You wrote: "If Navy remains the Vegas line favorite by kickoff, I will continue to expect a MD victory."

I will take that bet. Want to make it a $100 donation to the charity of the winner's choice? Mine is the Disabled Veterans of America. C'mon, put your money where your mouth is…

Mike Cadwell '86
mgcadwell@gmail.com

Thank-you for the response, and the thoughts provided.

I think you make some fair points, but I can not agree with you completely. What I said was 'unfathomable' was the idea that anyone could reasonably look at the rosters of Maryland, and Navy and decree that the Midshipman are 'more talented'. Further to that, not just more talented, but so far more talented to justify a 69 place difference in the Rivals.com pre-season rankings.

Navy might again prove to be a better 'team', but I do think it remains unfathomable that the Midshipman have a superior collection of talent. That is not me being incredulous, that is just reality. As I point out numerous times above though, recruiting rankings matter little once you arrive on the college campus. Even if I believe MD has the better talent (which they do), I would take lesser talent and results if that was the choice.

Perhaps it was a stretch of hyperbole for me to throw out the line of 'apparently MD should be thankful.' However, it seems like an apt description when Rivals claims there are basically 70 teams between the two programs.

I wish Navy nothing but continued success. The work-ethic it took for you (and them) to get to Annapolis is admirable. The service provided to the country, is something all citizens admire. As a Maryland native, I've always rooted for Navy when I see them face Notre Dame and Army. Navy has already had a run of very good football this decade, and I have given them credit for that. That said, I have no desire to write about the Academy.

I also disagree this could ever turn into a great rivalry. It will remain a horrible game for Maryland to schedule. Why should the Terps annually play a non-BCS team that is capable of beating them? What does MD gain from that? Maryland barely survived the last time these teams played. The Terps were looked down upon by many for having a close victory over Navy. If the Terps had lost that game, or lose on Sept 6th – Maryland will face additional criticism by plenty (even though Navy will take the field as the favorite).

It was recently rumored that the Terps could face Texas in the years to come. Count me as one that would prefer to see Maryland play a team where they will regularly be considered the underdog. Unless you are the elite of the elite (which MD is not), College teams just perform better when they are the hunter vs. the hunted.

If Navy remains the Vegas line favorite by kickoff, I will continue to expect a MD victory. If the line had been reversed, and MD was starting off as the presumed favorite, I would be more inclined to take Navy.

Reading through the comments you and others provided, I can not help but believe you are imagining slights that just are not there.

Enjoy the game.

Cheers,
Chris