Weiss has commented on several occasions that 2007, the first year without Quinn, would be a year that the Fightin’ Irish took a step back. Their season opener, Sept. 1 against Georgia Tech should be a good indication of how much progress the squad made during the off-season. As to who will be under center for the season opener? Weiss ain’t telling until game day, for Notre Dame to have much success this year, Weiss better have a few more tricks up his sleeve.
Key match-ups, oh who are we kidding, with this schedule, they’ll all be tough.
Navy
So if Notre Dame has one of the toughest schedule going into the season, Navy looks ahead at a fairly easy tour of duty on the gridiron. Only four of Navy’s opponents this season finished with winning records last year – Rutgers, Wake Forest, Notre Dame and Northern Illinois. Add on top of that the number of teams Navy will play this year that won few then four games last year (Duke, Temple, North Texas, Army and Air Force) and Navy has a cream puff schedule that would make best of bakers jealous.
With no competition, Navy will easily take the Commanders Cup again, for the fifth consecutive year, this season and will look for a potential invitation to the San Diego Credit Union Poinsettia Bowl, Dec 20. But not all is roses at the Naval Academy. Head coach Paul Jones looks to replace his offensive line and a defensive squad that only touts two returning starters (Clint Sovie and Irv Spencer at inside linebacker). At least their isn’t a quarterback controversy as Kaipo-Noa Kaheaku-Enhada returns to take the snaps in Navy’s slot option offense boasting the return of three solid slotbacks in seniors Reggie Campbell, Zerbin Singleton and junior Shun White.
Navy’s toughest competition of the year will come Sept 7 when they’ll travel to New Brunswick to face the #16 Scarlet Knights of Rutgers.
Army
Can anyone save this program? With Bobby Ross having retired after three unsuccessful years it would appear that nothing can keep this program from being one of the worst in the Division 1-A world.
New coach Stan Brock looks to a mostly returning squad (six on offense, six on defense) and Brock surprisingly kept most of Ross’ assistants including defensive coordinator John Mumford while hiring Portland State coach Tim Walsh as the offensive coordinator.
Sophomore Carson Williams gets the nod under center over senior David Pevoto. At 6-3, 210 pounds, Williams is a big quarterback with a strong arm but one prone to mental mistakes. If Williams can take advantage of the improved offensive line (Brock served 16-years in the NFL as a lineman), Army might very well play spoiler to a few teams this season.
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