Dobbs has a better arm than Enhada. If anything, Navy fans will get another look at the future of Navy football for the next two years.

12:45: Two words some up the genius of the ESPN Halftime show – Wendi Nix.  She’s the new Erin Andrews, except she also has a non-Florida Gator intellect.

Its fun watching Wendi attempt to adjudicate the constant disputes between Desmond Howard and Trevor “how did I get hired by ESPN?” Matich.  Desmond is just running roughshod on Trevor.  Wendi is just sitting there doing what she does best – look good.

Rumor going around Baltimore is that Governor Blagojevich offered Teixeira more money to sign with the Cubs, but the attraction of coming back to Severna Park was just too tempting for Tex.

Kickoff of the 2nd half happening now. Navy’s lost the last two bowls with poor 2nd half performances. Let’s see if they can turn the tide today.

12:55: The momentum shift continues. Two key 3rd down conversions, the Wake marches on. The Navy defense looks tired and shell-shocked.

1:00: Touchdown Wake.  Navy is in a very dangerous spot. No offensive TDs and no drives of any consequence in recent memory.  They need a scoring drive here to stop the bleeding.

1:06: A lot less throwing on this drive.  Tyree Barnes might be throwing a T-O temper tantrum on the sidelines before too long.

1:14: HUGE third down stop deep in Wake territory. Navy’s Defense needed a stop and just got it. The offense should get the ball back with good field position.  End of the third quarter. With the free time between quarters, I have time to think and smile about the Redskins losing to the Bengals last week. (Editor’s note: Unnecessary dig at the proud franchise that is the Washington Redskins.)

Ewing: Well, Mike, I think things are going great. We’ve got millions of readers out there on the Internet all following along with us as we cover the game.

Hoffman: That is so.

Ewing: What do you think were the high and low points of the first half And what do you think we can still look forward to in this matchup?

Hoffman: Navy has to be confident that they showed they could move the ball at will against a tough Wake defense that features two of the best defenders in the country – Curry and Smith. But they need to finish drives with touchdowns, not field goals, if they are going to keep their lead. Wake finally woke up on that last drive and will look to try and exploit their speed advantage in the second half.

Ewing: How do you think the big Navy crowd turnout today has affected the game?

Hoffman: RFK was once known for being one of the loudest stadiums in the NFL, but that’s when the stadium was packed with rabid Redskins fans. Navy definitely has more supporters here, but that’s to be expected with a bigger fan base and a closer proximity to the game. I hope there is plenty of coffee at the concessions stands because the fans looked as sleepy at the beginning of the game as Wake’s team.

Ewing: All right, sir, we’ll let you get back to your blanket-like sports coverage and be looking forward to the updates in the second half.

Hoffman: Roger that. End transmission.

Navy senior cornerback Ketric Buffin injured his knee in the first half and will miss the rest of the game. HIs backup is junior Blake Carter.

Photo by Amy McCullough. A Navy fan experiments with some unconventional headwear to battle the cold at the EagleBank Bowl in Washington’s RFK Stadium.

Wake Forest’s option attack is getting bottled up by a stout Navy defensive line the same way Army fullback Colin Mooney struggled to find holes against this continually improving unit.

Navy’s offense keeps marching along as Kaheaku-Enhada and White are torching Wake’s defense on the ends. If Navy could finish these long drives with touchdowns instead of field goals than this game might be over by halftime.

Often times the advantage of a rematch goes to the previous loser, but not today. This first half looks like the last one that was played down in Winston-Salem, N.C. Navy dominated that first  half in that one as well before Kaheaku-Enhada got hurt, but he continues to look strong as Navy continues to roll.

Update: Wake Forest just missed a field go that clanked off the upright keeping Navy’s lead at 20.

Photo by Amy McCullough. U.S. Marines spread the U.S. flag on the field at the EagleBank Bowl before the singing of the national anthem.

10:44 a.m.: We’re coming to you here live from snowy Rhode Island where there is 14 inches of white stuff on the ground.

Here’s the question: Will local residents attending the game be more interested in the Navy-Wake outcome or the “Days of Our Lives” developments in the Mark Teixeira drama?

