Spirit Spots: Navy edition
December 2nd, 2011 | After Action Army-Navy game Spirt Spot | Posted by Mike Hoffman
FSU Thetas fire it up
Folks we have a winner. Best spirit spot of the year goes to the Theta ladies at FSU. Fellow After Action staffer Blair might disagree, but she’s been out voted. Well done ladies. Glad to see so much patriotism down in Tallahassee. Grade A+
Fresh Prince
Can’t say I’ve ever seen a spirit spot quite like this one. An Army and Navy guy battle for the phone number of a lady in their version of the Army-Navy game. Fresh Prince gets thrown under the bus and the Navy guy wins the day. Still befuddled on the inspiration for this one or why it was staged on a track. Grade C
Action Figure Therapy
Similar to the previous action figure spirit spot we’d advise turning down the volume on this one if you’re at work. This sailor has some salty language. But some fine hilarity all around from a man made of plastic. Grade B+
Pump it up
Is it me or does this spirit spot seem ripe for the parody picking up in West Point for next year’s game? Grade F
Spirit Spots: Army Edition
December 2nd, 2011 | Army-Navy game Spirt Spot | Posted by Mike Hoffman
Operation Wide Right
Like to see leadership getting involved. Not a West Point grad but a proud member of the Marshall Thundering Herd, kudos to Maj. Gen. Anthony Crutchfield, head of U.S. Army Aviation Center of Excellence, for getting involved. Would have preferred video of a helicopter flyover that has happened at previous Army-Navy games. Grade B-
Task Force Arctic Wolves
Bill the goat is outraged. How dare those soldiers take one of his Afghan brothers and don a “Sink Navy” sweater on him. Simple and to the point deployment spot. Wonder how many of the soldiers standing behind the colonel could name one of Army’s players. They look less than enthused. Extra points for including members of the Afghan army. Grade C
Get off the boat Navy!
Broadcaster Chris German’s facial expressions make this video one of the best of the bunch thus far. Impressed they could include some actual humor in an official spirit spot. Grade A
Belly Flop edition
Anytime you throw a guy off a 10 meter platform you’re getting points from this guy. I’m not one with heights. First one I’ve seen where the crew did their own stunts. Granted, it’s the Army swimming and diving team’s spot so it’s probably not too out of bounds for them. But that’s a wicked belly flop. Grade A-
Air Force spirit spot pays homage to a classic
September 29th, 2011 | Air Force Football Navy Spirt Spot | Posted by Phil Creed
I haven’t seen a ton of spirit spots for the Air Force-Navy game this year, but I think the lack of quanity doesn’t matter. The videos posted by supporters of the Mids and Falcons have been top quality.
The latest entry comes from Air Force. It’s a takeoff of the classic 1979 Coke commercial that featured Hall of Fame defensive tackle Mean Joe Green. Bonus parts are awarded to the producers for dressing someone up in the Navy’s working uniform.
Here’s the original from 32 years ago:
More Air Force-Navy spirit spots: The return of Backshaft Productions
September 27th, 2011 | Air Force Navy Spirt Spot | Posted by Phil Creed
Earlier today we posted Air Force’s first salvos in this week’s spirit spot battle between the Falcons and Navy. Now it’s the midshipmen’s turn.
The venerable Backshaft Productions — makers of last year’s classic Old Spice spirit spot and others — are back. Their first offering is a short, well-produced spoof of a classic scene from Fight Club.
Next up from the Mids is easily the most bizarre spot I’ve seen yet. It features the new, more extreme form of planking known as Batmanning being performed in what appears to be Bancroft Hall. Because apparently, as they say in the video, “planking is for zoomies.”
NOTE: Unfortunately there’s NSFW language at the beginning of this video, so be careful where you watch. And don’t try this at home.
