On December 14th, 2019 the Army Black Knights will face the Navy Midshipmen at the Lincoln Financial Field. For some, the game is more than just football, as personal ties make the game more meaningful. 

Junior Max Smith, who has a family in the Naval Academy, roots for the Navy. “My dad was a graduate from the Naval Academy and I plan on continuing my education and athletic career there as well,” Smith said. According the 2019 AP Poll, the 24th ranked Midshipmen, coming off a strong year at 9-2, are looking to bounce back from their 2018 loss, where the Black Knights defeated them 17-10. 

This rivalry dates back to November 29th, 1890, giving this matchup a long history, with the Navy leading the all time series 60-52-7. Although they have lost the past three years, Smith said, “I feel like Navy has had a rough couple of years in the game, but will take it back this year as their defense has improved.” Both football programs pride themselves on coming out on top in the rivalry game, with the Navy’s locker room having “Go Navy, Beat Army,” on the walls, and the Army having “ Go Army, Beat Navy,” on theirs. The game environment is unmatched. Junior Stella Wineman said, “ I enjoy watching because it is always a super competitive game. Both teams always play their hardest and the fans go wild.”