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I seem to remember the Navy game being a replacement for a team that backed out, but I can't find any mention of it. The series wasn't announced until late April 08, which is pretty late, plus the return date isn't til 2014.
Regardless, I don't see a problem with the matchup. I would rather play a team that will bring a bit more competition than a YSU or Akron who comes in saying "Well, at least it will be cool to play in the 'Shoe". Sure, the fact that they play an offensive set we won't see for the rest of the season isn't the ideal situation, but hopefully, it will give them a little more motivation thru camp than if they knew they had a relatively easy game against a lower level opponent. Most of the players would have played against some option schemes in HS, so it's not like it completely foreign. We return around 8 players on D (depending how you count Wilson, Hines, Moeller, etc. could be more) who saw USC last time around, and I'm sure they remember what it was like. Defending the option will be hardest on the emerging LBs, and the Navy game certainly won't help prepare the DBs for the coverage challenges of USC (the greatest fear, IMO), but I don't think it will pose a far greater schematic challenge than playing, say, Wisky or MSU one week, and then ILL or NW the next. One aspect where we might gain a slight advantage is in our D-line vs. USC's O'line, since our guys will have been preparing to play a very active, read oriented scheme. I'll agree that the timing is not ideal, but preparing for USC is a challenge no matter who you play the week before. IMO, this is the best opener since we went to Seattle in 03.
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