WEST POINT, N.Y. - In the tradition-laden world of college football, no tradition is held more dear than the season-ending game between Army and Navy. The two service academies, who for much of the early days of college football were among the top teams in the country, save their most important game for last. It's the game that means the most to both schools, with a season determined a success or a failure based soley on the results of that one game.
The tradition started on November 29, 1890, when the Naval Academy took the trip north to West Point and beat Army 24-0. Army made the return trip the next year, and the tradition was born. The first four years, the schools alternated hosting the game. Then, after a five-year break, they began playing the game in a neutral location, often in Philadelphia. In fact, the series returned to campus only in 1942 and 1943 before reverting to a neutral-site game from then on.
There have been a series of firsts in the rivalry. The first football helmet was worn by Midshipman Mason Reeves in the 1893 game after he had been warned that another kick to the head could kill him. In 1924, Army and Navy opened Chicago's Soldier Field with a 21-21 tie. The first instant replay was shown during CBS's 1963 broadcast of the Army-Navy game.
At the end of each game, the teams get together for a show of solidarity. As players from both teams line up facing their fans, the alma maters are played, first of the losing team and then the winning team.
HONORABLE MENTION
November 29, 1934: DETROIT - It's a common question every Thanksgiving: why do the Lions play this game every year? As the Detroit Lions continue to languish in the NFL's basement year after year, an annual rite of Thanksgiving has become watching them play pathetically on Thanksgiving. So why do they get to play in the prime game every year? The simple answer is because they always have. Starting on November 29, 1934, Detroit's first season in their new city after moving from Portsmouth, the Lions have played on Thanksgiving Day every year of their existence. And while many NFL teams played on Thanksgiving before the Lions did - the Bears and Cardinals had their crosstown rivalry game on Thanksgiving for 10 straight years, for example - the Lions have been doing it for the longest continual stretch. So they get to keep doing it.
Showing posts with label Army. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Army. Show all posts
Monday, November 29, 2010
Thursday, November 11, 2010
November 11, 1944: Mr. Inside and Mr. Outside
BRONX, N.Y. - "I've just seen Superman in the flesh. He wears number 35 and goes by the name of Blanchard."
So wrote Notre Dame Ed McKeever on his way back from New York in 1944. There's no wonder he was in awe: His fifth-ranked Notre Dame team had just been humiliated by top-ranked Army, 59-0, led by one of the most prolific duos in college football history.
Felix "Doc" Blanchard and Glenn Davis played together at West Point from 1944-1946. During that time, Army went 27-0-1, the only blemish being a 0-0 tie against Notre Dame in 1946. Army did have an athletic advantage during this era - most college football teams had greatly reduced rosters during the height of the war, while all the best athletes were suiting up for the service acadamies - but it was Blanchard and Davis that gave them the true advantage.
Blanchard, the fullback, was known as "Mr. Inside," punishing opponents with straight-ahead runs that couldn't be stopped. Blanchard would win the Heisman Trophy in 1945 and ended his Army career with 38 touchdowns.
Davis, though, was even more prolific. "Mr. Outside" would win the Heisman in 1946 and finished his career with 59 touchdowns, averaging a still-standing record of 8.3 yards per carry during his career. In 1945, he averaged 11.5 yards per rush, a single-season record - and remember, his teammate Blanchard won the Heisman that year, not Davis.
Blanchard and Davis combined total of 97 touchdowns as teammates stood as the college football record until 2005. Both were multi-sport stars, as well, with both starring on the West Point track team and Davis also playing baseball and basketball.
But it was on November 11, 1944, that they reached the peak of their powers. Against a still-good Notre Dame team, Blanchard and Davis completely dominated in every aspect of the game. It was no fluke, either; the 1944 Army team was ran roughshod over the its opponents, giving up only 35 points all season and scoring at least 46 points in seven of their nine games. The 1944-45 Army teams are still considered among the best in college football history, due largely to the presence of Mr. Inside and Mr. Outside.
So wrote Notre Dame Ed McKeever on his way back from New York in 1944. There's no wonder he was in awe: His fifth-ranked Notre Dame team had just been humiliated by top-ranked Army, 59-0, led by one of the most prolific duos in college football history.
Felix "Doc" Blanchard and Glenn Davis played together at West Point from 1944-1946. During that time, Army went 27-0-1, the only blemish being a 0-0 tie against Notre Dame in 1946. Army did have an athletic advantage during this era - most college football teams had greatly reduced rosters during the height of the war, while all the best athletes were suiting up for the service acadamies - but it was Blanchard and Davis that gave them the true advantage.