Wake appears to be the quintessential “tweener” school.  The students aren’t smart enough to get into Villanova Universty….the football players aren’t good enough to go to Maryland.  So they all end up at places like Wake Forest. (Editors note: Schofield attended Villanova on a ROTC scholarship.)

11:03 a.m.: Now starting at quarterback for Wake…in his 17th year of college eligibility….Riley Skinner.  I think Skinner was a freshman when former Redskin quarterback Sammy Baugh was still playing.

11:10 a.m.: Mids strike first blood. I have to imagine its gonna be tough for Wake to maintain the competitive edge for this game.  Plus, the soft yellow jerseys can’t possibly inspire.

11:20 a.m.Please allow me to go on the record saying that Navy needs to permanently retire these uniforms after the season.

Wow…just as I’m mocking the uniforms…the Navy defense makes a statement. Are Ed Reed and Ray Lewis playing for Navy today?

11:20 a.m.: There must be something said at this point about Navy. They are very obviously closing the gap between them and BCS Conference teams. For Navy to beat Wake on the road and come out and dominate like they are today, it sends a message.  A true test will be next September against Ohio State. But for now they are representing well.

11:40 a.m.: Did my wife sprinkle valium into my lunch? Why am I so sleepy?  Oh, I figured it out. Its color commentator David Norrie. Enter Sandman!!  He is the anti-Vitale. Intensely boring.

Senior cornerback and one of Navy’s team leaders Rashawn King just returned a fumble by Wake Forest cornerback Alphonso Smith for a touchdown.

King’s father died suddenly the week before the Army-Navy game and returned to his family forcing him to miss the game. It’s great to see him get that 50-yard touchdown return. His teammates mauled him as he returned to the sideline as I’m sure they are happy it was King who picked up the fumble.

It’s odd to see Smith taking that handoff as he’s a cornerback, but he’s the best athlete on the Wake Forest team and it seems coach Jim Grobe wants to get him in the game as much as possible. Smith along with linebacker Aaron Curry are sure to be playing on Sundays soon, but he probably wishes he had that one back.

If you’ve never been, Washington’s Robert F. Kennedy Memorial Stadium — the venue for today’s game — is one of the most distinctive stadiums in America. Opened in 1961 in Washington’s Southeast neighborhood, it’s a leaky, creaky, battered, stained old war horse of a sports venue; if the fans get going just the right way, the entire place shakes. The elevator up to the press box had old, back-lit plastic buttons and Eisenower-era metal numbers. The stadium was home to the Washington Redskins and the Washington Senators baseball team back in the day, and after baseball returned to the city the Washington Nationals played here for a few seasons. Today’s EagleBank Bowl is the first football game in RFK since 1999.

I can see a line of Marines taking a massive flag onto the field now; the crowd is on its feet. The top rows of seats are still empty, but there were plenty of people lined up from venerable old Stadium/Armory Metro stop, so this crowd looks like it’ll only get bigger.

Good morning Navy fans. It’s early. Someone make some coffee. This 11 a.m. start time is going to play a bigger role in this game than many might think and it might work in Navy’s favor. Most players probably haven’t played a game this early since high school JV.

It’s brisk this morning at 39 degrees, but atleast the rain has stopped as it has come down for the past two days. The weather might not compare to Navy’s last bowl game in San Diego, but it’s the best that can be expected for December in Washington D.C.

Tailgaters have already reached the parking lots with a decent showing by Navy’s fans. More to come once the blog team gets into the stadium.

Just as it may be inexplicable to outsiders that a barnyard animal would be on the sidelines at a Navy football game, so too have I been mystified by Wake Forest’s team name ever since I first heard it earlier today. Accordingly, a mission to Wikipedia was in order, where I learned that Wake Forest’s players originally were the “Fighting Baptists” — which is a pretty terrifying nickname for any committed drinker of booze. After a big win over the Duke Blue Devils in 1923, however, a newspaper reporter wrote that Wake Forest’s players had “fought like demons,” which gave rise to the team’s current name, the Demon Deacons. I also learn from the Inter-Tubes that the mascot, a man wearing a giant foam head, rides onto the athletic field atop a motorcycle, which, I would imagine, yields several rounds’ worth of hearty huzzahs from the students.

