I attended the 123rd Army-Navy football game at Lincoln Financial Field on Saturday, December 10th, featuring the Army Black Knights and the Navy Midshipmen. I have attended thirty-three games (four as a midshipman at the United States Naval Academy) and twenty-four consecutive games (1999 – 2022). This sporting event is my highlight of the year, and I look forward to the next game when the final whistle blows.

The 2020 game was played at West Point due to the pandemic. As a result, only cadets, midshipmen and officials from both schools were allowed to attend the game. I had a twenty-two-year consecutive game streak going and didn’t want the streak to end, plus I love the game. Through my contacts in the sports industry, I was able to get hired as a security guard to work the game. I had to have a background check, fingerprinting, and receive training to perform as a security guard, but it was well worth the effort. My consecutive game streak remains intact.

The first football game between the United States Military Academy (USMA) and the United States Naval Academy (USNA) occurred at West Point in 1890. The game has been played in the following locations:

• Philadelphia: 90 games
• New York City: 11 games
• Baltimore: 6 games
• East Rutherford, New Jersey: 5 games
• West Point, New York: 4 games
• Annapolis, Maryland: 3 games
• Princeton, New Jersey: 1 game
• Chicago: 1 game
• Landover, Maryland 1 game
• Pasadena, California: 1 game

It is the eighth-most-played rivalry game in the Football Bowl Subdivision and has been nationally televised since 1945.

The first thing incoming West Point Cadets learn is the phrase “Beat Navy.” For the Navy Midshipmen, it is “Beat Army.” Many colleges and universities across the country claim to have the best rivalry with an opponent, but I will tell you that the Army-Navy rivalry tops them all.

It is more than just a game. The game is full of pageantry and tradition. For example, the night before the game, there is a gala with Army and Navy fans celebrating their teams. There are many activities on the day of the game besides tailgating. During the pregame, the Corps of Cadets and the Brigade of Midshipmen march onto the field before the game (4,500 from each school). The Army’s Golden Knights Parachute Demonstration Team and the Navy’s Leap Frogs (SEALS) Parachute Team parachute into the stadium before the game. Following the National Anthem, several Army helicopters and Navy F-18s are flown over the stadium. In addition, many dignitaries (military and civilian) attend the game, and it is not unusual for the sitting president to be in attendance.

During the Army-Navy week leading up to the football game, cadets and midshipmen pull pranks on each other. For example, on Monday, December 5th, midshipmen flew three Piper PA-28 Cherokee Warrior training aircraft, made twelve passes over the West Point Post at an altitude of 400 feet and dropped 15,000 ping pong balls and leaflets that read “Beat Army” and “Fly Navy.”

The game is always sold out, and it is a hard-fought game. The season won-loss records of the teams entering the game do not matter. The players battle hard and leave everything on the field for their teammates and fellow cadets and midshipmen, including graduates of both institutions and all the servicemen and servicewomen in the Army and the Navy.

I brought my son onto the field following one of the games and he asked me why some players were crying. I told him that some were crying because their team lost, others were crying because their team won, and some were crying because they would never play football again.

The phrase “sing second” is very special to the midshipmen, cadets, and alumni of the Naval Academy and West Point. Since the winner of any Army or Navy sporting event gets to sing their alma mater song second.

The most touching moment for me is watching the players after the game knowing they gave everything they had to win the game against their archrival. And in six months, these young men and leaders will be putting on another uniform to serve in their respective services and now they are on the same team.

In this game, every player on the field is willing to die for every person watching.

Although my team lost the double overtime game 20 – 17, I was proud of both teams’ efforts. Navy leads the series 62-54-7.

In my humble opinion, the Army-Navy game is the best collegiate sporting event in the United States. You should put it on your bucket list if you have not attended the Army-Navy game.

GO NAVY!

Posted December 13, 2022