An Army-SMU spirit spot? Sure, why not
December 29th, 2010 | Army Football Spirt Spot | Posted by Phil Creed
Actually, I don’t know if this high-budget animated piece technically qualifies as a spirit spot, but what the heck. It’s bizarre, takes a turn for the violent and features NSFW language, so consider yourself warned.
Shake Weight video creator’s sons hunt Midshipmen
December 10th, 2010 | Army Army-Navy game Navy Spirt Spot | Posted by Mike Hoffman
This is what the Army-Navy game is all about. Two sons looking up to their father, a professor at West Point, for a Spirit Spot he filmed using everyone’s favorite piece of workout gear, the Shake Weight.
Maj. Stephen Hamilton, West Point class of ’98, filmed the Shake Weight spoof with his office mate Maj. Chris Miller, West Point class of ’99. The video is making the rounds on message boards and mass e-mails across the Army, and as of Friday morning, it has had over 16,000 views on YouTube. Hamilton’s sons, Jason and Aaron, are die-hard Army football fans. We’re talking about kids who walk up to a 3-star Air Force general and yell “Zap the Zoomies,” their mother Danielle Hamilton reports to After Action.
Jason and Aaron have seen how popular their father’s Spirit Spot has become and wanted to film one of their own, said Mrs. Hamilton. Army has yet to beat Navy in their lifetimes, yet Jason and Aaron have kept the faith and continue to cheer on Army while hunting Midshipmen with a marshmallow crossbow they won in a Cub Scout popcorn fundraiser.
Mrs. Hamilton confirmed to After Action that no children were injured in the filming of this Spirit Spot.
Actor Jason Biggs loves him some Go Army Beat Navy!
December 7th, 2010 | Army-Navy game Spirt Spot | Posted by Mike Hoffman
The unintentional comedy scale readings are off the charts on this one. Sure, the first 18 seconds feature the same old bland commander setting up his unit to scream, “Go Army, Beat Navy!” But if you have the stomach to press through, you are richly rewarded with pure comedy gold.
First, you have the Iraqi Col. Ali, who clearly has no idea what these soldiers are asking him to say, “Go Army, Beat Navy!” And just when you think the fun is over, Jim from “American Pie” comes out of nowhere with an enthusiastic cheer. Congrats, Jason Biggs. This is probably the best bit you have put on film since you stuck your member through a pastry.
Old Guard fires latest shot in Old Spice War
December 7th, 2010 | Army-Navy game Spirt Spot | Posted by Mike Hoffman
The Midshipmen of Backshaft Productions have still filmed the best Spirit Spot spoof on the Old Spice commercials, but Army’s submission certainly beats out Air Force’s weak attempt. The Mids just delivered way more zingers than the Old Guard. I’d actually like to see what Backshaft could put together in response to this piece, considering their Geico spoof wasn’t on the same level of their earlier work.
Fresh Prince of Annapolis
December 7th, 2010 | Army-Navy game Spirt Spot | Posted by Mike Hoffman
Enough of this serious talk about coaches and their futures. It’s Army-Navy week after all, and we have some fine Spirit Spot submissions after you continue to wrap your mind around that deranged unicorn video. Weird.
Army-Navy week is upon us
December 6th, 2010 | Army-Navy game Spirt Spot | Posted by Mike Hoffman
Good morning and welcome to Army-Navy week. We’ll get to all the bowl match ups later this morning, but we figured what better way to kick off the week than three Spirit Spots sent from Mids last night.
Lets start with a Geico commercial spoof done by the Mids of Backshaft Productions. And I hate to call out anyone for their submissions, but come on Backshaft. You guys are better than this. The Old Spice Spirit Spot. Brilliant. And perfectly executed. You just embarrassed the Zoomies on their week attempt to spoof the deodorant ad. This? Not so much.
First, the original wasn’t too funny so you’re starting from behind. Then calling out West Point when it comes to combat is a fight I don’t think the Mids should pick here. Just stop with the Geico spoofs. They’re just not funny. Come strong Backshaft. You guys are capable of much better.