It was 1965 and I was a senior in high school at the Steubenville Big Red. That year, and times being what they were, my thoughts were: “Would I go to Vietnam? Go to college? Or try and get a job in the steel mill?”
I also really was gearing up for the 1965 Cotton Bowl. But before all that could happen, my Dad’s favorite football game was going to be played.
That game was Army-Navy.
It’s the one we would all get together in front of our little black and white TV and watch. But before that, I took my dad for a little drive downtown so he could make his usual $5 bet, the same one he always made for this game, on Army, since he was in the Army and a huge fan.
The game was at JFK Stadium in Philadelphia, and just two years after the assassination of our beloved President Kennedy. My dad, “Broadway Benny,” stood in front of our little TV and cried as the National Anthem was being played.
My mother made us some ham sandwiches at halftime, and we were frozen to the TV watching what would emerge as a real defensive battle. Army took a 7-0 lead five minutes into the first quarter only to have Navy respond in the second quarter. It was tied at halftime and stayed that way until the end.
Final score: 7-7. It was one of the greatest times, days, and football games that I have ever watched.
There has been no rivalry better than this game. If you love college football, watch the Army-Navy game. They have been battling since 1890 and Saturday, these two teams will be going at it once again in a rivalry that has caused many a General and Admiral to shed a few tears.
The Cadets have covered the last four games in this series, but they did it getting points in all four games, winning the last two years straight up. Now they are giving up a touchdown and we will be going to the window (Sorry, Benny) and taking the seven points.
Navy has been really playing well of late and we love their effort vs. UCF when getting 24.5 points. They were in the game all the way, losing 35-24.
With no college bowl game for the Navy this year, this will be their bowl game and would like nothing better than to sink the Cadets. NAVY
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