“Deuce,” you say, “that’s a fluke!”

Oh, really?

This is the second year in a row Navy has won a game without a single pass attempt! Last year, also in week eight, also in a driving rainstorm, playing their third string quarterback (this year’s starter, Ricky Dobbs), the Midshipmen rolled up 34 points without a single pass attempt in their win against SMU.

This is five wins in a row for Navy. If they can win their sixth in a row in their home game against Temple next week, they’ll carry quite a bit of momentum into South Bend to face Notre Dame on November 7.

GO NAVY!

Ohio State 31

Navy 27

An 99-yard interception return on Navy’s 2-point conversion attempt in the final minutes is the difference.

That was one of the most exciting second halves I’ve ever seen. I’ll be hoarse the rest of the day.

Navy has a habit of scaring the hell out of ranked teams (OSU was #6 going into this game). The Midshipmen seem to really get up for these games, get OH SO CLOSE, then lose in a heartbreaker. (Last year’s victory over #16 Wake Forest was Navy’s first win over a ranked team in 23 years.)

Bet OSU thinks twice the next time it has fourth and 2 in the fourth quarter when they’re up by 15.

I missed the beginning of the game. Can anyone tell me if the OSU fans answered the call to cheer for Navy?

Ohio State’s athletic department is circulating an online video encouraging Buckeyes’ fans to welcome the Midshipmen on Sept. 5 like no other OSU opponent has every been welcomed.

The idea is for the 105,000 fans inside Ohio Stadium to rise and cheer Navy just like they rise and cheer the Buckeyes.

***

“We would hope we would treat every opponent with great respect,” Ohio State coach Jim Tressel said. “But I think it’s even raised a notch when you’re talking about people running out on the field who are pledged to defend you.”

“I feel that everybody should respect the Naval Academy football team because we stand for something more than just a college football team,” junior Middies safety Wyatt Middleton said. “We’re going to be the people protecting those watching us.”

I thought this was a great gesture . . .

But there’s a rub. The Navy players do stand for a greater cause. The service academies could make legitimate claims to be being America’s teams. But for now, some of them also want to be just like any other football player, even though this is the first time a service academy has played in Ohio Stadium since 1931.

In an opposing team’s stadium, that means being the enemy.

“My dad always says how awesome it is when we run in and [opposing fans] clap,” Navy senior linebacker Clint Sovie said. “But I always say I kind of hate it. We love going into hostile environments.”

I wouldn’t worry about that Mr. Sovie. OSU could blanket the field with rose petals for the Midshipmen as they come onto the field, but the environment would still be plenty hostile from the moment foot meets ball on the opening kickoff.

As much as the midshipmen may want to be treated like any other team, it’s hard to find fault with the sentiment in the video:

Call me sentimental, but that video actually gave me a lump in my throat. So I can forgive them for calling it the “U.S. Navy” team instead of the U.S. Naval Academy team.

ESPN is carrying the game, so I’ll see if the fans answer the call. But whether they do or not, this effort is classy.

By the way, ever wonder why a perennial football powerhouse like Notre Dame plays Navy every year? Because ND has class, too.