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The Army-Navy Game, an annual game generally played on the last weekend of the college football regular season in early December, pits the football teams of the United States Military Academy at West Point, New York (Army) and United States Naval Academy at Annapolis, Maryland (Navy) against one another. It is one of the most traditional and enduring rivalries in college football, and is televised every year by CBS. It was in the 1963 Army-Navy game that instant replay made its debut. Navy won the most recent contest on December 3, 2005, at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia, becoming the first of the two teams to win 50 games in the series, and simultaneously winning the Commander in Chief's Trophy for the third year in a row.
History and Importance
This game has always had inter-service "bragging rights" at stake; in past decades, when both Army and Navy were often national powers, the game occasionally had national championship implications. However, as top-level college football has developed into primarily a training ground for the National Football League, the high academic entrance requirements, height and weight limits, and the military commitment required of West Point and Annapolis graduates has reduced the overall competitiveness of both academies. In fact, only once in the last 40 years have both Army and Navy entered the game with winning records (1996).
Despite the fact that Army and Navy are no longer nationally competitive on a regular basis, the tradition of the game has ensured that it remains nationally televised to this day. One of the great appeals of this game to many fans is that its players are largely playing for the love of the game, since almost none will ever play in the NFL. The game is especially emotional for the seniors, called "first classmen" by both academies, since it is typically the last competitive football game they will ever play. (The 1996 game was an aberration, as both Army and Navy went to bowl games afterwards.) During wartime the game is even more emotional because some seniors will not return once they are deployed. For instance, in the 2004 game, at least one senior from the class of 2003 who was killed in Iraq, Navy's J.P. Blecksmith, was remembered. The players placed their comrade's pads and jerseys on chairs on the sidelines. Much of the sentiment of the game goes out to those who share the uniform and who are overseas.
At the end of the game the alma maters of the losing team and then the winning team are played and sung. The winning team stands alongside the losing team and faces the losing academy students; then the losing team accompanies the winning team, facing their students. This is done in a show of mutual respect and solidarity.
The rivalry between Annapolis and West Point, while friendly, is intense. Cadets live and breathe the phrase "Beat Navy", while Midshipmen have the opposite dinned into them. Even the weight plates in the Navy weight room are stamped with the phrase "Beat Army". They have become a symbol of competitiveness, not just in the Army-Navy Game, but in the service of their country, and are often used at the close of (informal) letters by graduates of the two academies.
Occasionally, the Commander in Chief's Trophy, awarded to each season's winner of the triangular series between Army, Navy, and Air Force, will be at stake in this game. For most of the 1970s, Navy had held the trophy. After a period of flux for most of the 1980s, Air Force dominated the competition until the early 2000s. As of 2005, Navy looks to be reestablishing itself as the dominant team in the rivalry, having won the trophy in 2003, 2004, and 2005.
The rivalries Army and Navy have with the Air Force Academy are much less intense than the Army-Navy rivalry, primarily due to the relative youth of the Air Force Academy, and the physical distance between Air Force and the other two schools. The Army-Air Force and Navy-Air Force games are played at the academies' regular home fields, rather than at a neutral site.
