

Milestones: Oklahoma, a 3-10 loser to Nebraska, fell out of the Associated Press Top 25 for the first time since 2005.

Jurisprudence: Texas Christian, a frequent member of the Bottom Ten in the 1970s, has been banned for life for winning its first nine games this year.

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