Week 3 of the 2012 college football season is beginning, and while most schools have two games under their belt, the Navy Midshipmen have already had a bye.
After getting throttled by Notre Dame in Dublin, Ireland to open the season, the team was idle last Saturday, giving them a little extra time to prepare for their game on Saturday against Penn State.
Asked at his mid-week press conference if this reality made preparing for his opponent more difficult, Nittany Lions head coach Bill O'Brien was candid:
Of course it's difficult. They played Notre Dame and then had a week off. They could watch our Ohio game and get some rest and maybe get some guys healed up and ready to go. And then they had this week and watched us play Virginia.
So they have two weeks on us. They have a week on us. So we have to have a sense of urgency on our team of understanding that and make sure we have a real good practice week and are ready to go. Can't do anything about it. That's the schedule. That's the way it goes.
You can't not agree entirely with O'Brien here. Navy has a slight edge to get healthy and watch a bit more film on just one team over the course of two weeks. But at the same time, that's life.
Sometimes you get to coach Tom Brady, other times you get to coach a college football program that's been completely handcuffed with NCAA sanctions for at least the next four years. You roll with the punches and you do your best.
Hopefully O'Brien and his team are diligent in their own preperation to ensure whatever edge the Midshipmen think they may have is erased once the ball is kicked.
For more on the Nittany Lions, visit Black Shoe Diaries.