Results
Overall
As of 2005 game:- Army: 49 wins
- Navy: 50 wins
- 7 ties
- 106 total games played
- 10 years in which game was not played
By year
Army victories are shown in ██ gold, Navy victories in ██ blue, and tie games in ██ silver.| Year | Winner | Score | Location | City | Series |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1890 | Navy | 24–0 | U.S. Military Academy | West Point, NY | Navy 1-0 |
| 1891 | Army | 32–16 | U.S. Naval Academy | Annapolis, MD | Tied 1-1 |
| 1892 | Navy | 12–4 | U.S. Military Academy | West Point, NY | Navy 2-1 |
| 1893 | Navy | 6–4 | U.S. Naval Academy | Annapolis, MD | Navy 3-1 |
| 1894 | No game played | ||||
| 1895 | No game played | ||||
| 1896 | No game played | ||||
| 1897 | No game played | ||||
| 1898 | No game played | ||||
| 1899 | Army | 17–5 | Franklin Field | Philadelphia, PA | Navy 3-2 |
| 1900 | Navy | 11–7 | Franklin Field | Philadelphia, PA | Navy 4-2 |
| 1901 | Army | 11–5 | Franklin Field | Philadelphia, PA | Navy 4-3 |
| 1902 | Army | 22–8 | Franklin Field | Philadelphia, PA | Tied 4-4 |
| 1903 | Army | 40–5 | Franklin Field | Philadelphia, PA | Army 5-4 |
| 1904 | Army | 11–0 | Franklin Field | Philadelphia, PA | Army 6-4 |
| 1905 | Tie | 6–6 | Osborne Field | Princeton, NJ | Army 6-4-1 |
| 1906 | Navy | 10–0 | Franklin Field | Philadelphia, PA | Army 6-5-1 |
| 1907 | Navy | 6–0 | Franklin Field | Philadelphia, PA | Tied 6-6-1 |
| 1908 | Army | 6–4 | Franklin Field | Philadelphia, PA | Army 7-6-1 |
| 1909 | No game played | ||||
| 1910 | Navy | 3–0 | Franklin Field | Philadelphia, PA | Tied 7-7-1 |
| 1911 | Navy | 3–0 | Franklin Field | Philadelphia, PA | Navy 8-7-1 |
| 1912 | Navy | 6–0 | Franklin Field | Philadelphia, PA | Navy 9-7-1 |
| 1913 | Army | 22–9 | Polo Grounds | New York, NY | Navy 9-8-1 |
| 1914 | Army | 20–0 | Franklin Field | Philadelphia, PA | Tied 9-9-1 |
| 1915 | Army | 14–0 | Polo Grounds | New York, NY | Army 10-9-1 |
| 1916 | Army | 15–7 | Polo Grounds | New York, NY | Army 11-9-1 |
| 1917 | No game played | ||||
| 1918 | No game played | ||||
| 1919 | Navy | 6–0 | Polo Grounds | New York, NY | Army 11-10-1 |
| 1920 | Navy | 7–0 | Polo Grounds | New York, NY | Tied 11-11-1 |
| 1921 | Navy | 7–0 | Polo Grounds | New York, NY | Navy 12-11-1 |
| 1922 | Army | 17–14 | Franklin Field | Philadelphia, PA | Tied 12-12-1 |
| 1923 | Tie | 0–0 | Polo Grounds | New York, NY | Tied 12-12-2 |
| 1924 | Army | 12–0 | Municipal Stadium | Baltimore, MD | Army 13-12-2 |
| 1925 | Army | 10–3 | Polo Grounds | New York, NY | Army 14-12-2 |
| 1926 | Tie | 21–21 | Soldier Field | Chicago, IL | Army 14-12-3 |
| 1927 | Army | 14–9 | Polo Grounds | New York, NY | Army 15-12-3 |
| 1928 | No game played | ||||
| 1929 | No game played | ||||
| 1930 | Army | 6–0 | Yankee Stadium | New York, NY | Army 16-12-3 |
| 1931 | Army | 17–7 | Yankee Stadium | New York, NY | Army 17-12-3 |
| 1932 | Army | 20–0 | Franklin Field | Philadelphia, PA | Army 18-12-3 |
| 1933 | Army | 12–7 | Franklin Field | Philadelphia, PA | Army 19-12-3 |
| 1934 | Navy | 3–0 | Franklin Field | Philadelphia, PA | Army 19-13-3 |
| 1935 | Army | 28–6 | Franklin Field | Philadelphia, PA | Army 20-13-3 |
| 1936 | Navy | 7–0 | Municipal Stadium | Philadelphia, PA | Army 20-14-3 |
| 1937 | Army | 6–0 | Municipal Stadium | Philadelphia, PA | Army 21-14-3 |
