Navy/Army Link Clearance

A lot of stuff out there, written from many different angles.

I'm expecting Phil Steele's preview any minute now. Check his blog for his Army/Navy prediction.


There's this nostalgic piece from the Washington Post.

Rain fell steadily during Navy football practice Wednesday afternoon, and a brisk wind off the bay at times made conditions downright miserable. Yet players wearing half sleeves and shorts hollered enthusiastically, shrugging off the elements to enjoy one of the last days they’ll have together on the football field.

This one takes on the historical angle recounting and glorifying the 1944 Army/Navy Navy/Army game.


The Annapolis Capital gets around to doing a piece on Army' progress

...Ellerson does not see his third season in West Point as a step backward. Rather, the upbeat and positive 57-year-old thinks the Black Knights continue to make progress in terms of building the foundation that will lead to sustained success.

"This is working. I can't prove that with results. It doesn't show on the scoreboard, but I can promise you this is happening," Ellerson said. "I'm not happy with the record, but I am happy with the culture we're developing, the mentality we're creating, the success we're having in recruiting. I see signs every day that Army football is strengthening and moving forward."

There's this pining piece that seems to want to take the Navy/Army game over perhaps even the national title game.

There will be no spectacular aerial displays by strong-armed quarterbacks. One team is ranked 119th, next-to-last, in the nation in passing. The other is No. 120.

Don't care.

The polls don't mention them. The Bowl Championship Series computers have never heard of them. Mel Kiper Jr., does not have one name from either team on his NFL draft big board.

Neither here nor there.

I get that the game means a lot - it's a great rivalry; but these are the same teams that are playing in 22 other football games this year. I just wish there was a shred of this kind of passion from mainstream news outlets during weeks 2-12.

I probably posted a link to the game notes earlier in the week, but I find myself going back to the PDF version, so I'll just drop it here.  Game Notes (PDF)


Crunchtime