<p>Another Army-Navy game in the books... and another Navy win. I realized that I am spoiled with the team's recent success, but I haven't seen so much as a mention of the game on this board. I realize this is a board meant for candidates, but still there are many grads/mids/parents who contribute. I also realize that I did nothing to remedy this situation over the past week (although I'm in the midst of getting my instrument rating from flight school so I'm a bit busy). Anyway though, does anyone have any fun Army week or Army-Navy game stories to relate?</p>
<p>Tell us about "Army Trashing Navy" and what was the response on the yard?</p>
<p>Here's my question: "Why does USMA have such a poor football team every year?" I went to the game the past two years. The first year it was interesting, but there is nothing sporting about what goes occurs on the field. Is it the coaching? If the players switched uniforms would the result be the same? USMA does do well in some sports, so it cannot just be the allure of Annapolis and the bay air. Any ideas? I'll even pass the 'best of' along to USMA--I'm stunned, though.</p>
<p>qwerty52:
As far as football goes, you can look to the past 7 years and the influence of Paul Johnson. Up until then, a blowout what was not the norm. The 58-12 score in 2002, Johnson's first year, was not expected. He has proved that a well coached triple option is the best option (no pun intended) for a service academy team. It takes advantage of the team speed/undersize of service academy recruits. This is the first year that Army has run the option. Personally, my belief is that in the next few years the games may get a bit closer...</p>
<p>All that being said, while I was a mid (class of '07) the mids averaged somewhere around a 70% winning percentage against Army...</p>
<p>Zanerdude:
What are you talking about? please explain. Did West Point Cadets pull off some good spirit missions?</p>
<p>Army</a> cadets take trash-talking to new heights - wtop.com</p>
<p>Too bad they missed the formation and hit the tourists instead. :D</p>
<p>They flew two helicopters over our formation, and dumped a bunch of paper and thundersticks. But, they missed and hit stribling walk. So we just joked that they missed cuz they were army pilots, and navy pilots would have hit the formation.</p>
<p>USMA's excuse is that they didn't want to hit any mids with the empty cardboard box. then why drop it right over the visitors to USNA. but all in all one of the more clever spirit missions any of the academy's have had. The sub at air force this year and painting air force's f-4s like the blue angels come in at a close second though.</p>
<p>Ya, I definitely would like to hear what "pranks" went on this year.</p>
<p>Wish I could have seen the game! However, participating in the United States BMD program (which received Pentagon/national news coverage) is quite an honor and worth missing the game.</p>
<p>Glad to see it was an easy win. Our captain commented on the Army ACU and Navy "Blood Stripe" football uniforms. Glad POTUS and SECDEF were in attendance.</p>
<p>I'd imagine this one may merit some addressing at "higher" levels. Not hard seeing this escalating into an ugly scenario with nasty PR and political/funding repercussions. Sorry to be a stick in the mud, but this one goes beyond creative good taste and appropriate boundaries, imo.</p>
<p>political/funding repercussions?</p>
<p>According to the WTOP comments, "West Point's mission did not cost taxpayers any extra money. USMA cadets who fly are required to log a certain number of hours to maintain their readiness and qualifications. They were going to fly anyway, so this was a perfectly acceptable training flight."</p>
<p>Of course those were random comments, not facts.
It did not explain how and/or if permission was granted to fly in that space.</p>
<p>No matter. In politics perception is reality. Get the environmentalists or local officials yelling about the "trash", or a grumpy local citizen who wants to make noise with his elected officials about non-essential risks to local safety or noise, others who are noting that in this time of budget cuts this is how tax $$ are being spent. We've seen the positive impact of parents screaming to politicians about the food issue and not allowing it to go away no matter the USNA administration efforts to bury it and the result of more $$. Silly things like this one have ways of escalating. Conversely, it's the responsiblity of those in charge to manage the process setting boundaries for developing good judgement. And of course YouTube makes it all visible to the media and public. No more clandestine missions, it seems. We live in a new age of exposure and public awareness.</p>
<p>More to your point ...I'm curious about USMA flight hours and requirements. What do they do? Anyone know?</p>
<p>Don't believe everything you hear on the news or TV.</p>
<p>I heard the choppers were flown by Army pilots and did hear that flight hours were needed (utilized).
It was an official Army chopper, it was a Spirit Mission, it was harmless.<br>
Don't go blowing this stuff out of proportion.</p>
<p>yeah. this is just some fun between two rivals. the worst thing that you could do was go nuts. I mean some people throw federal money into much more frivolous endeavors than this.</p>
<p>We went to our first Army Navy game. We had a great time! Our plebe had overnight with us in Philly! Priceless. We thought our seats were going to be nose-bleed seats, but they turned out to be good seats. We were in the right place for March on...Our son's company was the closest company to us. Our son was on the field with Pres. Bush for the changing of the sides at halftime. We especially liked the score at the end!<br>
Go Navy! Beat Army Again!</p>
<p>Wow WP Bah Humbug! It is the biggest rivalry in College Ball. So tell me do you think it was a wast e of Federal Money for President Bush to attend and use Air Force One to Buzz the stadium? (very cool by the way)</p>
<p>Not everything that is done at the academy's uses Federal Money - there is plenty of private and foundation money that operates "federal personnel and equipment" too...</p>
<p>If the CEOs of Detroit are driving hybrids to Capitol Hill, at least bush could have used that naughty Army helicopter or Marine One. Of course, cost is relative and if we're spending 10 billion dollars a month in Iraq, what's a truckload of avgas and a $100,000 in security for the CIC to attend the Army/Navy contest? Somehow, I can't imagine President Obama grandstanding with Air Force One over Lincoln Stadium in the future. Shogun was right, a war tax would have been reasonable.</p>
<p>I loved Air Force One buzzing the stadium. I only wish we would have captured it on tape. It would have been cool to have Marine One land on the field to deliver the President too. Pres Bush had other business in Philly on Saturday, so he did combine his tasks.</p>
<p>NT, your need to offer defensive resistance suggests you know the correct answer. </p>
<p>"Hey, we're no worse n anyone else, right?" ;)</p>
<p>
[quote]
Somehow, I can't imagine President Obama grandstanding with Air Force One over Lincoln Stadium in the future.
[/quote]
</p>
<p>With no mal intent (seriously), somehow I can't imagine President Obama being at the game. Again, I don't personally dislike Mr.Obama, I just can't picture it.</p>
<p>I think AF1 missed the stadium on the fly over?!! Just like Army drop on the Mid Formation. Collateral damage on the tourists.</p>