Army-Navy Game Puts National Football League to Shame

There are few football games in which everyone on the field is willing to risk his or her life for the fans’ freedom — and their right to watch a sporting event of their choice.

Since 1890, the United States Military Academy and the United States Naval Academy have put on such a game (and the Army won on Saturday, 14-13, in a thriller in the snow — back to that in a moment).

The event is one of the more popular college football games every year. Since 1945, it’s been shown on national television and since 2009, it’s been held on the second Saturday of December (a week after the FBS — Football Bowl Subdivision — conference championship). This puts added attention on the game because it’s the only Division 1 FBS matchup televised this weekend, giving fans an opportunity to watch their nation’s heroes play competitive football.

Despite its current popularity, the game actually rose from humble beginnings.

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The Army’s official website says the Black Knights of West Point were highly inexperienced and new to football coming into the first contest between the two teams in 1890. On the other hand, the Navy had a team — the Midshipmen — that played organized football with ease. They won the first matchup by a score of 24-0.

Since then, the teams have gone head-to-head every year, except for 10 occasions. This is especially impressive, as the annual bout nearly came to a permanent halt in 1893. Following the game that year, an argument between a rear admiral and a brigadier general nearly resulted in a duel. To prevent future conflict between the two sides, President Grover Cleveland and his cabinet issued orders to both the Army and the Navy that prevented them from playing road games for five seasons (from 1894 to 1898).

Although it did not destroy their rivalry, the ban eased tensions on both sides when they met back up in 1899.

Though the Army and Navy are not football powerhouses, the game has developed into a staple for sports fans. It recognizes the sacrifices of the armed forces through one of the country’s most popular games.

The players at these schools are not out there on the gridiron for fame and fortune. Neither school produces many NFL players, given the five-year service requirement for graduates. Even so, these military schools are still able to fill their rosters every year with competitive student athletes who are willing to serve their country and balance athletics with an already demanding cadet lifestyle.

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This year of 2017 marked the 118th time these sides have gone head-to-head — and the second time in a row the Black Knights were able to come out on top, 14-13, on Saturday, December 9, at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia.

The competitive game came down to the thrilling last play, a 48-yard field goal attempt by Navy kicker Bennett Moehring — and in the snow, no less.

This would have been a tough kick for even an NFL kicker given the field conditions. Moehring narrowly missed the field goal. And a pair of false start penalties pushed the Navy 10 yards back prior to the kick, making it less manageable given the conditions.

In true military school fashion, there were only three pass attempts all game. Instead, both teams relied heavily on running the ball.

Despite the Army’s second straight win, the Navy still leads the all-time series, 60-51-7.

The Army, which honored the 10th Mountain Division with its uniforms on Saturday, ran for 221 yards on 49 carries while the Navy, which honored the Blue Angels, ran for 294 yards on 46 carries. The Navy’s quarterback, Malcolm Perry, was the lead rusher of the day, running 30 times for 250 yards.

Thanks to the team’s win and its victory over the Air Force Falcons earlier in the season, the Army received the Commander-in-Chief’s Trophy, which is given to the top military football school annually. Despite the Army’s second straight win, the Navy still leads the all-time series, 60-51-7. The Navy holds the all-time edge in the series because of its 14-game win streak from 2002 to 2015.

President Donald Trump himself tweeted earlier in the day that he would be watching the game. Following the results, he offered congratulations to the Army’s Black Knights.

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No matter what the teams’ records are, coming into the game, or which one comes out on top, the American people are still happy to support these two sides. Without them and the rest of the military academies and the military overall, there would be no United States, in which citizens are free to enjoy things like football.

The game, quite frankly, makes the NFL anthem kneelers look even worse than they already do.

Tom Joyce is a freelance writer from the South Shore of Massachusetts. He covers sports, pop culture, and politics and has contributed to The Federalist, Newsday, ESPN, and other outlets.