Bill's Bowl Blog

Best Rivalry in Sports

 An argument erupted between a Rear Admiral and Brigadier General after the Naval Academy won the fourth-ever Army-Navy football game in 1893 that nearly led to the two officers drawing down on each other in a duel. Yes, a duel. The rivalry was put on hold for the next five years after President Cleveland called an emergency Cabinet meeting over the incident where the Secretary of the Navy and the Secretary of War forbid the two teams from playing each other.

Now that’s history.

Forget Red Sox-Yankees, Auburn-Alabama, Harvard-Yale, or Redskins-Cowboys. Give me Army-Navy. Sorry Air Force, but this rivalry dates back to 1890, 57 years before your service was born.

No other sporting event has the history or competitive spirit that exists between these two military academies when they match up.

That’s why over the next three weeks this blog will try to get you ready for kickoff on Dec. 6 at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia, Pa. Myself and the staff at Military Times will attempt to capture the traditions and pageantry that accompany the game while also breaking down how this year’s teams match up.

Please use the comments section or email me at mhoffman@atpco.com to provide any suggestions you have on traditions you cherish, or questions you would like me to have answered by this year’s teams coaches and players. Also, please send pictures.