A loss to Navy would drop Army to 0-13.

PHILADELPHIA (AP) – The number is in Army’s face like the level stare of a drill sergeant.

Everywhere Army goes, it gets the questions, the criticism and, worst of all, the sympathy – from Navy! – over a season that has it

one loss away from the first 0-13 record in Division I history.

Army has a nation-worst 14-game losing streak, has lost 23 of its last 24, including a 58-12 defeat a year ago to Navy, and has been outscored this season by 242 points.

Todd Berry was fired midseason and replaced with interim coach John Mumford. Berry was responsible for the season’s first six losses, Mumford for the last six.

Mumford knows a win Saturday against Navy won’t salvage the season. But it would save Army from the dubious distinction of becoming the first 13-loss team in Division I history.

“We have never addressed 0-12. We have never addressed anything about the record,” Mumford said. “We continued to press on. The kids are getting with it in the corps, they’re getting hit with it in the media. We just try and keep our eye on the ball of our daily work habits.”

Army has been outscored 124-45 the last three games, been shutout twice this season, leads the nation with 42 turnovers and is the worst rushing teams in Division I, with an average of 61.9 yards a game.

Army also announced it would bolt Conference USA after next season and resume its schedule as an independent.

Forget the glory days of the 1940s and 1950s when Army was winning national championships and producing Heisman Trophy winners. Right now, Army would settle for a return to the mediocre 1990s when it finished at .500 or better four times, highlighted by a 10-2 record in 1996.

The reasons for the decline are as numerous as the losses.

Berry, who turned Illinois State into a winner, tried to turn Army’s wishbone offense into a passing attack, a plan that flopped without enough talent at the skill positions.

With barely enough talent to field a competitive team as an independent, Army decided to join Conference USA in 1998 with visions of exposure and television revenue.

Instead, Berry was fired with a 5-35 record in 3 seasons.

“Some things may not have worked like we hoped, but we’re getting back to what Army is all about,” Mumford said.

If Army needs any added inspiration, it can look across the field Saturday at Navy. Yes, Navy, its heated and respected rival, which two years ago went 0-10 but is now 7-4 and will play in the Houston Bowl.

“They’re living proof you can turn things around,” said Mumford, who will not be considered for the permanent job.

Woody, a senior, admits Navy’s turnaround should give Army something to aim for.

“They brought in the right coach and a fresh approach. They’ve shown you can have success at the academies,” he said. “We have before and hopefully we will again, even if I’m not around to be a part of it.”

Second-year Navy coach Paul Johnson felt compassion for Army and said he rooted for the Black Knights in every game except, of course, against the Mids.

“There are positives and you have to accentuate the positives. There are some things you cannot change,” Johnson said. “We know why the academies are there. The things you can change and that you can work on, you need to. I think that’s important in anybody having success at the academies. It’s a challenge, but it can be accomplished if you approach it the right way.”

Woody has stayed up late wondering how this season went so terribly wrong. He’s seen teammates in tears over another blowout loss.

Beating Navy suddenly is more important that usual.

“It would be sweeter than going out 0-13,” Woody said.

AP-ES-12-04-03 1713EST