8 things to know about the 2020 Army-Navy game
As the chaos and unpredictability of 2020 continues, a touchstone of normalcy – the Army-Navy football game – is set for a 3 p.m. kickoff on Saturday. Here is what you need to know going into the 121st edition of “America’s Game.”
1. Where are they playing? Why there? Traditionally, the contest is held at a neutral site in the Northeast. The 2020 game was originally planned for Philadelphia, the site of more Army-Navy games than any other location. However, the pandemic has forced the cancellation of mass gatherings of people in public or private spaces. Military leadership turned to Michie Stadium, a 38,000-seat stadium located within the boundaries of the U.S. Military Academy in Highland Falls, N.Y., and exempt from local governmental control. So, for the first time since 1943 (when Navy won 13-0), the game will be held on the hills overlooking New York’s Hudson River, just a few hundred yards from where it all began on The Plain at West Point. To avoid possible COVID-19 exposure to the 8,800 combined students of the two academies, no other fans will be in the grandstands. However, a contingent of admirals and generals, along with their staffs, and possibly President Trump will be watching from the suites.
2. What are the special uniforms going to look like? It has become a tradition for each team to wear special uniforms for the game. Army will wear uniforms that honor the 25th Infantry Division which fought with great tenacity in the Pacific Theater in World War II and in the Korean War. Various sub units including the 27th Infantry Regiment “Wolfhounds,” which played a crucial role in winning the Battle of Puson Reservoir, will also be honored. The 25th Infantry Division's iconic shoulder insignia is a lightning bolt superimposed on a taro leaf. The colors of gold and red were those of the late Hawaiian monarchy. While soldiers over the years have jokingly referred to the patch as the “Electric Strawberry.” Navy uniforms will celebrate the 175th anniversary of the creation of the Naval Academy. The Navy helmets and shoulder pads will feature a blue and white marble pattern reminiscent of the stone used in the crypt of naval hero John Paul Jones. The design is also used in Bancroft Hall, the largest college dormitory in the nation, named after George Bancroft, founder of the Naval academy and former Secretary of the Navy. The Naval Academy seal is on the shoulders and the gloves.
3. Any other special tributes? Senior tri-captain and offensive guard Billy Honaker will wear No. 68 Saturday in honor of David Forney, a three-year player for Navy who died Feb. 20, 2019, after being found unresponsive in Bancroft Hall. Number 68 was not issued by Navy this year, but Honaker asked Navy coach Ken Niumatalolo and Forney’s father for permission to wear it to honor his former teammate and friend.
4. Where can I watch? ESPN College GameDay starts things off at 9 a.m. Eastern. From noon until 1:30 p.m., CBS Sports Network will air Inside College Football: Army-Navy March-On followed from 1:30 to 2:30 p.m. by Inside College Football: Army-Navy Tailgate. Pre-game ceremonies shift to the CBS network at 2:30 p.m. with College Football today. The 121st Army-Navy game presented by USAA will be broadcast nationally at 3 p.m. Eastern.
5. How about the teams? What can we expect from Navy? Despite reaching his milestone 100th career victory this year, Niumatalolo will not fondly remember the 2020 season. After winning a school-record 11 games last season (including a 31-7 win over Army), Navy has been inconsistent this year and comes into the game against Army trying to shed a four-game losing streak that has left the Midshipmen with a record of 3-6. The Navy schedule has featured some tough opponents, but other circumstances were more damaging. Last year’s starting QB Malcolm Perry, primarily known for his running ability, graduated in May. After three 2020 games, senior safety Evan Fochtman retired after receiving multiple concussions. Senior wide receiver Ryan Mitchell, an outstanding blocker who had five catches for 156 yards and a touchdown, is out for the year after suffering a broken collarbone against SMU. With 25 first-time starters this season, Navy has struggled to unify its offense (11 first-time starters) and defense (14). The offense has struggled to score (just 13 total points in the last two games and four games with seven points or less). Freshman Xavier Arline is likely to share the quarterback role with senior Dalen Morris and possibly junior Tyger Goslin as Navy has used multiple quarterbacks in seven of nine games. Junior Mychal Cooper and sophomore Mark Walker are the leading wide receivers with 12 catches each. Senior fullback duo Jamale Carothers (398 yards and 2 TD on 93 carries, 103 yards and 1 TD on four catches) and Nelson Smith (622 yards and 6 TDs on 117 carries) have done well but have found fewer holes than last year. Navy is averaging 185.3 rushing yards per game – about 100 less than normal. Defensively, Navy is anchored by junior linebacker Diego Fagot (67 tackles, 37 solo with 3 sacks, 1 forced fumble and 1 fumble recovery), junior safety Kevin Brennan (61, 34 with 5 pass breakups) and sophomore linebacker Tama Tuitele (52, 38 with a nation-leading 4 forced fumbles). Senior cornerback Cameron Kinley has five pass breakups and an interception. A starter for the last two years, he carries a 3.32 GPA, is one of the tri-captains of the football team and is president of the Class of 2021. Kinley is also a finalist for the Campbell Trophy awarded to the college player who best combines academic proficiency, football excellence and exemplary leadership.
