Beat Navy

Will Army Football Beat Navy This Year?

  • YES!!!!!!!!

    Votes: 15 55.6%
  • no

    Votes: 12 44.4%

  • Total voters
    27
  • Poll closed .
We were wet and cold, sitting in the end zone upper deck, but was well worth weathering the cold and wet. My son was one of the first Cadets to jump onto the field when we won. Actually kind of tumbled on his side because so many kids going at the same time he kind of got pushed. (This year we had a decent view of where he was sitting, as he was in the fourth row).

I didn't like how the game was playing out, as I figured last team with the ball would win, and I thought Army scored too soon to take the lead. Navy had just the right amount of time to run out clock and kick field goal for the win. Army D came up huge at the end. That field goal with the wet snow and cold temp was too much for Navy.

Great game. For those who have never attended; put it on your bucket list. I recommend good weather though. Since my son has been at West Point we are 2-0 against Navy. I don't see what is so hard about this.

Go Army! Beat Navy! .....and sing second again.
 
The game is such a lovely showcase of the Corps' warrior spirits!

From what I've been told by various cadets:

The rivalry exists to cultivate a warrior's spirit--you learn to defeat yourself during the school year (whether you're conquering Beast, Navy's Plebe Summer, or some other challenge) and develop teamwork skills to overcome everyone's individual hardships. Then you learn "Beat Navy," (or "Beat Army,") and all those signs, that tunnel, and the cadets throwing the phrase around really beats it into your head! It prepares you to fight, to yearn for victory, because one day it won't be Navy/Army you're fighting anymore. One day you'll be responsible for winning America's wars. One day your parent's war or your grandparent's war or your aunt or uncle's war or even your friend's war will become yours, because that's the path you chose when you decided to report to West Point or Annapolis.

Aside from being a college football fan in general, this is why I watch the game. You monitor the expressions on the faces of Cadets and Mids and you've just never seen anything like it.

Next year, I have a feeling I won't be watching it on TV :)
 
The game is such a lovely showcase of the Corps' warrior spirits!

From what I've been told by various cadets:

The rivalry exists to cultivate a warrior's spirit--you learn to defeat yourself during the school year (whether you're conquering Beast, Navy's Plebe Summer, or some other challenge) and develop teamwork skills to overcome everyone's individual hardships. Then you learn "Beat Navy," (or "Beat Army,") and all those signs, that tunnel, and the cadets throwing the phrase around really beats it into your head! It prepares you to fight, to yearn for victory, because one day it won't be Navy/Army you're fighting anymore. One day you'll be responsible for winning America's wars. One day your parent's war or your grandparent's war or your aunt or uncle's war or even your friend's war will become yours, because that's the path you chose when you decided to report to West Point or Annapolis.

Aside from being a college football fan in general, this is why I watch the game. You monitor the expressions on the faces of Cadets and Mids and you've just never seen anything like it.

Next year, I have a feeling I won't be watching it on TV :)
It is way more than a college rivalry; it is a rivalry between the services in general, and the Cadets and Mids understand that in a big way. It's us vs them, and it applies to everything. And while it is true that there is a very righteous mutual respect for each other, trust me, cadets and Mids will throw down against each other for anything.

We attended the battle of the bands on Friday night, as well as the pipe and drum competition. The passion oozes out of everyone's pours. The loser hurts whenever Army and Navy compete. And I mean genuine hurt. (BTW, the stores in Annapolis are all out of aspirin, Tylenol, and ibuprofen today).

I think the football losing streak was particularly hard to accept for West Point, and Army folks developed a chip on their shoulders. Both the kids who attend academies and graduates are generally very competitive type of people, and high achievers, not typically accustomed to losing. And these are elite institutions.

Yesterday's win was huge because it validated last year's win as something other than a fluke, and established that Army can and will compete with Navy in football from this point forward. The entire Corps of Cadets understands this.

West Point and USNA are huge sports schools. They have so many D1 sports programs, and high level competitive club teams, and truly are among the top level programs in most of them. Most people don't realize this.

There is a reason the Army Navy game plays each year to sold out professional stadiums, with people paying hundreds of dollars for end zone seats. To say it is the biggest rivalry in sports is understating something conspicuous.
 
Game day:
0200 finished studying, asleep
0350 up
0430 assemble at football field by company
0600 30 buses leave, 5 police car escort, slept on bus
0900 arrive, 2 hour drive longer due to snow; sit in stands, march around, glad handed, slapped on back by alumni. heavy coat not warm.
1830 embark
0100 arrive barracks. food for day (2) breakfast boxes
 
Well, now that I have seen the AN game in person, I begin to understand why it engenders so much passion. I agree with @brovol that this is a good bucket list item as it really is an experience like none other. I did learn all about dressing for warm weather for this game!! Yozwa, it was cold as it snowed the entire time and also sleeted for the second half of the game. But, oh the memories.
 
Game day:
0200 finished studying, asleep
0350 up
0430 assemble at football field by company
0600 30 buses leave, 5 police car escort, slept on bus
0900 arrive, 2 hour drive longer due to snow; sit in stands, march around, glad handed, slapped on back by alumni. heavy coat not warm.
1830 embark
0100 arrive barracks. food for day (2) breakfast boxes
Ahh; the boomerang bus option. My kid and one of his roommates ate pretty good for the weekend. They took a spirit pass, and rented a car with a few other Cadets. I bought their chow for the weekend, and then they ditched my wife and I as soon as they were done eating, but I'm not bitter. LOL.
 