What with all the whirlwind changes in blogs and football what-not these days, many of our millions of online readers may’ve found themselves confused about the name change from “America’s Game” to “Bill’s Bowl Blog.” Wake Forest readers especially may not understand whence came this name “Bill,” and as such, permit us to elucidate: Bill the Goat is the long-beloved, occasionally kidnapped mascot of the Naval Academy midshipmen, who has a long tradition of representing Navy football. Back in what’s known as “the day,” sailing ships traveled with live animals, including goats and sheep, to provide fresh meat for the crew members. The young officers in training, known as midshipmen, took care of the animals as their jobs onboard. Thence, down the mists of the ages, Bill became the mascot of the academy and its football-playing men.

As John Feinstein wrote in his book “A Civil War: A Year Inside College Football’s Purest Rivalry” it’s the only game when traffic is the worst three hours before the game.

Photos by Jason Watkins

Jason Watkins/staff

The direct link to the game is: http://all-access.cbssports.com/player.html?code=cs&media=93348.

You can also find the game by going to CBS Sportsline’s website and looking for the Army-Navy link under “Featured Programming down the far right side.

Warning: To watch the game your computer must have Microsoft Sliverlight loaded onto it. It’s easy to download and free as well unless of course you’re on a government computer where downloading anything is a headache.

Yes, it’s as cliche as equating Rocky with Philadelphia, but for many, a trip to the city of brotherly love means a stop in cheesesteak heaven. The only real question is where to go. Well, Philadelphia Magazine just came out with it’s Best of Philly issue including a list of top cheesesteak haunts around the city. Just remember to order like the locals saying “Whiz wit” or “Whiz wit out.” “Wit” of course means with onions, and the “Whiz” refers to the traditional Cheez Whiz topping. Below is the list.

South Philly: Cosmi’s Deli 1501 South 8th Street Philadelphia, PA

King of Prussia: Angelo’s Pizza 216 West Beidler Road King of Prussia, PA

Main Line: Pie In The Sky 102 East Lancaster Avenue Wayne, PA

Chester County: Pepper Mill 813 North Chester RoadWest Chester, PA

Bucks County: Frank’s Pizza 3542 Street Road Bensalem, PA

South Jersey: Sarcone’s Deli 926 Haddonfield Road Cherry Hill, PA

For those looking for a less corporate opinion, I turned to my friend Erin who has lived in the Philadelphia area for the past nine years. She polled more locals and came up with this list.

10. Jim’s Steaks South Street at 4th, Philadelphia 215-928-1911
9. Tony Luke’s, 39 East Oregon Avenue, South Philadelphia, 215-551-5725
8. Gusto Pizzeria 240 S 22nd St  Philadelphia 19103 Btwn Latimer St & Rittenhouse Sq 215-546-7200
7. John’s Roast Pork, 14 East Snyder Avenue, South Philadelphia, 215-463-1951
6. Talk of the Town, 3020 S Broad Street (at Pollock), South Philadelphia, 215-551-7277
5. Campos Deli 214 Market St., Philadelphia 19106 215 923-1000
4. Pat’s King of Steaks 1237 E Passyunk Ave Philadelphia, PA 19147
3. Geno’s Steaks, 1219 S. 9th Street, South Philadelphia, 215-389-0659
2. Sonny’s Famous Steaks- Old City, Philadelphia
1. Reading Terminal Market- This is a must stop for Philadelphia food, try a cheesesteak, try a cannoli, try anything, if you’re a foodie, try Reading Terminal Market.

Over the next three weeks, I’ll post some of my favorites. I would love to put this year’s videos during the run up to the game. I promise any that are sent to mhoffman@atpco.com will be posted just as long as they don’t get me fired.  So, without further ado …

Navy easily recovered the onsides kick leaving Dobbs a minute to see if he can pull out one of the greatest comebacks in college football history and I don’t think that hyperbole is overstating what’s happening right now.

Sophomore running back Robert Hughes finished off the drive with a seven yard touchdown run after running for 49 yards on the 62 yard drive. He had runs of 9, 11 and 15 yards on the eight play drive.

Navy needs points on its next drive to stay in this game.