BOBBY ROSS ON LOSING

His Army team got beaten bad by Navy yesterday. As impressed as he was with the pomp and circumstance, he still banks on wins and losses:

Air Force One flew overhead 90 minutes before the game and swooped so low it seemed determined to mow the lawn. President Bush briefly addressed both locker rooms. Navy players spoke afterward of ultimate sacrifices, including Marine Second Lt. J.P. Blecksmith from the 2003 team, who died in Fallujah, Iraq, on Nov. 11.

The eventful career of Ross, 67, who coached a national champion at Georgia Tech and a Super Bowl participant in San Diego, had met with another historic tradition.

"It's a very impressive thing," Ross said. "It's wonderful to be a part of that. And I'll look back on that. I'll also see this one as a loss. I take 'em real hard. I have a hard time getting through 'em."