Army-Navy brings Philly a bowl-game atmosphere
There are games that are just games.
And then there are games that are rivalries. Classics.
Games that everyone comes to expect each year.
This is America's Game.
For the 107th time, Army and Navy will battle on the
field, in front of a sellout crowd Dec. 2 at Lincoln Financial
Field. At stake is the Commander-In-Chief's trophy.
"It's a huge rivalry," said Army center and
co-captain Pete Bier. "It's one of the focuses of
our season each year. You can't overexaggerate the importance
of this game and the magnitude that it carries. It's just
natural to get yourself up. You don't have to get psyched
up for this game. If you don't, I don't think you need
to be playing football."
One of college football's greatest rivalries, this will
be the 80th time that Army and Navy play in Philadelphia.
Previous games have been held at Franklin Field, Municipal/JFK
Stadium and Veterans Stadium. Larry Needle, executive
director of the Philadelphia Sports Congress, said the
game was originally played here because the city was the
midway point between the two academies, in West Point,
N.Y., and Annapolis, Md.
"Over the years the tradition has built up here,"
said Needle. "I think there is just that real connection
here in the city. The fact that it is the birthplace of
America, I think, really resonates with what the two academies
are all about."
Needle said the atmosphere surrounding the game makes
it just like a bowl game in Philadelphia.
"When you think about the national-television exposure,
the number of visitors to the city and the overall impact,
it easily equates to any bowl game held around the country,"
he said. "For us it's a very special Philadelphia
treasure that we want to stay that way for a long time."
At the annual pregame luncheon yesterday at Lincoln Financial
Field, players and coaches spoke about the game and what
it means to them. Mayor Street was also on hand, assuring
both teams that he has every intention to make sure Philadelphia
is a mainstay for the game in the near future.
Philadelphia is hosting the game for the fifth time in
the last 6 years. The game has also been recently held
at Giants Stadium in East Rutherford, N.J., and at the
former PSINet Stadium -- now M & T Bank Stadium --
in Baltimore, where the 2007 game will take place.
According to Needle, more than 50,000 visitors flood
Philadelphia for the game, filling more than 15,000 hotel
rooms and bringing in an estimated $35 million to the
city.
Needle said if there were any problem, it would be the
fact that nearly every ticket sold for the game is sold
outside of Philadelphia, which makes it difficult for
local fans to get tickets. In addition to the game, the
Philadelphia Sports Congress has arranged for players
and fans to partake of numerous activities around the
city during the weekend, including the Patriot Games that
features competitions between the two academies in running,
golf basketball and football.
As far as the rivalry itself goes, just one game separates
the two teams. Navy (8-3) holds a 50-49-7 lead over Army
(3-8) in the series, with the Midshipmen riding a four-game
win streak.
Since Paul Johnson took over the coaching helm at Navy,
his teams are 8-1 against the other service academies,
including a 4-1 record against Air Force.
While the teams are heated rivals for 60 minutes on the
field, when all is said and done, the teams will come
together as teammates, fighting for one common cause.
"I think both schools have a great deal of respect
for one another," Johnson said. "I know we certainly
respect West Point and the program that they run over
there as a coaching staff, and I think the players on
our team feel the same way.
"We're going to fight them as hard as we can for
60 minutes on the field, but when it's over, that mutual
respect is still there."
