“It is the only game where everyone playing in it is willing to die for everyone watching it…”
There is plenty of meaningful football being played around the country today. Right here in South Dakota both the Jackrabbits and the Coyotes have a chance to advance deeper into the FCS playoffs with their respective third-round matchups. But this week, every year in FBS college football, only one game sits on the schedule. Army versus Navy.
The two institutions first played the first gam on November 29, 1890. Since then, the two academies have played annually in all but ten years, and have played in consecutive annual games every season since 1930. But it is so much more than a game because of what this game represents and the quality of the people involved.
When you commit to a military institution, you become property of said school. Players for these teams cannot enter the transfer portal, they can’t sign any NIL deals and you commit to service after your playing time is done. In an always-evolving world of college football with players always looking for the next best deal and opportunity, the guys playing in today’s game represent the other side of college football. Playing for a purpose greater than yourself, playing for the name on the front of the jersey and not on the back, all of it is what makes this game so special.
It’s one of the only games that sheds more light on the tradition than the actual game itself. Having worked three of these with CBS, I can tell you it’s the traditions that make this one game each year what it is. It all starts with the walkouts. Both schools will send their classes out onto the field to stand at attention filling the full field with the men and women that will soon protect the country. Later, at midfield, they perform what is known as the “prisoner-exchange”, the prisoners are the cadets and midshipmen currently spending the semester studying at the sister academy. They are exchanged with handshakes and smiles. After the game concludes, the winning team stands alongside the losing team and faces the losing academy’s students; then the losing team accompanies the winning team, facing their students. Often, when able, the President of the United States will make an appearance. Back in 2020, President Donald J. Trump met at midfield for the coin toss and even joined some of the cadets in the stands during the game. It is also being reported that president-elect Trump will be present at today’s game as well.
The 125th Army-Navy Game kicks off today at 2:00 PM CT on CBS. No matter who you root for, you will hear these phrases all day. GO ARMY. BEAT NAVY. GO NAVY. BEAT ARMY. And God Bless the men and women who served, are serving or will serve to protect us so we may enjoy these Saturdays with college football.
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