Annapolis, Md. ? Off to its best start in 25 years, unbeaten Navy has proved that it’s possible to win without a 300-pound lineman or an athlete whose sole purpose for attending college is to hone his skills for the NFL.

“We’re not the biggest guys, but we play with a lot of heart,” quarterback Adam Polanco said. “Coach stresses that for us to win, we have to be in better shape and play harder than the other team.”

When Paul Johnson accepted the daunting job as Navy’s football coach in December 2001, the Midshipmen had enjoyed only two winning seasons in 19 years. Johnson knew he couldn’t alter the academy’s stringent entrance requirements or military obligations, so he set out to change the one thing he could control: the sense of doom that shrouded the once-proud program.

“I think the hardest thing was getting the attitude and work ethic changed,” Johnson said. “But I think we’ve got the work ethic back. These guys work pretty hard. Like I tell them, the more you invest, the harder it is to lay down.”

Their diligence has paid off. After going 8-5 last year and playing in the Houston Bowl, the Midshipmen are 3-0 for the first time since 1979. Suddenly, tailgating and the pregame fly-by isn’t the only attraction at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium.

“The school, the town, everyone’s into it now,” senior fullback Kyle Eckel said. “The atmosphere is better when you win. Last year we picked up a lot of fans, and now the ball’s rolling. It’s catching on.”

Johnson took over a team that went 1-10 in 2000 and 0-10 in 2001. Navy won its first game in 2002, then dropped 10 straight before beating Army in the finale.

Longest year

“That first season was the longest year of my life,” said Johnson, whose team plays host to Vanderbilt today. “I felt like we were getting better; we just weren’t winning any games. Certainly it’s nice that all the hard work has paid off for everybody.”

The resurgence began in earnest last season, when Navy beat Air Force and Army to win the Commander-In-Chief’s Trophy for the first time since 1981. Led by senior quarterback Craig Candeto, who ran for 1,112 yards and 16 touchdowns, the Midshipmen rolled to their first winning season since 1997.

But could it last? That was the challenge facing Johnson and the Mids this year.

“Last year we were fighting to win, fighting for respect, and we got some,” Eckel said. “But coming into this season, people were saying, ‘Craig’s gone, it was a fluke.’ Things like that. You can’t blame them after so many losing seasons. But we’ve worked hard to keep that respect, and now we’re 3-0.”

After rolling past Duke and Northeastern at home, Navy blew away Tulsa last Saturday, 29-0, its first shutout of a Division I-A opponent since 1980. Heady stuff, but Johnson isn’t overly excited about being unbeaten in September.

“We can still lose eight games,” he said.

Johnson came to Navy after an amazing five-year run at Georgia Southern, where he went 62-10 and won two Division I-AA championships. His success at Navy can be attributed to hard work, a solid coaching staff and an uncanny knowledge of the triple-option.

The triple option is the great equalizer for the Mids because it does not require bruising linemen to open up holes.