“BEAT ARMY!” “BEAT NAVY!”

The Army-Navy Game has been a tradition in college football since the two military academy’s first game taking place in 1930. Every year since there has been a game between these two rivals. The game is a big deal to say the least, especially for the students, players and fans. The rivalry between Annapolis and West Point, is very intense. The phrases "Beat Navy!" and "Beat Army!" are a symbol at both of the prestigious institutions. The president attends and presents the Commander-in-Chief’s Trophy at the White House every year to the winning school. Last year Army was victorious, breaking the Navy’s 14-year winning streak. Since their first game on November 28, 1890, Navy has won 60 times, Army 50, and they have tied 7 times. The two institutions have met on the field 117 times, but that is in jeopardy this season due to the Corona Virus pandemic. This year’s battle for the Commander-in-Chief’s Trophy is set to be held at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia on Dec. 12. Many fans are worried that the game will be cancelled or they won’t allow fans in the stands. Although the game is aired nationally on radio and nationally televised on a broadcast network every year, but the whole experience is what will be missed. The fate of this tradition hangs in the hand of city officials and congress.

ARMY, NAVY GAME TRADITIONS

           The Army, Navy game hold many traditions that wouldn’t make the game the same without the fans and full stands. The Prisoner Exchange is only done at the Army-Navy game. In their Junior year, a select group of cadets and midshipmen spend a semester studying at the opposite institutions. During the pre-game, these select students take part in a prisoner swap on the field. They go to the center of the field and run back to their original schools to be reunited with their fellow classmates. During the game, the Cadets and Midshipmen will be in uniform. Prior to the beginning of the game, both institutions will march into the stadium. This is called the “March-On” and it is amazing to see. During half time the president will switch sides of the field just as Theodore Roosevelt did in 1901. At the end of the game, all the players meet in the middle of the field and the losing team faces the field of the winning team and sings the winning teams school’s alma mater, this is called “Second-Sing.” As you can see a lot of tradition goes into this event and it would be devastating to lose.

SEASON CHANGES

Navy was originally scheduled to play Notre Dame in Dublin, Ireland, in the first game of the season on Aug. 29. However, last month, officials decided to move the game to Labor Day Weekend in Annapolis, Md. There is no further notice of schedule changes and cancelations. ESPN stated “After the Patriot League canceled its fall sports this year, many feared it could put an end to football season for these two prestigious military institutions. However, the conference’s decision excluded Army and Navy, allowing them to make their own decisions.” The only thing that seems to be an issue is the city of Philadelphia have already prohibited fans from attending either Phillies or Eagles games for this season so the chance of the Army Navy game of prohibiting fans as well is possible. The attendance for this game normally exceeds 81,000. Mike Buddie, Army’s athletic director, recently provided an update on the game. “The Army-Navy game is my top priority and only a decision by the city would stop us from playing.” “I have no idea what that game my look like once all necessary safety measures are put in place to guard against the pandemic, but if there’s only one game played in the country this year, we fully expect it will be the Army-Navy game,” Buddie said in a statement.

           West Point sports directors also had a lot to say about the pandemic, “We are fortunate to have the unwavering support of Lieutenant General Darryl Williams, the Superintendent of the United States Military Academy, as well as the entire West Point Enterprise. If there is any college football in America this year, you can be assured that we will fight to make sure America’s game will be part of it.” "If there's only one game we're going to play,” Navy athletic director Chet Gladchuk recently told ESPN. “It’s the Army-Navy game. Unless the pandemic is such at the time that we're precluded by the city of Philadelphia to play that game, we have every intention of playing Army-Navy. "The game is already virtually sold out. Can we accommodate that number? I don't know. We always look at it this way — including Notre Dame on Labor Day weekend — we're preparing for scenarios and we can always back down if we have to. Good old-fashioned ticket refund. Everybody does it. If we have to give money back, we give money back, but at least we're prepared, right now on the front side.”

MALCOLM PERRY: COVID19 POSITIVE

           Big in Navy news, former Navy football quarterback from Tennessee Malcolm Perry. He just formally announced that he contracted the corona virus and is in recovery. Perry, who is now a new player of the Miami Dolphins states “I was surprised initially but was happy because I was presented with the opportunity to give back and donate plasma and help people in need,” Perry said during a video posted to the team website. “Being able to give back to people who weren’t fortunate enough to react the same way you did to the virus and give back to the community was important.” This hit close to home for the players, fans and coaches at Navy. Its easy to see it happening but when it happens to one of your own its different.

           Do you think the Army, Navy game will be cancelled? Will you be attending?