6. What about Army? The Black Knights appear to be running on all cylinders this year. Army head coach Jeff Monken developed a plan that snapped Navy’s 14-year winning streak in 2016 and added victories in 2017 and 2018. This year, Army has achieved its 7-2 record the old fashioned way with the triple option. The team is averaging 296.7 rushing yards per game, third best in the nation. Monken has not named a starting quarterback before any of the games earlier in the season and he did not change that pattern when he spoke with the media on Tuesday. Tyhier Tyler, Christian Anderson (the team leader with 40 pass attempts and 15 completions for 158 yards and a touchdown) and Cade Ballard are the most likely suspects for a position that Army emphasizes as running first, passing second. Fullback Jakobi Buchanan is the host’s leading rusher with 383 yards and 5 TDs on 87 carries, while slotback Tyrell Robinson has 379 yards on 50 carries, and fullback Sandon McCoy is the short-yardage specialist with 10 TDs (16th best in the country). Michael Roberts leads all Army receivers with seven catches for 106 yards and a TD. Army’ methodical, grind-it-out running attack has enabled the Black Knight log an average time of possession of 33:14 (13th best in the nation). Defense remains Army’s strength (ranking fourth in the nation in average total yards allowed with 289.3) and Jon Rattigan leads the way with 67 tackles (21 solo), 2 interceptions and 1 fumble recovery. He has been named a finalist for the Chuck Bednarik Award for the nation’s best collegiate defensive player. Others to watch include free safety Cedrick Cunningham (57 tackles, 2 quarterback sacks, and 1 interception), and linebacker Arik Smith (57 tackles and 3.5 quarterback sacks).
7. Yeah, but who’s going to win? You can throw out traditional odds when you talk about the Army-Navy game. Both teams spend 364 days a year preparing for this one. It can bring out the best in people, cause players to perform better than they have ever done before. That intangible generally makes the result hard to predict. This year, the two schools had only one common opponent (to date) – Tulane. In Navy’s second game and Tulane’s first, the Midshipmen trailed 24-0 at the half, but launched the biggest comeback in Naval Academy history to win 27-24. Two months later, the Green Wave was working like a well-oiled machine and dominated Army in a 38-12 win. What does that mean? In sports, have reasonable expectations but be prepared for the unexpected. And using that philosophy as guidance, I expect Army to win by two scores – let’s say nine points.
8. What’s next? For Navy, Saturday’s game will be the end of the season. But Army must stay healthy and focused because Air Force comes to Michie Stadium just a week later. This will be the first time that the Army-Navy game is not the final game of the trio that comprise the battle for the Commander-In-Chief’s Trophy. On Oct. 3, Air Force defeated Navy 40-7. A COVID-19 outbreak in Colorado Springs forced postponement of the Air Force-Army game that was originally scheduled for November. So, if Army wins the Army-Navy game, the winner of the Air Force-Army Game will earn possession of the CIC Trophy. If Navy wins the Army-Navy Game, then the Midshipmen will retain the trophy if Army can beat Air Force; if Air Force beats Army, the Falcons will win get to display the CIC trophy in 2021. Either way, Army will finish its season by travelling to Shreveport, La., to play an undetermined opponent in the Independence Bowl on Dec. 26.