When Its More Than A Game

I may over emphasize the importance of football upon the American landscape at times, I know. To me there is nothing better than watching college football on Saturday afternoon and nights. Lets face it at least in college the kids are still playing the game for pride and fun and not for a paycheck. Anything can happen in a college game because the people playing are just kids and not men they will do stupid things and make stupid mistakes and enthusiasm can carry momentum a lot longer into a game. In short, for the most part, the game is still a game and is still fun. But not this game, this game is different, this game marks the end of football careers which is always a sad day, but it also marks the end of childhood when the gun sounds these seniors become men plain and simple. I am speaking of course about the Army/Navy Game. When the gun sounds at the end of the game these kids leave a lot behind and finish up their studies and begin standing watch over the safety of the nation. We are literally privileged to watch these kids end their childhoods, and in these times, get ready for war.

So Army and Navy both have new uniforms for today's game Army in fatigue pants and helmets and navy in throwback jerseys and I like both. There is one problem though, The Navy jerseys are blank where this name should be and the Army says "DUTY.HONOR. COUNTRY." I get why in the team concept and no one is bigger than the team and that the name on the front is way more important than the one on the back. But I think America needs to know and see their names. Too many of our armed forces fight in anonymity, I say let America at least know who these guys are and not because they can play football but because the are going to be defending our liberty to watch the SEC title game later and the Giants tomorrow and on Monday when we will argue who really should be in the BCS title game. These kids will give this gift to us at least let us know who they are. What other game shows shots of soldiers and marines all over the world watching a game in the dead of night cheering "GO Navy. Beat Army" or vice-versa? Just one that I know of, The Super Bowl. Football means a lot to Americans and when you are so far from home I guess it means a whole lot more. These kids they are not going to the NFL this is their last gridiron day of glory. This is not the SEC or Big 12 where the victors later today will be hailed as conquering heroes. These kids play their hearts out for the love, sure they are not as big or as Strong, or as fast as what we will see later but there are way more important overtones to this game. Great football it is not, great kids with and even greater purpose to their lives; absolutely.

When you watch the Army/Navy game understand that these kids could have gone to any Ivy league school and cruised through four years and become investment bankers and asshole lawyers. These kids have a higher sense of worth of self than just money. These kids are really something special, I guess all those that serve are really something special. So as this 108th meeting between these team draws to a close I hope you will take time to reflect on the men and women who keep us safe. It does not matter whether you fly and N* flag and cheer Go Navy. Beat Army. With Honor, Courage and Commitment. Or you believe in Duty. Honor. Country, and cheer go Army. Beat Navy. I salute you all and you are in my prayers and of course; THANK YOU from an appreciative nation.