BEAT NAVY!!!

As a USNA grad who has been to many an Army/Navy game, I found this one to be no different than the others. A chance to meet up with old classmates, squadron mates and friends with a 4 hour football game thrown in for good measure. A summary of my typical Army/Navy weekend.
  • Mini class reunion at a Philadelphia bar Friday night. Caught up with many classmates whom I hadn't seen in years.
  • Mini class reunion at pre-game tailgate. Same as above.
  • Army/Navy Football game...met up with my son and nephew, both current MIDN. Bought plenty of food and hot chocolate for them and their friends at halftime.
  • Post game drinks at Philadelphia sports bar. Great conversation and beers with the Navy Leapfrog Parachute team.
  • Dinner at City Tavern with former squadron mate, now a Flag Officer who brought his aging father (former Army officer) to his first Army/Navy game.
NOT ONCE...did anyone in this varied circle of friends, family, USNA graduates or Navy peers express ANY hatred, animus or vitriol directed at USMA, the football team, coaches, USMA leadership or the United States Army in general. Some friendly banter but mostly, my group of graduates lamenting "our poor season....can't Beat Army, a really GOOD team... with four turnovers...should have maybe changed quarterbacks earlier...the difficulty of our conference schedule...continuing to play 3 tough rivalry games...etc..."

Many of us old USNA grads also secretly hoped that the Army losing streak would end sooner than later. I'll never forget the pain of losing to Notre Dame for over 50 YEARS...especially them running up the score in a "home" game we played in Dublin...

For those of you new to SA sports and SA football in particular, please note this. SA football is cyclical in nature. This isn't the 40's or 50's anymore...there are only a few kids nationwide who can play at a high level and meet the academic, mental and physical requirements for entry into a SA. Army is up now while Navy and AF are down. Many forget that that the only team EVER to beat Notre Dame 4 years straight was AF. Some day the pendulum will swing back again.

There probably was some trash talking after the game. I'm sure it wasn't the first nor will it be the last. As a LT, I took the bait and trashed talked an Iranian pilot one night on the Guard frequency...looking back now I realize it was pretty dumb and unprofessional. I'm sure with the passage of time, the Army/Navy trash talkers will feel the same way.
 
How about Alabama Auburn. My father's coach was a Bama Captain. His first son went and played for Alabama and was Nuke Commander. Younger son played for Auburn. That was an interesting day at dinner.
 
I do love how Philly really does turn into the City of Brotherly Love during Army-Navy weekend. And back when I used to Metro in to DC for work everyday I would wear my Beat Navy button on my coat the week of A-N, which prompted numerous good-natured conversations with good people. It has got to be the friendliest rivalry I've ever seen.
 
AF6872 said:
How about Alabama Auburn. My father's coach was a Bama Captain. His first son went and played for Alabama and was Nuke Commander. Younger son played for Auburn. That was an interesting day at dinner.
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The Iron Bowl of course is a severe rivalry and a must win. The Tennessee hatred runs deeper due to various recruiting and tattle tale type issues. AD Fuller when head coach is the culprit. The third Saturday in October is huge for both teams and fans when the Tide and Viles play. Do not get married or buried on that day as chances are, the preacher will not show up.
 
Nemo567 said:
Never forgot the Army 2015 march-on.
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OldRetSWO said:
I will officially remove myself from discussion of marching as after plebe summer, the next p-rade that I marched in was the graduation parade for MY June week ad
to be honest, I was only there because I wanted to jump into the reflection pool with my companymates. P-Rade exemption was a great thing (for me)!
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And here is pictorial proof of that event!
Willl Reflecting Pool 1978.jpg
 
OldRetSWO said:
And here is pictorial proof of that event!
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You took the time to take a picture before entering the water ? That looks like a pre-i phone selfie !

Question for the current Midshipmen/Parents who may know....is jumping into the Severen forbidden now. My last P-rade was celebrated in Santee Basin, but I have heard that is a no-no now. (I've never understood why....by graduation all Midshipmen are duly qualified to swim fully attired)
 
Old Navy BGO said:
Question for the current Midshipmen/Parents who may know....is jumping into the Severen forbidden now.
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While I can't say it's "forbidden" with any degree of certainty, I know it's at the very least discouraged as the stormwater system is dumping unfiltered rainwater into the Severn River and the Severn Association has noted it isn't safe to swim in it. One of the numerous infrastructure problems facing USNA as has been widely reported recently.
 
Sydney C. said:
Old Navy BGO said:
Question for the current Midshipmen/Parents who may know....is jumping into the Severen forbidden now.
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While I can't say it's "forbidden" with any degree of certainty, I know it's at the very least discouraged as the stormwater system is dumping unfiltered rainwater into the Severn River and the Severn Association has noted it isn't safe to swim in it. One of the numerous infrastructure problems facing USNA as has been widely reported recently.
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And yet the Intercollegiate Sailing guys are in the water daily. The amount of stormwater emanating USNA is tiny compared to the stormwater runoff throughout the rest of the Severn watershed and no, that is not filtered. The water is not drinkable but based on the abundant fish/crabs/etc, it is far less polluted than many other places where people sail and play. I swam in it many times as did my son and our teammates. The third eye that grew on my head as a result makes for good talk in bars and lots of free drinks.
 
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