Army Navy Football Week

[smotan_02]

I'm a big supporter of the US Navy for 364 days a year, but for one very important day they are my sworn enemy. The second Saturday in December features Army versus Navy. I know the level of football is no where near that of current college football, but this rivalry means quite a bit to me. It is nearly 120 years old and has always been about more than football.

This video has always been able to best tell the story of what it means to the graduates (and families) of each institution.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iyVFM-T0m0w

Post any of your Army or Navy football items.

110 Years ago, in 1902, the Cadets played the Midshipmen at Franklin Field in Philadelphia. President Roosevelt was in the stands that day to watch the Cadets beat the Mids with a score of 22-8.

[CarltonHendricks]

Scott, Good post....My focus is on the posters that advertised the games more than the tickets and programs...The only Army Navy FB poster I have is little railroad excursion broadside for the 1916 game...you'll be glad to hear Army won 15-7.. I can tell you this...school issued vintage game posters for the Army Navy game are very tough...I can not recall ever seeing one....But I'd sure like to find one...between say their first game in 1890 and 1940!

[steve B]

Scott, did you go to Wp? I have a relative who went so I got to got to army-Navy between 90 and 93. I kept a bunch of the stuff, programs tickets etc.

It's a really wonderful game to attend in person.

Steve B

[esd10]

both of these teams are a shadow of what they once where but i have the all the respect in the world for both of these teams. i root for army during this game i was in the army for 4 years so go army.

[smotan_02]

90 years ago, in 1922, the Cadets and Midshipmen met once again at Philadelphia's Franklin Field before 55,000 fans. Vice President Calvin Coolidge was in attendance as the Cadets beat the Mids by 17-14.

armnavprogcov.jpg

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Carlton, great looking display. That could very well be a one of a kind. Programs and tickets from before 1919 are especially hard to find, but your advertisement is even more rare. Great piece.

Steve, I am a graduate. I attended from 1998-2002. Graduated as an Engineer officer and I continue to serve in the US Army.

[CarltonHendricks]

This isn't Army Navy but when I was at Harvard to photograph they're trophies in 2011 I saw one of the greatest trophies I've seen and it was Army related...actually it was thee greatest trophy I've seen in person...

In 1895 the Harvard football team traveled to West Point to play Army for the first time and won 4-0....Army gave Harvard a check of $250.00 to cover their traveling expenses. Apparently for some reason the gate wasn't enough for Army to make a profit. When Harvard learned Army didn't make anything from the game and the money came from the contributions of cadets and alum they sent the check back to Army. Army in turn took the $250.00 and had a trophy made and gave it to Harvard as a symbol of goodwill.



http://sportsantiques.com/pg6brimstory.htm
I saw the trophy when I was at Harvard to photograph their trophies as part of my May 2011 Brimfield Antiques Fair story. Actually I kind of came onto it unexpectedly....After I finished shooting the trophies in the Lee Family Hall of Athletic History in the Murr Center my host Renny Little who is in charge of the trophies walked me over to the football Coaches Lounge as they call it, more like a small lobby though...and I spotted it in a case. I had never heard of the trophy and apparently it's not widely known about as there's essentially nothing about it on the internet. I Googled "1895 Army gives Harvard trophy" and got nothing. It's interesting you can find something that great no one knows about...which proves the internet isn't the end all....There's still something to be said for physically getting out there. Had I not visited the University that trophy would still be sitting there unknown to me.

[smotan_02]

Carlton- stunning trophy. It really highlights the class and respect that existed between the two schools at that time. I would love to see that in person sometime.


Fast forward 10 more years to 1932 and the Cadets and Midshipmen meet again at Philadelphia. The last game at Philly was 10 years prior and the cadets and mids skipped the 1928 and 1929 games. It stemmed from an inability to agree on eligibility requirements as West Point was allowing prior collegiate football players to play for four years (under a "all cadets treated equal" clause). The game was uneventful in the grand scheme as the Cadets trounced the Mids 20-0.

1932 AN.jpg

1932 Army Navy Program Final.jpg