Go Navy! Beat Army!

"I'm very proud of the student-athletes who proudly represent the Naval Academy and our entire Navy and Marine Corps in this game. Beyond the football field, these players, like their fellow midshipmen and cadets, will serve and sacrifice together for our nation. The teams may line up on opposites sides Saturday, but they will serve shoulder to shoulder in the years ahead. This great rivalry represents the best of sportsmanship and the best of America."

-- Admiral Gary Roughead, Chief of Naval Operations

Today is the 111th time Army-Navy will meet on the field for a football game, a tradition worth the hype. In the modern era, Army-Navy has become an event to watch on TV that can be remarkably inspiring, and the activities that have very little to do with the actual game that comes with this TV event is not insignificant.

My oldest daughter is not a football fan, but she will watch two football games a year: Arkansas v LSU and Army v Navy. I'm from Arkansas and I'm married to a big time LSU fan, so my oldest daughter watches Arkansas-LSU just to see mom and dad war in the living room.

Her reasons for watching Army-Navy is different. The game is special, in fact I don't think she actually watches the game because of football. It is like watching the Macy's Day Parade, Dick Clark on New Years Eve, the Super Bowl, or The Christmas Story on Christmas Day - the unique and special character of the event leaves a mark in memory and can suddenly, unexpectedly, give a viewer goosebumps with moments unlike many traditions in the nation.

Two things worth reading for football fans. This story is very well written. Also, this story tells you where the Navy Seniors will be next year.