Well, now that I have seen the AN game in person, I begin to understand why it engenders so much passion. I agree with @brovol that this is a good bucket list item as it really is an experience like none other. I did learn all about dressing for warm weather for this game!! Yozwa, it was cold as it snowed the entire time and also sleeted for the second half of the game. But, oh the memories.
I preferred the setup in Baltimore last year. It seemed more conducive to having as many people be able to attend all of the events oh, it has the venues seemed closer together, and more accessible. There were a lot more logistical barriers in Philadelphia. Still a great experience.

Although the snow made it perhaps more charming, it also made it downright cold and sloppy. Even as a traditionalist, i would not complain at all if this game were played in an indoor Stadium, or a warm weather town. I know it won't happen, as they need to get all the cadets and midshipmen to and from the game, but it would have made for a more comfortable experience on game day.
 
Just talked to DS; apparently low quarters are not insulated very well.
Time of his life including front row at GameDay and a thrilling nailbiter of a game.
Now waiting to hear on bonus privileges . . . BEAT NAVY !!!
 
Great win! had to be Navy's best game of the year. Commander and Chief trophy is ours. Monken had them pumped and they came out and methodically marched down field. Navy adjusted and played their best defensive game of year. Their defense was getting better and better toward end of year. Fourth quarter is ours and we shut them down and finally scored again. We dodged a bullet. In the past we were the ones who had the misfortune and were narrowly beaten. No turnovers, I believe, by either team in those miserable conditions. We hardly ever turnover but Navy often does. These last two games are ones for the ages.

Another tough game coming up against San Diego State. I think we will again be underdogs but a chance for a 10 win season.
 
@copicrow NEVER HAVE A DOUBT. GO ARMY, ALWAYS!
I was cold, wet, shivering, snow-covered and seated on the Navy-side...but that was a great game.
Go Army! Beat Navy, again!
 
Our family went and met our DD there. First game for my DW and DS and number 13 for me (first as a civilian). Our DD took a pass and was able to spend 2 nights with us at the hotel. Our DD rented a vehicle with several other cadets, too.

We thought the weather was comfortable (ski jacket, snow pants and boots). We were 10 rows up in the end zone where Army scored both TD's. No wind for us in our area. The snow added additional enjoyment for our little group. Not even our DS was complaining...and we started over at College Game Day around the time of the flyover (0850) and returned back to the hotel later that night (around 2040).

As for feeding our DD and some of the cadets, like many other A/N Saturday football mornings, I bought every cadet in line (8 or 9) breakfast (or whatever they put on the counter) at the little shop in our hotel. Plus before the game we met our DD and her roommates atone of the Chickie and Petes stands to buy them lunch....and my DW started buying other cadets (15 or 16) food, too. However, in order to have my DW pay for your food, she stated that she needed a hug. During the hug she said to every cadet "someone asked me to give you a hug if I saw you." Larger than the cash expenditure was, first, the look of confusion on the face of the cadet(s), then followed by a few tears, but then the reason she'll continue to do this into the future; so many heartfelt thank yous! I say this not to get accolades from this forum but to encourage you to consider paying it forward if you have the resources. These cadets were some of the most gracious I have ever encountered.

My DW came away from the food stand declaring ARMY and her had already won!
 
Thanks Bookreader- great article and a lot of class on both sides however was sad to read that Lt. General Caslen, "the Supe" will be retiring end of school year. He has been great.
 
Well, now that I have seen the AN game in person, I begin to understand why it engenders so much passion. I agree with @brovol that this is a good bucket list item as it really is an experience like none other. I did learn all about dressing for warm weather for this game!! Yozwa, it was cold as it snowed the entire time and also sleeted for the second half of the game. But, oh the memories.
I preferred the setup in Baltimore last year. It seemed more conducive to having as many people be able to attend all of the events oh, it has the venues seemed closer together, and more accessible. There were a lot more logistical barriers in Philadelphia. Still a great experience.

Although the snow made it perhaps more charming, it also made it downright cold and sloppy. Even as a traditionalist, i would not complain at all if this game were played in an indoor Stadium, or a warm weather town. I know it won't happen, as they need to get all the cadets and midshipmen to and from the game, but it would have made for a more comfortable experience on game day.
The 84th Army-Navy game in 1983 was held at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, CA. All others were held in cold weather climates. If the warm weather/cold weather location pattern continues, you can watch the 168th Army-Navy game in balmy weather in the year 2067.

Army will be wearing uniforms honoring the 75,000th Mars Ranger Regiment. Navy will conduct a flyover featuring F/A - 18 Super Hornets on loan from the Smithsonian.
 
I was a USNA youngster at the Pasadena Rose Bowl game. A joint foundation paid to fly all of us out of BWI on United Airlines charters. We stayed with families in the SOCAL area. Several of my classmates visited the Playboy Mansion and got their pictures taken with Hef and some of his “friends.” USNA provided us with little trinkets to give as gifts to our host families. I still have a couple of those paperweights and an official game program.

My brothers roommate, Eric Wallace, took a reverse from Napoleon McCallum and scored on the opening kickoff. I think we beat the Woops, 42-13. Overall a remarkable weekend, it will always be the only Army/Navy game out of many that I didn’t freeze my ass off...

Philadelphia usually gets a multi-year contract with an Academy option for one alternate location. The 2021 game will be played in the New Jersey Meadowlands...IMO the absolute worst place to watch the game. I’ll be watching that one on TV....
 
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