Following taken from the Nimitz Library Digital Collections holdings at the Naval Academy.
On November 28, 1890 the cadets of the United States Military Academy and the midshipmen of the United States Naval Academy met at West Point to play the first Army-Navy football game. The next day, the following bulletin appeared in The New York Times: Annapolis, Md., Nov. 29 — “WE HAVE MET THE ENEMY.”
“Twenty-four great guns, three more than a Presidential salute, boomed out over the placid waters of the Chesapeake tonight, astonishing the quiet of this old town and telling the news of army’s defeat. It is the first time that so much enthusiasm has been rampant in Annapolis since Washington met Lafayette on the steps of the State House.
No college glorification ever equaled that of the naval cadets tonight, speaking as it does out of the mouth of cannons and through the lengths of a thousand tin horns.
It is a new thing to the Naval Academy, this national victory, but its newness does not detract from the hearty spontaneity of its celebration.”
Everybody, from Superintendent Phythian down to the meanest mess-hall scullion, rejoices over the navy’s triumph.” The next three meetings between Army and Navy continued to alternate between West Point and Annapolis.
Following a five-year hiatus,
(1894-1898 No Games Played: A reputed incident between a Rear Admiral and a Brigadier General, which nearly led to a duel after the 1893 Navy victory, caused President Cleveland to call a Cabinet meeting in late February 1894. When the meeting ended, Secretary of the Navy Hillary A. Herbert, and Secretary of War, Daniel S. Lamont, issued general orders to their respective Academies stating that teams would be allowed to visit Annapolis and West Point to conduct football games, but the Army and Navy football teams were “prohibited in engaging in games elsewhere.” The result was that the Army/Navy game was suspended for the next five years. The annual series would not resume until 1899, when it was played in a neutral locale, Franklin Field in Philadelphia)
the rivalry between the two academies resumed in 1899 at Franklin Field in Philadelphia, beginning the tradition of holding the annual game at a neutral site. Since the beginning of the rivalry, the two teams have met over one hundred times, making it one of the oldest continual rivalries in college football.
Nimitz Collection is at
http://cdm16099.contentdm.oclc.org/cdm/search/searchterm/game
West Point’s Football Letterman are at
A Chart of the Series is at
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Army-Navy_Game
Below Doc’s comments is a short wrap up of the results of each Army Navy Game. As additional data becomes available the highlights will be expanded. The 1960 Game will be the first to receive such expansion.
There have been many changes to Eligibility (from unlimited to 4 to 3 then back to 4) and Game Rules over the years. Doc Blanchard, Class of 1947, comments on the days of playing both ways.
In his 4 years Doc Blanchard ran for 1,666 yards, scoring 38 touchdowns, 26 on runs, seven on passes, four on interception returns and one on a kickoff return. Along with being a standout fullback, he was an outstanding linebacker, place kicker and punter.
“If you played fullback, you played linebacker. If you’re just going to go one way, you should be able to do a lot of special things because the learning and practice time increases. Because of that, the quality of play has gone up. Physical conditioning and stamina were much more important then than they are now. You’ll see a player go for four or five plays and then come off the field huffing and puffing. When I played, if you lost the ball, you lined up and played defense.”
by DENNIS BRUNSON Sumter (S.C.) Daily Item Sports Editor October 17, 2002
Game links and articles provided by Russ “Skip” Grimm – Class of ’76
The Army Navy Series
The information is taken from The Baltimore, Md. Web Site for the Game in 2007.
Navy 24, Army 0 Nov. 29, 1890 – West Point, N.Y.
Veteran Red Emerich scored 20 of Navy’s 24 points in its series-opening shutout of the host Cadets. Moulton Johnson added the other touchdown (touchdowns were worth four points), as the Mids served as Army’s first college football opponent.
Army 32, Navy 16 Nov. 28, 1891 – Annapolis, Md.
Army avenged its series-opening loss to Navy by doubling up the Midshipmen, 32-16, in Annapolis. The Cadets overpowered the Midshipmen on the ground, scoring three first-half touchdowns to take an 18-6 lead at intermission. Elmer Clark scored on two touchdown runs, while plebe Fine Smith blocked Worth Bagley’s punt and returned it for a touchdown. Navy was not to be embarrassed on its home field and answered with touchdowns from C.F. Maclin and Henry Pearson to open the second half. Nonetheless, the Cadets padded their lead with two more touchdowns to provide the 16-point difference.