| 1938 | Army | 14–7 | Municipal Stadium | Philadelphia, PA | Army 22-14-3 |
| 1939 | Navy | 10–0 | Municipal Stadium | Philadelphia, PA | Army 22-15-3 |
| 1940 | Navy | 14–0 | Municipal Stadium | Philadelphia, PA | Army 22-16-3 |
| 1941 | Navy | 14–6 | Municipal Stadium | Philadelphia, PA | Army 22-17-3 |
| 1942 | Navy | 14–0 | Thompson Stadium | Annapolis, MD | Army 22-18-3 |
| 1943 | Navy | 13–0 | Michie Stadium | West Point, NY | Army 22-19-3 |
| 1944 | Army | 23–7 | Municipal Stadium | Baltimore, MD | Army 23-19-3 |
| 1945 | Army | 32–13 | Municipal Stadium | Philadelphia, PA | Army 24-19-3 |
| 1946 | Army | 21–18 | Municipal Stadium | Philadelphia, PA | Army 25-19-3 |
| 1947 | Army | 21–0 | Municipal Stadium | Philadelphia, PA | Army 26-19-3 |
| 1948 | Tie | 21–21 | Municipal Stadium | Philadelphia, PA | Army 26-19-4 |
| 1949 | Army | 38–0 | Municipal Stadium | Philadelphia, PA | Army 27-19-4 |
| 1950 | Navy | 14–2 | Municipal Stadium | Philadelphia, PA | Army 27-20-4 |
| 1951 | Navy | 42–7 | Municipal Stadium | Philadelphia, PA | Army 27-21-4 |
| 1952 | Navy | 7–0 | Municipal Stadium | Philadelphia, PA | Army 27-22-4 |
| 1953 | Army | 20–7 | Municipal Stadium | Philadelphia, PA | Army 28-22-4 |
| 1954 | Navy | 27–20 | Municipal Stadium | Philadelphia, PA | Army 28-23-4 |
| 1955 | Army | 14–6 | Municipal Stadium | Philadelphia, PA | Army 29-23-4 |
| 1956 | Tie | 7–7 | Municipal Stadium | Philadelphia, PA | Army 29-23-5 |
| 1957 | Navy | 14–0 | Municipal Stadium | Philadelphia, PA | Army 29-24-5 |
| 1958 | Army | 22–6 | Municipal Stadium | Philadelphia, PA | Army 30-24-5 |
| 1959 | Navy | 43–12 | Municipal Stadium | Philadelphia, PA | Army 30-25-5 |
| 1960 | Navy | 17–12 | Municipal Stadium | Philadelphia, PA | Army 30-26-5 |
| 1961 | Navy | 13–7 | Municipal Stadium | Philadelphia, PA | Army 30-27-5 |
| 1962 | Navy | 34–14 | Municipal Stadium | Philadelphia, PA | Army 30-28-5 |
| 1963 | Navy | 21–15 | Municipal Stadium | Philadelphia, PA | Army 30-29-5 |
| 1964 | Army | 11–8 | John F. Kennedy Stadium (formerly Municipal Stadium) | Philadelphia, PA | Army 31-29-5 |
| 1965 | Tie | 7–7 | John F. Kennedy Stadium | Philadelphia, PA | Army 31-29-6 |
| 1966 | Army | 20–7 | John F. Kennedy Stadium | Philadelphia, PA | Army 32-29-6 |
| 1967 | Navy | 19–14 | John F. Kennedy Stadium | Philadelphia, PA | Army 32-30-6 |
| 1968 | Army | 21–14 | John F. Kennedy Stadium | Philadelphia, PA | Army 33-30-6 |
| 1969 | Army | 27–0 | John F. Kennedy Stadium | Philadelphia, PA | Army 34-30-6 |
| 1970 | Navy | 11–7 | John F. Kennedy Stadium | Philadelphia, PA | Army 34-31-6 |
| 1971 | Army | 24–23 | John F. Kennedy Stadium | Philadelphia, PA | Army 35-31-6 |
| 1972 | Army | 23–15 | John F. Kennedy Stadium | Philadelphia, PA | Army 36-31-6 |
| 1973 | Navy | 51–0 | John F. Kennedy Stadium | Philadelphia, PA | Army 36-32-6 |
| 1974 | Navy | 19–0 | John F. Kennedy Stadium | Philadelphia, PA | Army 36-33-6 |
| 1975 | Navy | 30–6 | John F. Kennedy Stadium | Philadelphia, PA | Army 36-34-6 |
| 1976 | Navy | 38–10 | John F. Kennedy Stadium | Philadelphia, PA | Army 36-35-6 |
| 1977 | Army | 17–14 | John F. Kennedy Stadium | Philadelphia, PA | Army 37-35-6 |
| 1978 | Navy | 28–0 | John F. Kennedy Stadium | Philadelphia, PA | Army 37-36-6 |
