Army v. Navy Post Mortem

Some stats from Mojo and I's 10th straight Army/Navy game...

60 hours of debauchery
1 Friday night bonfire
68 degrees during game time
1 Army heartbreak
5 UFC fights on pay per view
2 UFC fights Mojo was awake for
About 24 48 60 72 a lot of beers
1 hangover breakfast with the family
2 (out of 2) of my kids who stalked Mojo all weekend
48 hours to get over said weekend
1 hell of a good time

Mojo has a more thoughtful take on America's Game, however, and would like to share it with you...


What follows is Mojo's breakdown of what the Army/Navy game means.  Note that he did this on the 9 hour train ride to/from Philly, and was (mostly) sober during the writing, aka, this was not a beer-fueled rant after the heartbreak we experienced Saturday afternoon.  I'll give you that version after he's done.  Without further adieu... (what is an "adieu", anyways...)... here's Mojo.

Every year in December, two college football teams take the field.  This is not your average college game.  The nickname for it is 'America's Game'  It is not average because the players are not just college students... They are Cadets and Midshipmen; players who have committed to 5 years active duty service upon graduation.

Those who love the game know that they are not seeing the two best football teams; I have often heard of it referred to as "The best high school football game you'll see," (LB Note - this is true, he uses this to entice people to come out... maybe not the best sales pitch, but the rest of this article is), But I offer that while they may not teach us about the entertainment of sport they can teach us about the spirit of sport.  

There are a few observations I would like to share as to why I have traveled to 16 of these games; seeing only 2 victories and not wavering on my desire to come watch again next year.

They teach how to be a part of a RIVALRY.  Webster defines it as, "a state or situation in which people or groups are competing with each other."    

Teammates

When we hear rivalry, marketing and commercials have conditioned to think 'bitter' rivalry.  The kind where we hate the other team and all they stand for; ignoring the fact they stand for the same thing we do, want the same thing we want, and jerseys aside, are who we are.  As I ride this train north, I can see already the rivalry alive on Facebook.  There are friends making jokes about friends from the other service.  There is family picking on each other.  It is all done in good spirit.  Sure, there are some who take the jokes to far or say hurtful things, but it is not the majority.  I have found the two teams competing with the goal to make each better and they recognize that the game is the situation and that after it finishes we go back to be competing for the same thing; a commission as an officer in our military.

They teach us how to TAILGATE.

Navy - good at football.  Not as good at tailgating

As my Army faithful friend, The Logical Better, and I walk around tailgating, I try and find someone behaving out of spirit, that real mean comment or distasteful behavior. The number of instances we find in hours of tailgating, at multiple tailgates, with members of both sides is 0.  If you wore maize and blue to Columbus, Ohio in late November would you be treated the same?  Or if it was scarlet and gray in Ann Arbor?  (LB Note - after 10 years, it still amazes me that you see nothing but camaraderie and shared joy around this event.  It's like the Hatfield's and McCoy's all decided to have their siblings marry each other).  

They teach us how to be a FAN.

If you cheer for this team there is an expectation that you cheer for your team, but do not demean the other team.  During World War II it didn't make sense to pay to move all the midshipmen up to West Point for the football game.  The money was needed for our military men overseas.  In order to have a fair game, half of the corps of cadets had to learn and cheer Navy fight songs during the game.  Can you imagine a Spartan singing Hail to the Victors?  The two teams will graduate players into different branches of service, but in the same military; America's military.  We probably shouldn't forget that our rival fans will one day later be our next door neighbor and we should treat them like that will be the case.  If you can't be a fan of that you probably are not going to get the spirit of sport ever.  (LB Note - could you imagine if we applied this to all rivalries, or better yet, to mankind???)

They teach us how to be an ALUMNUS.

If you are a graduate of these academies, as I am, you learn how important this game is from day one.  Our game is about our tradition and our values and, therefore, is timeless regardless of records or stars (LB Note - good thing in Army's case right now).  Wherever you are in the world, you pause and watch this game because you can relate to everything the players are going through.  You know that many of them could have gone to other schools and got great treatment for being good football player, but at the academies you are just like everyone else; and if you are freshmen star...you still call the upper-class 'Sir' and 'Ma'am'.  I think this helps us to never let us believe that we are the idea of student athlete the NCAA wants every player to be.  I think there is a sense, even years later, that we represent our school and therefore we guide our actions to build a healthy, not bitter, rivalry.  (LB Note - my other favorite part of this game is watching young female cadets call Mojo "sir."  Something about it just cracks me up, probably because Mojo knows I think it's funny and he might feel slightly awkward).

