Labor Day has come and gone, meaning the sun is setting on yet another summer. But fall is right around the corner, and fall means one thing: football is back! Of course you want to see a great game, but where can you get a great game AND an awesome atmosphere that makes for one amazing experience? How about right here in Maryland’s Capital city of Annapolis. Nestled just a few minutes walk from Downtown Annapolis, Navy-Marine Corps. Memorial Stadium is the home field of The United States Naval Academy Football Team. Navy Football combines all the traditions and pageantry of big time FBS college football with the ceremony, pride, and patriotism associated with being a national military service academy. Bring your camera and be prepared for your pulse to raise because from the fantastic tailgating, Midshipmen March, and jet fighter flyover to kick off them game, right through the final whistle, Naval Academy Football has is all.
The United States Naval Academy (USNA) was founded in 1845 by the then Secretary of the Navy, George Bancroft. The purpose of the academy, then as it remains today, was to centralize and standardize the training of United States naval officers. The Naval Academy soon became a full fledged university, training and educating the best and brightest. The Naval Academy first fielded a varsity football team in 1879, but it wasn’t until 1902 that the Cadets, as they were known in that era, garnered the label “Midshipmen”. (A nautical term used frequently in the days of sail in reference to young officers and their position aboard ship.) The Midshipmen played, and won, their first meeting with their chief rival Army in 1890. Throughout the 130 plus years of Navy Football, the Midshipmen have maintained a tradition of excellence and winning on and off the gridiron. Naval academy football has produced 23 All-Americans, 2 Heisman Trophy winners (Joe Bellini, 1960 and Roger Staubach, 1963), and 1 national title in 1926. Talent, pride, and discipline have never been in short supply for Navy Football and those traditions will continue in the 2013/14 season.
With Head Coach Ken Niumatalolo back at the helm for another season, the Midshipmen are poised to set sail on another grueling schedule filled with top flight opponents, including Notre Dame, Pittsburgh, Indiana and Air Force. The traditional barn-burner, known as the Army-Navy game, is set to cap off the end of the season. Earlier this year Coach Niumatalolo announced Senior LB Cody Peterson and Senior WR Matt Aiken will captain his Midshipmen squad this season. With the leadership and direction provided by these two outstanding young naval officers and Coach Niumatalolo, the Navy Football program looks set for another winning season.
With all of the excitement happening on the field it would be easy to overlook how much is happening before and after the game, off of the field. Seeing the teams compete on the field may be the main attraction, but with Navy football, you don’t come just for the game. The tailgating action is always cooking, like most football venues, but if you don’t want the “been there done that” tailgating experience ask yourself, “have I ever tailgated with a Navy Captain?” Well you can now. The Captain’s BBQ tailgating starts 2 ½ hours before the game and features some of the best food you will ever eat at a football pre-game. It’s held in a spacious private pavilion inside Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium and features catering by some of the most celebrated restaurants in the Annapolis area- Main Ingredient, Bayside Bull, and Bo Brooks Restaurant and Catering to name a few. Another advantage of the attending the Captain’s BBQ is the vantage point of which the pavilion provides for all the pregame festivities. Of course there are bands and color guards, like most college football games, but The United States Naval Academy goes one step further. During every Navy Football home game the entire student body population dons their dress uniforms and marches, in formation, from the campus to the stadium. This is known as the “Midshipmen March” and is one of the highlights of the Navy football experience. For those of you who like something a little faster than a marching pace, The United States Navy Blue Angels demonstration team brings their thunderous F/A-18 Super Hornets to the show and make a heart-stopping pass over the Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium. With so many game day activities on tap during home games, you just may begin to wonder how they actually fit in a football game.
By now you must be in a frenzy at the thought of football, food, and fun. Now all that’s left to do is pick your game and become a part of the pride and patriotism that is Naval Academy Football. The Midshipmen are ready for another season of success the only thing missing is you. Cheer on the future leaders of our great nation as they play and compete the only way they know how: Full Speed Ahead!
2013 Navy Football Schedule
(H)=Home (A)=Away
09/07/13 Indiana (A) 6:00pm
09/14/13 Delaware (H) 3:30pm
09/28/13 Western Kentucky (A) 7:00pm
10/05/13 Air Force (H) 11:30am
10/12/13 Duke (A) TBA
10/19/13 Toledo (A) 7:00pm
10/26/13 Pittsburgh 1:00pm
11/02/13 Notre Dame (A) 3:30pm
11/09/13 Hawaii (H) 3:30pm
11/16/13 South Alabama (H) 3:30pm
11/22/13 San Jose State (A) 9:30pm
12/14/13 Army (Philadelphia, PA) 3:00pm
*The Midshipmen March begins approximately 1 hour before kickoff
Leave A Comment