| 1979 | Navy | 31–7 | John F. Kennedy Stadium | Philadelphia, PA | Tied 37-37-6 |
| 1980 | Navy | 33–6 | Veterans Stadium | Philadelphia, PA | Navy 38-37-6 |
| 1981 | Tie | 3–3 | Veterans Stadium | Philadelphia, PA | Navy 38-37-7 |
| 1982 | Navy | 24–7 | Veterans Stadium | Philadelphia, PA | Navy 39-37-7 |
| 1983 | Navy | 42–13 | Rose Bowl | Pasadena, CA | Navy 40-37-7 |
| 1984 | Army | 28–11 | Veterans Stadium | Philadelphia, PA | Navy 40-38-7 |
| 1985 | Navy | 17–7 | Veterans Stadium | Philadelphia, PA | Navy 41-38-7 |
| 1986 | Army | 27–7 | Veterans Stadium | Philadelphia, PA | Navy 41-39-7 |
| 1987 | Army | 17–3 | Veterans Stadium | Philadelphia, PA | Navy 41-40-7 |
| 1988 | Army | 20–15 | Veterans Stadium | Philadelphia, PA | Tied 41-41-7 |
| 1989 | Navy | 19–17 | Giants Stadium | East Rutherford, NJ | Navy 42-41-7 |
| 1990 | Army | 30–20 | Veterans Stadium | Philadelphia, PA | Tied 42-42-7 |
| 1991 | Navy | 24–3 | Veterans Stadium | Philadelphia, PA | Navy 43-42-7 |
| 1992 | Army | 25–24 | Veterans Stadium | Philadelphia, PA | Tied 43-43-7 |
| 1993 | Army | 16–14 | Giants Stadium | East Rutherford, NJ | Army 44-43-7 |
| 1994 | Army | 22–20 | Veterans Stadium | Philadelphia, PA | Army 45-43-7 |
| 1995 | Army | 14–13 | Veterans Stadium | Philadelphia, PA | Army 46-43-7 |
| 1996 | Army | 28–24 | Veterans Stadium | Philadelphia, PA | Army 47-43-7 |
| 1997 | Navy | 39–7 | Giants Stadium | East Rutherford, NJ | Army 47-44-7 |
| 1998 | Army | 34–30 | Veterans Stadium | Philadelphia, PA | Army 48-44-7 |
| 1999 | Navy | 19–9 | Veterans Stadium | Philadelphia, PA | Army 48-45-7 |
| 2000 | Navy | 30–28 | PSINet Stadium | Baltimore, MD | Army 48-46-7 |
| 2001 | Army | 26–17 | Veterans Stadium | Philadelphia, PA | Army 49-46-7 |
| 2002 | Navy | 58–12 | Giants Stadium | East Rutherford, NJ | Army 49-47-7 |
| 2003 | Navy | 34–6 | Lincoln Financial Field | Philadelphia, PA | Army 49-48-7 |
| 2004 | Navy | 42–13 | Lincoln Financial Field | Philadelphia, PA | Tied 49-49-7 |
| 2005 | Navy | 42–23 | Lincoln Financial Field | Philadelphia, PA | Navy 50-49-7 |
Note: On a 1973 episode of the TV series M*A*S*H, set during the Korean War from 1950 to 1953, the characters spend much of the day listening, or trying to listen, to the Army-Navy Game on Armed Forces Radio. On the show, Army blows a 14-0 lead and Navy wins, 42-36. This does not match the score of any actual Army-Navy Game played during that war. Had such a game actually been played, it would have been the highest-scoring Army-Navy game ever, with the two teams combining for 78 points. The highest-scoring Army-Navy game in real life thus far was Navy's 58-12 win in 2002, with a total of just 70 points.
Future dates
The 2006 game will be played on December 2nd at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia, PA.
The 2007 game will be played on December 8th at M&T Bank Stadium in Baltimore, MD.
The 2008 game will be played on December 7th at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia, PA.
See also
References
- Civil War: Army Vs. Navy–A Year Inside College Football's Purest Rivalry, by John Feinstein, ISBN 0788157779
External links
College football rivalries | United States military academies | Army Black Knights football | Navy Midshipmen football
"Army-Navy Game"