Every football season, there’s one game that stands out among the rest. The Army-Navy game is the pinnacle of college football rivalries.
The first time the Cadets and Midshipmen faced each other was on November 29th, 1890 on West Point’s field nicknamed “The Plain.” The 1890 season was Army’s introduction to college football. Navy, however, had been playing since 1879. This resulted in Navy taking home the first win in what would be the beginning of a historic rivalry.
For the bulk of the 20th century, Army and Navy were both seen as national powerhouses with each matchup having national championship consequences. This cemented the game as a college football backbone and a must-see December game.
Photo Caption: Army vs. Navy football game, Nov. 28, 1908
Arguably, one of the most notable games was in 1926. Held in Chicago and coinciding with the National Dedication of Soldier Field, a monument to American serviceman who had fought in World War I, this game saw Navy come in undefeated while Army had only one loss to Notre Dame. This historic game would decide the National Championship in front of a crowd of over 100,000 fans. The two teams fought to a 21-21 tie, but ultimately, Navy was awarded the national championship due to their undefeated record.
Every year at the conclusion of the game, each team meets at the opposition's side of the field and sings the other’s alma mater to the students and spectators. This is a small reminder for both the players and the fans that at the end of the day, the rivalry is more than just a game, but also a show of mutual respect and solidarity between the two branches.
Many Army and Navy players have gone on to see rewarding professional football careers. Most famous is Dallas Cowboys Hall of Famer, and former Navy quarterback, Roger Staubach, as well as current Pittsburgh Steeler and former Army tackle, Alejandro Villanueva, who put his professional career on hold to serve three tours in Afghanistan as an Army Ranger before entering the NFL in 2014.
Through the 2019 season, Navy leads the series 61–52–7. The 121st Army-Navy Game will be hosted by the U.S. Military Academy at West Point on December 12th; the first time Army has hosted the game at West Point since World War II.
Here at IHG(R) Army Hotels, we love Army football. Our IHG family loves to find unique ways to celebrate it, and in 2017 one of our Historia CollectionTM properties at West Point went as far as to change its name to Beat Navy House when the building underwent renovations. Of course, it’s a friendly gesture and our way to contribute to the historic rivalry.