Former Navy player recalls thrill of beating Army ‘all four years’
To this day, I still get chills whenever I reminisce about the feelings I felt after my final Army-Navy game.
The buildup of emotions started well before the actual game.
I fondly recall my senior year in 2015 and final Army-Navy game.
In the week leading up to the Army Navy game, practice is notoriously grueling and physical. Almost every day is full pads and full contact. Every practice is full of violent collisions, cut blocks and fierce competition.
The only reason for this is to get everyone prepared for a level of physicality that is not seen anywhere else during the season. Every single player is locked in with laser focus on every practice repetition. No one wants to be the one to make a mistake and let their brothers down.
The publicity of the game adds fuel to the fire of emotions. Everywhere you go around campus, Midshipmen, teachers, and staff ask if we are ready or if we will win. Former players and alumni attend practices and always talk about how their Army-Navy game was one of the most memorable moments of their lives (whether good or bad, depending on the outcome).
Additionally, since we were on a 13 game win-streak, there was increased pressure to not be the ones who broke the streak. After two weeks of hard practice and all of the grandeur associated with the game, it was time to put it all aside and just play football.
I don’t remember every play that happened during the Army-Navy game in Philadelphia on Dec. 12, 2015, my senior year, but I do vividly remember the rush of emotions that overcame us as the clock hit 0:00 and the score board read Navy 21, Army 17.
We screamed and hugged as we celebrated.
A weight was lifted off of our shoulders and the pure excitement overtook us. We sprinted to our student section and jumped into the stands to sing “The Navy Blue and Gold.” We were overcome with joy, adrenaline, relief, and pride.
Going 4-0 against Army and extending the winning–streak to 14 is something that can never be taken away from us.
When you play at Navy, what matters most is “singing second.” To this day, no one ever asks me how we did against Air Force or Notre Dame, or which bowl game we went to. They always ask, “Did you beat Army?” I can proudly say with my chest puffed out, “Yes we did…. All four years.”
1st Lt. Sean Reaver, Naval Academy Class of ’16, played for the Mids during the 2012-2015 seasons. He saw playing time at defensive end and special teams during his four years with the team. He is currently a Supply Officer in the Marine Corps stationed in Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, with Combat Logistic Battalion 22.