Dame Game

The Naval Academy football team confronts another major challenge today in big and beefy Boston College, as the season resumes after a one-game pause for security, patriotism and prayer. And, for the first time in more than 21 months, Midshipman Brian Madden will be in uniform and available to play quarterback. Madden, the nation's leading rusher among quarterbacks in 1999 despite starting only five games, missed the entire 2000 season after his right knee was wrecked in that year's spring game.

COLLEGE PARK - Senior Chris Downs, a player with four carries in two years, will start tomorrow at tailback for Maryland, coach Ralph Friedgen announced yesterday after an afternoon practice. Downs, who was unavailable to comment yesterday, will share time in the backfield with Jason Crawford and Mario Merrills, a pair of second-year players who got most of the team's 21 carries last week in a 22-0 loss to Notre Dame in the Kickoff Classic. When asked if Downs' opportunity was a reflection on Crawford or Merrills, who combined for 22 yards on 14 carries in the opener, Friedgen said, "No, not at all. But he's practiced better than them."

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. - Paul Johnson-coached teams customarily play some of their best football when they have more than one week to prepare for an opponent. Navy didn't add to that trend yesterday. After a 16-day break since a big victory at Air Force, Navy was ineffective early on defense and almost completely stifled on offense for a half in the 27-9 thrashing by Notre Dame. Johnson absorbed some of the blame for that. "I didn't do a good job of getting our guys ready to play, and we didn't start out very good," Johnson said.

For the fourth consecutive year, Duke lost in the month of February. And the last three seasons have entailed setbacks to Notre Dame, including last Saturday's 7-3 decision in South Bend, Ind. But Blue Devils coach John Danowski said he's not worried that the losses are part of a larger trend nor does he plan on adjusting the team's schedule to soften it up. “We play a great schedule, and teams win or lose,” he said Tuesday. “It's Feb. 21, and you can certainly dodge these teams if you want and try to change the schedule.

ANNAPOLIS // Navy's football team will face three bowl participants and six teams from BCS conferences in 2006. The Mids return 18 starters off last year's squad that went 8-4, won the Commander-In-Chief's Trophy for a third-straight year and defeated Colorado State, 51-30, to win the Poinsettia Bowl. Navy plays Notre Dame at M&T Bank Stadium on Oct. 28, Conference USA champion Tulsa (Sept. 23) and Insight Bowl participant Rutgers (Oct. 14) to Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium. Navy will open up the 2006 campaign with back-to-back home games against East Carolina (Sept.

A refreshed Navy football squad returned to serious practice yesterday after a weekend off, bent on winning its first Senior Day game in four years. In their final appearance at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium, 21 seniors hope they can take away a memory that none of the three classes before them experienced. Navy has not won a home finale since a 45-21 victory over Tulane in 1999, the last game the team won in Annapolis before this year's opener. "It would be huge to take this one," said senior John Skaggs, the academy's all-time leading punter.

ANNAPOLIS -- Simply because Jason Van Matre underwent knee surgery nine days ago, it doesn't mean Navy coach George Chaump will tolerate words like "probable" or "questionable.""Probable, hell," Chaump snorted when asked about Van Matre's availability for 0-9 Navy's game against Wake Forest (2-8) Saturday at Navy-Marine Corps Stadium. "Jason is a must."Van Matre, a sophomore who has started six games at quarterback and one at tailback, leads Navy in rushing with 447 yards and in passing with 449.He submitted to arthroscopic surgery for removal of torn cartilage in his right knee after injuring it early in the Notre Dame game and being limited to only a few plays the following week against Tulane.

COLLEGE PARK -- On several occasions this spring, Rob Chomo's pre-game preparations included a spiel directed at his Maryland attack mates, freshmen Andrew Whipple and Matt Hahn."

WASHINGTON - The loudest sound before the Maryland-Notre Dame game was a crescendo of boos for Dan Miller during the player introductions. Toward the end of the Fighting Irish's resounding 79-67 victory, the constant cheer of the Subway Alumni was music to his ears. Miller, the 6-foot-8 swingman who spent his first three seasons at Maryland before transferring in 2001 after helping the Terps reach their first Final Four, had a delightful return inside the Capital Beltway. He steadied Notre Dame with a pair of three-pointers in the opening minutes and finished with 17 points, seven rebounds and a satisfied grin.

It must have been his plebe year at the Naval Academy, Roger Staubach recalled, and trainer Red Romo was pontificating on the importance of conditioning and nutrition."