1. There’s no simulation for defending the triple-option

Watch film until you’re bleary-eyed. Let your quickest athlete line up behind center in practice. There’s no easy way to get ready for the triple-option, still one of the most vexing offenses for which defensive staffs must prepare.

Memphis entered Week 10 with no relevant experience against the option. And you just knew that was going to be a problem this Saturday at the Liberty Bowl, because Navy operates the system with such unflappable precision. Plus, when the Midshipmen start rolling downhill, as was the case tonight, they’ll brutalize defenses in the second half of games.

There’s been a transition for the Mids in this first-ever season as a member of a conference, the American. New opponents. New destinations. But the biggest learning curve in 2015 has been the one faced by Navy’s opponents, like Memphis, who’ve learned the hard way just how taxing it is to defend this old-school attack.

2. Game ball goes to … Navy defensive coordinator Dale Pehrson

FB Chris Swain ran for three scores. QB Keenan Reynolds made a triumphant return to his home state of Tennessee. But everyone took a backseat to Pehrson, the longtime Mid assistant who did a brilliant job of prepping his kids for QB Paxton Lynch and an offense that began the weekend averaging 48 points per game.

Lynch is a future NFL quarterback, surrounded by an array of skill position talent that’s lit up the likes of Ole Miss and Cincinnati this fall. Against the no-name Navy D, though, which houses no Sunday talent, Lynch was ordinary. He threw just a single touchdown pass, and long balls were scarce. Pehron’s kids were relentless, pressuring the pocket, making stops in the open field and keeping the ball in front of them.

Navy has a competent defense to go along with the tried-and-true ground assault. And it’s that combination that led to a stunningly easy upset of Memphis, an early Veterans Day gift for sailors across the planet. With just one loss to Notre Dame, the Midshipmen control their own destiny in the American’s West Division, and possibly in the hunt for a Big Six bowl berth.

3. Justin Fuente is no less a hot commodity than he was last week

Memphis’ head coach was humbled on Saturday, soundly defeated by Ken Niumatalolo’s kids. However, absolutely nothing about Fuente’s future was changed by the 45-20 loss.

The Tigers ran into a buzz saw, unable to solve the Navy rushing attack … or its defense. And that smarts, because this program was in the fast lane to a conference championship and possibly its biggest bowl game in school history. It happens. Still, it takes nothing away from the job being done by Fuente, a miracle worker for even putting Memphis on the map.

Memphis needs help to get back in the West Division race, and it needs to have a short memory, with upcoming road trips at Houston and Temple in consecutive weekends. Whatever happens against the Cougars and the Owls, ADs from South Carolina and Virginia Tech to Miami and even USC ought to be contacting Fuente’s agent soon, because one rough night can’t even begin to undo all the coach has accomplished in four years at a supposed coaching graveyard.