Army-Navy: The Rivalry Unlike Any Other

It’s a rivalry unlike any other. Sure, there’s intensity in many other high-profile games. There’s pomp and circumstance every weekend in college football. There’s history and pride on the line, week-in-and-week-out across the nation. But there’s nothing like Army-Navy.

The Army-Navy game is a unique rivalry in college football. It’s not just about football; it’s about service and country. Both teams will be opponents on Saturday, but in the future, they’ll be working together to defend the United States. That bond underlines every part of the game.

"Between the white lines, it’s a football game,” said Colin Ramos, a linebacker for Navy who’s also a team captain. “Of course, there’s a level of respect. We’re not gonna be playing the flags or anything at the end of the game. That’s not us. It’s not the two academies. But ultimately, we’re competitors out there. We’re football players. We love to play football. That’s what we’ll do.”

The rivalry brings its unique traditions each year. At West Point, Beat Navy week is marked by the burning of a bonfire with a 20-foot effigy of a Navy ship before the Army marathon team begins the 300-mile run from campus to Northwest Stadium to deliver the game ball. They’ll be joined for the final stretch by members of the Navy’s 13th company.

On Friday, members of each academy take part in the Patriot Games that are being held on the National Mall. Midshipmen and cadets will compete in four different competitions and the team that wins the most points will be honored at halftime of the football game on Saturday.

Game day itself is a series of special moments. First, there is the entrance of the Corps of Cadets and the Brigade of Midshipmen, in which the student body from each school marches in formation on the gridiron before taking their seats in the stands.

The schools also hold their “prisoner exchange.” Students from West Point and the Naval Academy who are attending classes at their rival institution in order to begin training in joint command operations are brought to midfield and then allowed to join their home institution comrades for the entirety of the game, allowing them to cheer on their fellow students in the comfort of friendly surroundings.

Each service traditionally gets the chance to show off its air power with pregame flyovers that put the US military’s might on full display. Traditionally, the US president conducts the pregame coin toss, when in attendance, as the ultimate impartial observer. It’s unknown if Trump, as president-elect, will take up the honor at this year’s game.

After the final whistle blows, both teams join together to sing one another’s alma mater to close the day.