'America's Game' Returns To New Jersey For First Time Since 2002

EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ — College football purists will tell you that the annual showdown between Army and Navy isn’t just another game.

The annual meeting between the two military academies is steeped in tradition, dates back to 1890 and has been witnessed by hundreds of thousands of fans each year as well as a host of U.S. presidents. Typically played in Philadelphia, Saturday’s Army-Navy game will be played at MetLife Stadium in conjunction with the 20th anniversary of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.

President Joe Biden has not yet announced whether he will attend Saturday’s game, which was last played in East Rutherford in 2002, when Navy won 58-12 and kicked off a string of 14 straight Midshipmen victories.

Army, which brings an 8-3 record into Saturday’s game, has won four of its last five games, including a 15-0 victory last year at West Point, where the game was played due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. Navy, which is 3-8 this season, leads the all-time series 61-53-7.

But this rivalry is bigger than football. Once their playing careers are over at their respective schools, the participants in both programs will devote their lives to military service. Many former players have served in combat missions in the Middle East since the 9/11 terrorist attacks, which increases the significance of the game for everyone involved.

“Army-Navy just stirs the spirit of everybody that’s involved with this rivalry,” Army football coach Jeff Monken said this week in a video posted on the Army athletics website. “It’s an incredible game (with) two teams that are going to be fighting as hard as they can to win, and two student bodies will be (up in the stands) battling with their teams. It’s America’s game. I know it’s coined that, but it’s true.

“It’s two teams that is full of young men that are going to lay it on the line on this Saturday and then soon, will go lay it on the line for their country.”

Navy announced recently it will unveil special uniforms for the game, which will include a flyover of several F-18s, which will complete the flyover just prior to the 3 p.m. kickoff at MetLife. The Midshipmen uniforms will wear a specially designed “Fly Navy” uniform, which features an image of the F/A 18-E/F Super Hornet on one side of the helmet.

The right side of the helmets and both shoulders of the jerseys display the roundel. This symbol adorns aircraft from all military branches.