Pregame Thoughts

I didn’t really have any expectations about this game — just thought it might be interesting to check out.

My retired-Navy brother-in-law Greg will disapprove, but I was rooting for the Army just because they were the underdogs.

Overall Response

I thoroughly enjoyed watching the broadcast.  This perennial match-up is nicknamed “America’s Game, ” which is a forgivable bit of marketing hype.  But these men on the field, and their fellow cadets and midshipmen in the stands (men and women alike), can surely claim to be America’s teams.  They are honest-to-God officers in training who will soon find themselves in harm’s way after they leave their respective academies.  Getting into their academies requires outstanding qualifications — and perhaps the least of which is football prowess.  The academies they represent are steeped in history, and this rivalry seems to have been an important part of that history.  These factors combine to give this game an emotional and historical context that simply cannot be matched by any other college or NFL match-up.  It was inspiring to see all those students in dress uniform in the stands (and also fun to see them displaying typical goofy behavior during the game;  nice to know they’re still college kids).

I didn’t realize that Navy has been on a such a winning streak, and they kept it going in this game.  Their win in this close game (21-17) made this their 14th victory in a row.

And it wasn’t a blow-out by any means.  Army was on top for part of the game and it looked like the Navy’s long winning streak might come to an end.  But it was not to be.  For 2016, I say “Go Army.  Beat Navy.”  And I’ll be watching again, regardless of how I’m feeling next year about professional football.

Some things that stood out:

• It started with an invocation.  Kind of took me by surprise.  (Actually, before the Invocation the March On ceremony preceded the game but wasn’t included in the telecast).
• The National Anthem was sung a cappella by a combined Glee Club from both military academies;  how nice to see all those men and women in uniform singing so beautifully.  And unlike almost everyone everywhere who sings that song, they didn’t take a breath after “Oh say does that star spangled” (gasp) “banner still wave.”  Singing tip:   that’s one thought (and one musical phrase) and really shouldn’t be interrupted with a breath.

• I’m a sucker for military fly-overs, and each team got one:  the Navy got some F-18 jet fighters in close formation, the Army got some Apache helicopters;  I’d say the Navy trumped the Army with their fly-over, which was perhaps an omen of things to come.
• They showed a clip of a military chaplain delivering a speech about the game and the players;  it was very moving.
• Seniors from each academy were given a chance to share their thoughts about the game in a video clip.  Again, so inspiring to see and hear them, knowing that they’ll be going on to serve our country.
• Secretary of Defense Ash Carter attended the game, and I was amused by the tradition that the Secretary sits on one side of the stadium for the first half, and then (fair is fair) moves to the other side for the second half.  Historic video footage shows several Presidents have attended this game, and I wonder if that same tradition applies to the Commander in Chief?
• The finale–a real musical theater moment when each team gets to sing their Alma Mater in front of their Academy students in the stands (the losing team sings first, the winners stand courteously behind them–then the winners go berserk and run to the other side for their own Alma Mater).  The Midshipmen got a little ahead of the conductor when it was their turn, but I’ll overlook it.