Blanchard, the fullback, was known as "Mr. Inside," punishing opponents with straight-ahead runs that couldn't be stopped. Blanchard would win the Heisman Trophy in 1945 and ended his Army career with 38 touchdowns.
Davis, though, was even more prolific. "Mr. Outside" would win the Heisman in 1946 and finished his career with 59 touchdowns, averaging a still-standing record of 8.3 yards per carry during his career. In 1945, he averaged 11.5 yards per rush, a single-season record - and remember, his teammate Blanchard won the Heisman that year, not Davis.
Blanchard and Davis combined total of 97 touchdowns as teammates stood as the college football record until 2005. Both were multi-sport stars, as well, with both starring on the West Point track team and Davis also playing baseball and basketball.
But it was on November 11, 1944, that they reached the peak of their powers. Against a still-good Notre Dame team, Blanchard and Davis completely dominated in every aspect of the game. It was no fluke, either; the 1944 Army team was ran roughshod over the its opponents, giving up only 35 points all season and scoring at least 46 points in seven of their nine games. The 1944-45 Army teams are still considered among the best in college football history, due largely to the presence of Mr. Inside and Mr. Outside.
Wednesday, November 10, 2010
November 10, 1928: For the Gipper
BRONX, N.Y. - George Gipp was one of the greatest college football players in the early years of the 20th Century. Joining the Notre Dame football team despite having never played the game before, he went on to lead the Irish in passing and rushing in each of his final three seasons. His career rushing mark was the Notre Dame school record until 1978. He also led the team in punting and was their star defensive back, allegedly never allowing a completed pass in his territory.
During Gipp's career, Notre Dame went 27-2-3, including a 19-0-1 mark in his final 20 games. At the end of the 1920 season, he was named Notre Dame's first consensus All-American.
For all his greatness, though, Gipp is remembered more for events that happened after his career ended. On December 14, 1920, just a few days after leading Notre Dame to a victory over Northwestern, Gipp died of strep throat. It was while the 25-year-old was on his death bed that his legend began to grow. The day before he died, Gipp is reported to said this to his coach, Knute Rockne: "I've got to go, Rock. It's all right. I'm not afraid. Some time, Rock, when the team is up against it, when things are wrong and the breaks are beating the boys - tell them to go in there with all they've got and win just one for the Gipper. I don't know where I'll be then, Rock. But I'll know about it, and I'll be happy."
Rockne held that memory in the back of his mind for eight years, before finally breaking it out when Notre Dame traveled to play Army on November 10, 1928. The Irish had already lost two games that year and were fighting many injuries when they went up against the unbeaten Army team. Before the game, Rockne played his trump card: "The day before he died, George Gipp asked me to wait until the situation seemed hopeless, then ask a Notre Dame team to go out and beat Army for him. This is the day, and you are the team."
Inspired, Notre Dame played its best game of the season. After Jack Chevigny scored their first touchdown in the second half, he said "This one's for the Gipper." Notre Dame scored twice in the second half to stun Army 12-6. They had won one for the Gipper.
But George Gipp's inspiration didn't stop there. In 1940, a young Ronald Reagan played Gipp in Knute Rockne, All American. After playing the role, Reagan was known as The Gipper for the rest of his life. He used that nickname to his advantage, using it in his political slogans as he ran for office. At the 1988 Republican National Convention, Reagan encouraged George H.W. Bush to win the upcoming election by telling him to "win one for the Gipper." The line was used again by Bush's son, George W. Bush, who when running for reelection in 2004 shortly after Reagan's death, said it was time to win one more for the Gipper.
George Gipp probably didn't intend for his name to be used to inspire future politicians when running for office - he just wanted to help Notre Dame win a game after he was gone. It's very likely, too, that Reagan and both Bushes would have been elected without using his name. But because of his connection to Reagan, Gipp left a legacy far beyond what he did on the football field.
During Gipp's career, Notre Dame went 27-2-3, including a 19-0-1 mark in his final 20 games. At the end of the 1920 season, he was named Notre Dame's first consensus All-American.
For all his greatness, though, Gipp is remembered more for events that happened after his career ended. On December 14, 1920, just a few days after leading Notre Dame to a victory over Northwestern, Gipp died of strep throat. It was while the 25-year-old was on his death bed that his legend began to grow. The day before he died, Gipp is reported to said this to his coach, Knute Rockne: "I've got to go, Rock. It's all right. I'm not afraid. Some time, Rock, when the team is up against it, when things are wrong and the breaks are beating the boys - tell them to go in there with all they've got and win just one for the Gipper. I don't know where I'll be then, Rock. But I'll know about it, and I'll be happy."
