"Although the Black Knights won only two of 12 games last year in his second season, they lost seven by a touchdown or less. Monken chose to view that as progress, believing that despite some built-in disadvantages — Army’s offensive line, for example, is almost 40 pounds lighter than Notre Dame’s will be on Saturday — his team was more physical, precise and resourceful than when the Black Knights were 4-8 in his first season."
http://www.nytimes.com/2016/11/12/sports/ncaafootball/rejuvenated-army-senses-an-opportunity-in-the-notre-dame-game.html?emc=edit_th_20161112&nl=todaysheadlines&nlid=61843218