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It's time to extend some heartfelt congratulations to two of our nations' service academies. Long perceived to be uncompetitive in intercollegiate football, partly because the service obligation (five years) prevents student atheletes who go to our academies from persuing careers in professional sports immediately upon graduation (how much more impressive would Roger Staubach's career with the Dallas Cowboys have been if he had been able to play football during his five years of active duty?) and partly because the physical requirements include strict limits on maximum height and weight of the student atheletes, the Falcons and the Midshipmen nonetheless earned some serious respect with decisive victories in bowl games yesterday.
Bell Helicopter Armed Forces Bowl: Houston 20, Air Force 47
Texas Bowl: Navy 35, Missouri 13
Air Force has the most restrictive height and weight restrictions of all of the service academies, as all cadets must conform to the requirements for pilots of combat aircraft. Nonetheless, they play a very interesting style of offense with many option plays that can really break a player with the ball open. Navy also has an unsual offense, at least for college football, called the "triple option" (only one other college is now using it, and their coach was formerly at Navy).
There are plenty of kudo's to go around -- especially to the alumni and boosters whose contributions made it possible to bring in top coaching staffs and, of course, to the players who made it work, and their classmates who have steadfastly supported their efforts on and off the field.
But above all, it's great to see future officers of our armed forces achieving this kind of success!
Norm,
We were very happy to see Navy win as one of our former neighbors son's is on the team (Go Andy Lark!!)
We spent a cold, wet, miserable game at the Gator Bowl today but we'd do it again in a heartbeat! It was a great send off for Bobby Bowden and so nice that the Noles won! (and of course the Marching Chiefs rocked the house!)
We are now watching the Sugar Bowl and rooting for Cincinnati!
Angela Z.
my son the USAFA graduate called me yesterday to brag !!!!
The last two years, I went to the Bell Helicopter Armed Forces Bowl to watch the Falcons win because my godson was a cadet. Much to my dismay, they lost -- to California two years ago and to Houston last year. He graduated last June, so we did not go to the game this year.
But his class can take solice in the fact that they trained the guys who DID win!
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Originally Posted by You
now if West Point could get it's program back on track it would be great
Yes, I agree!
Of course, as a former naval officer, I will be rooting for Navy to continue to dominate the inter-academy competition for the Commander in Chief's Cup.
It's been told that at the end of the Army/Navy game the victor would play both teams respective music, with the losers song played first.
A sign of honor and respect.
Hook 'em Horns !
Go U.T. !!
Phil & Liz
Phil, you're exactly right!
At the end of the Army-Navy game, both teams gather in front of the losing team's student section, and that school's Alma Mater is played by the marching band.
Next, both teams gather in front of the winning team's student section, and the victor's Alma Mater is played.
Out of respect for the opposing team, and out of respect for the game of football, both teams play with all the intensity and determination they have. They play the game of football as the game is meant to be played. Our Service Academy football teams are a fine example football teams and a fine example of the young men and women who serve.
At the end of the Army-Navy game, both teams gather in front of the losing team's student section, and that school's Alma Mater is played by the marching band.
Next, both teams gather in front of the winning team's student section, and the victor's Alma Mater is played.
Out of respect for the opposing team, and out of respect for the game of football, both teams play with all the intensity and determination they have. They play the game of football as the game is meant to be played. Our Service Academy football teams are a fine example football teams and a fine example of the young men and women who serve.
The academies also follow this custom at the end of the Army-Air Force and Navy-Air Force games, which sadly don't have the same following on national televison.
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