OK, my fuse has been lit now, so hang on. First off Delta, thanks for that. Look, I have no idea what things are like in the "Air Farce" (sorry), but let me give you a Marine perspective on why the USNA has a chance this weekend. The advantage CPJ had at NAVY was that those players, probably half of which are headed to my beloved Corps, are totally immersed in a culture where if you don't do your assignment, PEOPLE DIE, people who are close to you. That is a whole different mindset than "oh well" "the play will bust if I don't do my job". It is an entirely different sense of urgency and attention to detail than CFB players typically have. The advantage of our offense is that it puts defenses at a man (or two, depending on the play) disadvantage if they don't over commit resources fom other places. The disadvantage is that it requires more, in terms of mental accuity and precise execution (quick decision making) under complex and fast moving circumstances. That stuff plays right into the hands of disciplined kids who are used to being under EXTREME PRESSURE.
If you are wondering if NAVY has better athletes, don't even talk to me. That isn't even close to the case. What they HAVE are guys who are unselfish and duty-bound MEN. When the chips are down or they are exhausted, guess what, they have already been in that situation, in other ways, a hundred times over, where they didn't have the luxury of not coming through. Therein lies your difference. I have been a TECH student AND a TECH athlete. There is very little that happened at that school, besides some academic problem solving skills, that even came close to preparing me for life with a green uniform. I lOVE TECH, but I am real at the same time. What NAVY has are some pretty good athletes, who are far below the guys they are going against across the board, but they have courage, toughness, unity, and conviction. SOMETIMES THAT IS ENOUGH.
TECH should be way better than NAVY, but that is another discussion for another day that involves the current culture of our society etc etc etc that may not belong on this board.