Rockne held that memory in the back of his mind for eight years, before finally breaking it out when Notre Dame traveled to play Army on November 10, 1928. The Irish had already lost two games that year and were fighting many injuries when they went up against the unbeaten Army team. Before the game, Rockne played his trump card: "The day before he died, George Gipp asked me to wait until the situation seemed hopeless, then ask a Notre Dame team to go out and beat Army for him. This is the day, and you are the team."
Inspired, Notre Dame played its best game of the season. After Jack Chevigny scored their first touchdown in the second half, he said "This one's for the Gipper." Notre Dame scored twice in the second half to stun Army 12-6. They had won one for the Gipper.
But George Gipp's inspiration didn't stop there. In 1940, a young Ronald Reagan played Gipp in Knute Rockne, All American. After playing the role, Reagan was known as The Gipper for the rest of his life. He used that nickname to his advantage, using it in his political slogans as he ran for office. At the 1988 Republican National Convention, Reagan encouraged George H.W. Bush to win the upcoming election by telling him to "win one for the Gipper." The line was used again by Bush's son, George W. Bush, who when running for reelection in 2004 shortly after Reagan's death, said it was time to win one more for the Gipper.
George Gipp probably didn't intend for his name to be used to inspire future politicians when running for office - he just wanted to help Notre Dame win a game after he was gone. It's very likely, too, that Reagan and both Bushes would have been elected without using his name. But because of his connection to Reagan, Gipp left a legacy far beyond what he did on the football field.
Tuesday, November 9, 2010
November 9, 1912: Jim Thorpe beats Army
WEST POINT, N.Y. - In 1912, Army wasn't quite the national power it would become in the coming decades, but it was still a formidable team. The Cadets, for example, had given up only 23 points combined in the previous two seasons.
The 1912 Army football team is notable for having two famous teammates, though they weren't very well known at the time. Among the Cadets playing on that team were Dwight Eisenhower and Omar Bradley, both of whom would be promoted to the rank of four-star general during World War II.
Eisenhower and Bradley got their fame long after suiting up for West Point, though. On November 9, 1912, the most famous man on the field was playing for the opposition. Fresh off his stunning performance at the 1912 Olympics, Jim Thorpe was now a college football star for the Carlisle Indian School. Along with having Thorpe in the fold, Carlisle was coached by the legendary Pop Warner, a man who did more to expand and enhance the game of football than perhaps anybody.
With Warner calling the shots and Thorpe doing the dirty work, Carlisle rolled. Dominating the game like no one before him, Thorpe ran over, around, and through the Cadets, completely overpowering them. Especially memorable was one punt return in which all 11 Army players on the field had a chance at him before they were finally able to bring him down. Led by Thorpe's heroics, Carlisle beat Army 27-6. It was the most points Army had ever given up in a single game, and it would be the most points they would allow to any opponent besides Notre Dame until 1923.
The Carlisle Indian school only lasted until 1918 before it was closed so the government could use the grounds for its barracks - and also because people started realizing it wasn't a great idea to have boarding schools at which Native Americans could learn to better change their traditions and assimilate. But Carlisle did leave a lasting legacy on the football field. Led by Warner and Thorpe, the school closed with the team sporting a .647 career winning percentage, including one monumental victory over Army.
The 1912 Army football team is notable for having two famous teammates, though they weren't very well known at the time. Among the Cadets playing on that team were Dwight Eisenhower and Omar Bradley, both of whom would be promoted to the rank of four-star general during World War II.
Eisenhower and Bradley got their fame long after suiting up for West Point, though. On November 9, 1912, the most famous man on the field was playing for the opposition. Fresh off his stunning performance at the 1912 Olympics, Jim Thorpe was now a college football star for the Carlisle Indian School. Along with having Thorpe in the fold, Carlisle was coached by the legendary Pop Warner, a man who did more to expand and enhance the game of football than perhaps anybody.
With Warner calling the shots and Thorpe doing the dirty work, Carlisle rolled. Dominating the game like no one before him, Thorpe ran over, around, and through the Cadets, completely overpowering them. Especially memorable was one punt return in which all 11 Army players on the field had a chance at him before they were finally able to bring him down. Led by Thorpe's heroics, Carlisle beat Army 27-6. It was the most points Army had ever given up in a single game, and it would be the most points they would allow to any opponent besides Notre Dame until 1923.
The Carlisle Indian school only lasted until 1918 before it was closed so the government could use the grounds for its barracks - and also because people started realizing it wasn't a great idea to have boarding schools at which Native Americans could learn to better change their traditions and assimilate. But Carlisle did leave a lasting legacy on the football field. Led by Warner and Thorpe, the school closed with the team sporting a .647 career winning percentage, including one monumental victory over Army.
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