It’s a rivalry unlike any other. Yes, that’s how the Army Dark Knights and Navy Midshipmen rivalry can be described at its best. Saturday, December 14, marks the 125th time that the two two service academies will face off. So, it has to be special, right? 

The heat is real. Jeff Monken’s Army is coming in as American Athletic Conference champions with 11-1 while Brian Newberry’s Navy is at 8-3. So what if none of the programs are willing to leave their ground? The high-stakes game has taken a positive turn. A ritual that has been a part of the Army-Navy Game that’s surely going to melt your hearts.  

The 2024 Army-Navy game comes with a deeper purpose

The Army-Navy game experience teaches a lot of things. First things first, the players might be hustling on the gridiron but off the gridiron, each cadet and midshipman is training to become an officer in their service branch. So along with their football practices, they have to go through vigorous military training. Plus, here comes the most interesting part. Unlike other players, Dark Knights and Midshipmen are away from the charm of big money and there are no NIL collectives. Maybe that’s how they are built in a way after which they only think about what services they can give without thinking about the prize or money they get in return. Here’s where there is a beautiful ritual of giving back during every Army-Navy game. This year has been no exception. On December 13, the US Naval Academy tweeted, “Each year, the Midshipman Action Group proudly gives back to the host city of the Army-Navy Game.”

The tweet further read, “This year, they donated blankets to a DC shelter to assist with winter relief, providing warmth and comfort to those who need it most.” This year, the annual showdown is going to take place at Northwest Stadium in Landover, Maryland, the home of the Washington Commanders. So before the game, the Midshipmen thought of extending their service to the people in need now that the temperature had started to take a dip. Thanks to them, the Army-Navy game now has a different meaning besides the cutthroat rivalry.  

Checklist for pre-Army-Navy game rituals

Last year the Dark Knights face off against Midshipmen at the Gillette Stadium in Boston. The Midshipmen Action Group took part in service projects in and around the Boston area. They volunteered at local organizations and assembled care packages. Even though the Navy lost to the Army in an 11-17 game, they definitely have won millions of hearts through their service off the gridiron. 

Last to last year, they did some great work. The host city was Philadelphia, where the game took place in the Lincoln Financial Field. Their too Midshipman Action Group supported the Veterans Multi-Service Center (VMC) in Philadelphia. They organized a donation drive for people in need by collecting and delivering winter clothing. Besides this, there have been other rituals that make the Army-Navy game special.   

For example, the famous drumline battle is a delight to watch. Before the game, the bands representing each branch take part in the drumline showing their skills with the sticks. The march is also a very famous ritual of every Army Dark Knights vs Navy Midshipmen face-off. Thousands of people, including the U.S. Military Academy cadets, the U.S. Naval Academy midshipmen, and the entire student body march through the field. So, now you know how the Army-Navy game stands out every time.