This rivalry is like no other in sports
Brothers in service fight it out, hug after
ARMY-NAVY. There really is no rivalry like this in college football. For starters, what you are playing for is much bigger than the teams. You are representing the entire United States Army and United States Navy. For the seniors, the fact that you will battle against each other in one of the final games of your career, and then join the same team, the United States Military, and work together after graduation to defend this country, makes this rivalry unique. This was “THE GAME.” If you lost to Navy, regardless of how many games you won, it would define your season.
Our head coach, Bob Sutton, always reminded us that this game was like no other and would usually come down to whatever team made that one or two plays toward the end. He reminded us to not make this game bigger than it already was and to prepare as if it would come down to the last play. We were 4-0 against Navy my four years. However, we very easily could have been 0-4. Every game was decided in the final minutes (or seconds) and the total margin of victory was six points.
Navy was in a position to win every one of those games and very well could have. It was like brothers fighting it out, only to sing each other’s fight songs together afterward. It was a game and rivalry that represented the very definition of respect. We had a higher level of respect for Navy than any other opponent. We were so similar in so many ways.
There is a plaque every player would touch on the way out of the tunnel for our games. It had a quote from Gen. George C. Marshall, Chief of Staff of the U.S. Army during World War II: “I want an officer for a secret and dangerous mission. I want a West Point football player.” We took great pride in this quote and the responsibility you felt as a player. We all came to West Point for different reasons; however, we all came with a sense of obligation to our country.
Thanks to John Feinstein, who authored A Civil War: Army vs. Navy, A Year Inside
College Football’s Purest Rivalry, I was able to spend time with Andy Thompson, Navy’s team captain. To this day, Andy has been a dear friend. I couldn’t help but think how it must have felt to come so close yet never win. After the game our senior year, I found him, cried with him, gave him a hug and told him we would be brothers for life. As a matter of fact, we have had a dinner bet every year since we graduated! As we all know, he has won the past 14 times! I’m pretty confident there will not be a 15th!! This streak has come to an end! Go ArmyBeat Navy!!!