They teach us how to LOSE.

Awe inspiring

When the clock reads 4th Quarter 00:00 the game ends.  The two teams will move to the student section of the losing team and both will stand in silence as the Alma Mater of their opponent, their so called 'bitter' rival is played.  Upon completion the two teams will then move to the winning teams student section where the winning team the honor of what is known as "Sing Second" since they will be the second and last alma mater to be sang.  Again, rivals stand side by side, sometimes with tears

and pay respect to the opponent.  Do you think you will see LSU players stand next to Alabama following a loss to hear the Crimson Tide sing?  

They teach us about COLLEGE FOOTBALL. 

To me, it is very important that it is the alma mater, not the fight song. that is played.  The alma mater stands for the school while the fight song is more for sports.  It seems to be the two have become more separated than they should be over the years.  The fight song belongs in the game, but when that clock hits the end, the game is over and the players will return to the classroom in two days to be students.  (LB Note - the heads of the NCAA beg to differ...)

I do not mean to suggest that other schools are doing it wrong or don't have good competition at their core, I just notice that the spirit of the game has never been so clear to me than when the cadets take on the midshipmen.  They truly play for the love of the game; and for the love of their country, AMERICA.  Therefore, I believe the game deserves the title America's Game!

Just couldn't help interjecting a few times, it's got me looking forward to next year already.  However, what Mojo neglected to say his how passionate he is about his beloved Army Black Knights and how disappointed/angry/frustrated he is when they lose.  Remarkably, he wasn't that angry with this year's loss, allegedly because he thought they were getting blown out and they should have pulled it off.  I, however, have taken the time to translate what was really going on in Mojo's mind after they lost this game... because, as an adopted Army fan, it was sure as hell going through mine.

Coping

With 6 minutes to go, we noted how many times Army had broken our hearts the last 10 years, and wondered how it would happen this year.  Sadly, we actually assumed this would happen during the game.  A later text message to Mrs. Mojo while Mojo was napping confirmed she had the exact same thought at the exact same time.  A summary of the Army 4th quarter:  1 missed chip shot field goal, 3 turnovers, and 1 really, really, REALLY stupid trick play.  Mojo didn't have a problem with the trick play until I pointed out their QB was clearly their best player, and that play took the game out of his hands.  They also had all the momentum, 1 time out, 2 minutes to go, and were 40 yards from beating Navy.  After that, he got a little more frustrated, and luckily the Philadelphia policeman who walked near our car didn't notice how he was "coping" with the loss on the drive home.

More impressive, the swim or the beard?

That said, this was the best year yet.  I met some really cool people, including the only guy to ever swim the length of the Mississippi River, done to raise awareness for vets, and some friends of Mojo's who stuck with us for the entire tailgate.  We got our seats moved down right behind the Cadets, courtesy of J.B.  We enjoyed/survived many an hour toasting good beers, catching up on life, and ensuring our tradition lives on.  ARG made sure he didn't miss his daughters by ensuring he only rested when he was sleeping.  I made sure to make inappropriate remarks about my son "flirting" with his daughter.  Did we mention it was like 70 degrees for this game, and we never even put on a sweatshirt?

I'm happy and exhausted just reliving this weekend.  We already RSVP'd 5 guys staying with a female friend of mine in Baltimore next year.  There were four of us in her place in 2014, and for some strange reason, she's agreed to have us back, replying, "I better start stocking up on booze."  (Not making that one up).  She better be ready, cause if I could bet on Army for next year now, I would.  No more Keenan Reynolds, Navy coach may head to BYU, Army has some legit young talent on their team, and they outplayed Navy for all but about 3 minutes of this game... you heard it hear first (and Mojo heard it in the 3rd quarter), the streak ends in 2016.  Anyways, here are a couple more pics of the weekend:

View from the seats

Post game/UFC.  Only pic we remembered to take of each other

Next up, Mojo and I have a collaboration we are really proud to share with you coming up between Christmas and New Year's.  Something like a collection of many a more in depth, philosophy of life conversation we sometimes find ourselves in.  This is probably the last time we will post before Christmas, so Merry Christmas to you and yours, and as always, thanks for reading.  Don't forget to follow us on Twitter!  It makes a great stocking stuffer!  Hasta.