WASHINGTON (Army News Service, Dec. 12, 2014) -- "The Navy likes to talk a lot about yesterday, about last year, what it was like then. They do that in all our meetings too," Secretary of the Army John McHugh told a cheering crowd of partisan Army football fans in the Pentagon courtyard, Dec. 12.
He was referring to last year's Navy win (and a few before that).
"But, this is about tomorrow," he continued to the roaring cheer of the crowd of several hundred. "The future is not going to be pretty for them."
The Army's football team, of course, is the Black Knights from the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, New York. They will face the Navy Midshipmen Saturday in Baltimore. The Army-Navy game rivalry goes a ways back -- the first in 1890.
In 1964, Navy was a 21-point favorite in the Army-Navy game, said Army Chief of Staff Gen. Ray Odierno. Their quarterback was Heisman Trophy winner Roger Staubach.
"But they played an Army team who was determined to make sure they would not be denied," he said.
"And that day, 50 years ago, led by Rollie Stichweh, Army kicked Navy's (butt)," Odierno told the fans in the courtyard, adding that's going to happen tomorrow as well.
Lt. Gen. William T. Grisoli, director of the Army Staff, led the fans in "go-Army, beat-Navy" cheers.
"Now we're going to wake up the squids" in the building, he said, encouraging the fans to amp up the volume even more -- which they gladly did. Squids is the Army's term of endearment for Sailors.
MARCH ON PENTAGON
The Army cheerleaders, who go by the name "Rabble Rousers," along with the Spirit Band, threaded their way through the corridors of military power, cheering loudly, beating their drums and trumpeting victory tunes.
A Sailor in dress uniform walking backward was leading a guided tour as the entourage passed. "Can any of you name the four services?" the Sailor quizzed the civilians -- a standard tour question.
No one had a chance to respond because chants of "Go Army" made it impossible.
A few Sailors and Marines came out of their offices to see what all the commotion was about and then quickly retreated back inside, realizing they were outgunned and outnumbered. Some Airmen milled about in the hall watching, undoubtedly feeling left out and perhaps wishing their Air Force team could be part of this legendary rivalry.
"Thanks for stopping by," said Marine Corps Commandant Gen. Joseph "Fighting Joe" Dunford, as the cadets paused near his office. He was trying to smile but couldn't seem to hide his scowl.
"I can't say good luck tomorrow," he simply said and scooted back into his office.
Being Navy notwithstanding, Adm. James A. "Sandy" Winnefeld Jr., vice chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, was a lot friendlier -- undoubtedly because he has to make nice with all the services in his role. "Keep your heads up and go for it. Good luck tomorrow," he told them.
Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Martin Dempsey both stepped out of an office to greet the cadets and wish them well. Hagel reminded them that he's a former Soldier with skin in the game.
MEET THE CADETS
A lot of young people might be embarrassed to have their parents follow them to school. But not firstie Joshua Holan, a Rabble Rouser. Firstie is the cadet term for senior.
His parents came to the Pentagon from El Paso, Texas, to see him and will be at the game tomorrow. They were beaming with pride the whole time, especially his dad, a former Army aviator.
During a rest break, yearling Christina Pico, a Rabble Rouser, paused to look at Faces of the Fallen on a wall. Yearling is the term for sophomore.
She said her grandfather was a Soldier during World War II and Korea and she wishes he were still around to see her.
Pico's uncle is former Navy. She said he posted a Midshipmen video to her Facebook and said she's not amused one bit by it.
Lolita Narcisse, a plebe, or freshman from San Antonio, said Army is in her blood. Both parents are retired Army and her older brother and sister are currently serving in the Army.
Narcisse said she's the first West Pointer in her family. She's studying life sciences and chemistry and plans to become a doctor. She's also in Spirit Band and plays a mellophone.
Firstie Carlton Blake, a tenor drummer in Spirit Band, also has Army ties. His older brother is in the Army. Besides the Black Knights, his other favorite team is the Steelers. It's odd, he admits, being from the part of New Jersey where most are Eagles' fans.
Chaperoning the cadets was Lt. Col. Todd Woodruff, a management instructor at West Point. Asked about the Army's football record, he predicted an Army win tomorrow, adding that the Army beats the other services in a host of events including basketball, rugby and debating.
Woodruff did a good job himself, debating how the Army will be victorious.
(For more ARNEWS stories, visit www.army.mil/ARNEWS, or Facebook at www.facebook.com/ArmyNewsService, or Twitter @ArmyNewsService)
Related Links:
2014 Army-Navy Game: America's Game
Army plays Navy during annual flag football game on Camp Zama
STAND-TO!: 2014 Army-Navy Game: America's Game
Learn more about the U.S. Military Academy
U.S. Military Academy at West Point, N.Y.
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