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Practice Report

Nov. 16, 2001

With the Irish finalizing their preparation for Navy this week, Irish coach Bob Davie seemed poised to get his team back on track. The Irish host 0-8 Navy this Saturday.

“We are all anxious to play a game,” Davie said. It seems like a long time since we have played. We are really anxious to win a game.”

With a bye last weekend, the Irish coaches and players got a chance to watch other teams play on television and evaluate how the Irish compare.

“This team realizes it is capable of playing good,” Davie said. “Going into the Pittsburgh game, we were struggling a little bit offensively. The players know if they execute, they can be a good football team. That’s not coach talk. They all see that watching the tapes.”

The Irish defense is currently ranked twelfth in the country. Davie said the Irish could easily be in the top five ranked defenses with smarter play and fewer mistakes.

“We have to prove not to people, but to ourselves, that we are capable of being consistent.”