If you can out-think, out-wit, out-prepare and beat a genius, what must you be? I don't really know. But you are at the very least considered the Boiled Sports Weekly Real Genius when you accomplish such a feat.
Congratulations, Coach Paul Johnson! You have earned this honor.
The Navy has done some great things since its establishment during the American Revolutionary War...But none have more impressive than beating the Amazing Fantastic Mighty Fighting Irish of The University of Notre Dame in 2007.
One might think that a team with eleven 300-plus pound linemen might be able to easily control the trenches when playing a team with zero players over 300 pounds and only one over 295 pounds, but they would be wrong. Logic would tell the average Joe that when the defense knows you are going to run almost every down that they'd be able to stop you...at least enough not allow 28 points in regulation...Joe would be wrong as well.
You coach Johnson led your undersized, under-talented group of future naval officers to the most important victory they'll ever achieve. Communism will eventually fall and radical religious groups will come and go, but a victory over the Irish is forever. It took three overtimes, but your players acted as if they could still play another game following the stoppage of the Irish and three of their friends in striped shirts in consecutive downs. Well played midshipmen, well played indeed.
The average sports observer thinks that attempting a 45-yard field goal to win the game is the prudent thing to do when your team has an accomplished kicker...But, it surely is not the genius thing to do. Following this coaching wizardry, your team wasn't shaken as Sharpley called for the ball on that fourth down. In fact, your guidance helped one of your players act as if he was Super Man to assure overtime...If only UND's QB had executed the Xs & Os as they had been originally drawn up the outcome probably would have been different.
Savor this victory, because this is probably the last times a service academy* will beat the University of Notre Dame. Have your fun now coach, because once the Manatee gets in just a few more blue chip players, the storyline will be much different.
*Please note that UND does not consider the Air Force Academy a true service academy as it is not located in the Northeast US.