117 Years Strong!

There are many things to celebrate and enjoy in November and December. Tomorrow the nation gets to honor our military vets and current service members! There is of course Thanksgiving, Hanukkah, Dec. 7 (it is a day that shall live...) and Christmas. But, there is another big in the beginning of December that I look forward to every year.

This year the date is Dec. 6, 2008 at high noon. The event? The Army-Navy football game of course!!! What more could a football fan want than a rivalry that has been ongoing for 117 years? I always enjoy the event. I generally cheer for the Navy, but this year I have a conflict. I have many friends that are active duty in the Army! So my loyalties are conflicted. Do I cheer for my favorite branch of the military, or the branch that most of my friends have chosen to serve in (if they are military)? It would be blasphemy to cheer for the refs! After much debate on this issue I have decided that I have been a fan of the Navy for a long time, so why stop now? If my Army people are really my friends, than they will forgive me (though that forgiveness might take awhile when the Navy wins!).

The Army-Navy game is a time for all Americans to cheer for our military in a setting where politics are set aside and we just get to enjoy a great American sport. I've included a few key facts about this rivalry.

NAVY:
1) Started playing organized football in 1879

Army:
1) Canceled all sports in 1909 after the death of cadet E. Byrne in a game vs. Harvard

Misc.:
1) The War Dept. canceled the game in 1917 & 18 (WWI)
2) In 1928 & 1929 the games were canceled because the parties could not agree on some of the rules.
3)From 1894-1898 the game was not held due to an incident that involved a Rear Ad. & Brig. Gen. (they threatened to duel it out). The incident had to be dealt with by the Secy of War, and for 5 years the teams were not allowed to play each other!
4) In 1899 in order to reinstate the game the two schools agreed to play all future Army-Navy games in Philly, a neutral spot. Philly is still the site of the extravaganza more than 100 years later!
*It did not host the game in 2007
*This is officially the 81st Army-Navy game in Philly

As it stands today:
Navy: 52 Wins
Army: 49 Wins
Tie: 7

So, get yourself an appropriately colored shirt, or a flag to wave, grab some friends and some American football food and be ready, because it is coming!!!

December 6, 2008 at noon on CBS.


GO NAVY, BEAT ARMY!!!!

-JLK/PRT-