SOUTH BEND, Ind. - Had Notre Dame still been unbeaten coming into Ravens Stadium on Saturday for its annual game against Navy, the Midshipmen might be looked at like most teams with a 1-7 record and a 38-year losing streak in this one-sided rivalry.

In other words, the Fighting Irish might have overlooked their obviously overmatched opponent.

Not now.

Not after then-No. 4 Notre Dame lost here last Saturday to unranked Boston College, 14-7, interrupting its dream season under new coach Tyrone Willingham with a still indigestible defeat.

Not after the Irish saw their chances of a national championship severely damaged, if not wiped out entirely, by dropping to No. 9 in the Associated Press poll, No. 10 in the USA Today/ESPN poll and, most importantly, to No. 7 in the Bowl Championship Series rankings.

Still, given the discrepancy in the records and the talent level between Notre Dame and Navy, Willingham will have to guard against his team having a letdown in Baltimore.

"It's very easy to slip into that mode of taking a team for granted," Willingham said after practice Tuesday. "This is a football team - Navy - that is fourth in the country in rushing yardage. ... We are going to have to be ready to play our best game this year."

Asked if an easy game could be the perfect remedy for the Irish, Notre Dame senior defensive tackle Darrell Campbell smiled broadly.

"That is definitely the best medicine," Campbell said. "Basically get back on the field and blow somebody out."

Based on the recent history of this series, that is unlikely to happen. But there is something else working against the possibility of a blowout: Notre Dame's inconsistent offense, which contributed mightily (and haplessly) to last week's defeat.

Coming off a game in which the Irish fumbled seven times - nine if you count a botched snap on a field-goal attempt and one on a punt return that was negated by a Boston College penalty - the Irish will have to walk through a few simple handoffs before they can run.

That is what Notre Dame worked on primarily during Tuesday's practice, its first since the Boston College game. That a majority of the fumbles took place mostly because of a lack of execution rather than a stellar defensive play was particularly disconcerting to the Irish.

"We'll keep our same focus and concentration on trying to protect the football and create turnovers," Willingham said at his weekly news conference. "We think we are sound there and that we corrected the problem we have - or, let me say, had."

Said offensive coordinator Bill Diedrick: "It's a fundamental thing that you work on every single day. That's why it was such a shock on game day."

Diedrick declined to be specific about what caused the fumbles, saying only: "We got it straightened out."

Fortunately for the Irish, their pride was the only thing that was really battered by Boston College.

Quarterback Carlyle Holiday, who was briefly knocked out of last week's game, is expected to play against Navy. Willingham said Pat Dillingham, whose panicked pass resulted in a 71-yard interception return and game-winning touchdown by Josh Ott, will remain Holiday's backup.

How effective the offense plays against the Mids likely will determine how long the game remains competitive, because Notre Dame's defense has been more than solid and often dominating since starting the season with a shutout of Maryland. For now, the defense is not blaming the offense for the team's first defeat.

"If it wasn't as tight a team, it could break things apart," Campbell said. "It definitely tests the character of our team. You have moments when you're down. Do you have the type of team that can rebound from being in the corner? Can we come out fighting? Can we continue to fight if we get down again?"

Given the somber mood here that carried into the middle of the week, Willingham was quick to remind the local citizenry that all wasn't lost. "As disappointed as I am and as disappointed as our players are, to my knowledge we're 8-1," Willingham said.

NOTE: Notre Dame junior defensive tackle Kyle Budinscak has a connection to Navy. His older brother, Guy Jr., is a senior at the academy who is executive officer of the brigade. "He keeps telling me, 'Take it easy on us,' " Budinscak said. "They love playing Notre Dame."