MILITARY CADETS VERSUS NAVAL CADETS. ANNAPOLIS November 20, 1891,
http://query.nytimes.com/mem/archive-free/pdf?res=F60A10FF385E10738DDDA90A94D9415B8185F0D3
Navy 12, Army 4 Nov. 26, 1892 – West Point, N.Y.
Worth Bagley proved to be quite valuable to Navy, accounting for eight of the team’s 12 points in a 12-4 win over Army. All of the scoring came in the second half. Walter Izard had Navy’s first touchdown run, and Bagley added the conversion. Army’s Thomas Carson answered with a touchdown for the Cadets, but Bagley put the game away with six more points late in the half.
Navy 6, Army 4 Dec. 2, 1893 – Annapolis, Md.
Henry Kimball’s one-yard touchdown run and two-point conversion was all Navy needed in a 6-4 victory over Army. The Cadets’ Thomas Carson responded with his second touchdown in as many years against Navy, but the two-point conversion was unsuccessful.
Army 17, Navy 5 Dec. 2, 1899 – Philadelphia, Pa.
In the first Army-Navy game held at Franklin Field, Army’s Verne Rockwell and Bob Jackson combined to score three touchdowns in the Cadets’ 17-5 victory. Considering Navy had shut out its previous three opponents – North Carolina, Trinity and Lehigh – by a combined 71-0 score, this game was termed an upset of sorts. After Jackson started the scoring in the first half with a short run, Navy drove to the Army nine-yard line before time ran out in the half. Rockwell and Jackson tallied second-half scores, as the Cadets took a commanding 17-0 lead. The Midshipmen avoided a shutout when Ward Wortman scored with just seconds left in the game.
Cadets Against Middies
Army and Navy Meet Today My And Navy Meet Today Philadelphia
Boston Evening Transcript – Dec 2, 1899
The State, War and Navy departments were almost deserted today as a result of the West Point- Annapolis football game in Philadelphia…
http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=tbg-AAAAIBAJ&sjid=xVkMAAAAIBAJ&dq=football%20philadelphia&pg=5659%2C3775721
CADETS AT FOOTBALL TO-DAY; Rival Teams – New York Times
West Point Defeats Annapolis
Boston Evening Transcript – Dec 4, 1899
http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=trg-AAAAIBAJ&sjid=xVkMAAAAIBAJ&dq=football%20philadelphia&pg=6448%2C4062363
ARMY WHIPS NAVY – Boston Daily Globe
Navy’s Battered Team.
Baltimore American – Dec 4, 1899
It could not lose this game and, have any reputation at football. They had been preparing for it for six years…Philadelphia
Naval Academy, 5; West Point, 17
http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=VfVBAAAAIBAJ&sjid=1LgMAAAAIBAJ&dq=football%20philadelphia&pg=5339%2C3659220
Navy 11, Army 7 Dec. 1, 1900 – Philadelphia, Pa.
Navy’s Bryon Long may have hit the game-tying field goal in the first half, but his recovery of a blocked punt in the end zone proved more valuable in the Midshipmen’s 11-7 win over Army. Emory Land’s touchdown run early in the second half snapped a 5-5 tie and made the score 11-5 after Orie Fowler’s extra point. Then, with 10 seconds left in the game, the Cadets’ Quinn Gray blocked Charles Belknap’s punt into the Navy end zone. If Gray recovers the punt, it’s an Army touchdown. But if Long recovers it, it’s a safety. Fortunately for the Midshipmen, Long pounced on the ball in the end zone, and Navy had itself an 11-7 triumph.
Army 11, Navy 5 Nov. 30, 1901 – Philadelphia, Pa.
Vice President Theodore Roosevelt, who was sworn in as chief executive right after William McKinley was assassinated, became the first president to watch an Army-Navy game. He saw Army quarterback Charles Daly turn in a fine individual performance, leading the Cadets past Navy, 11-5. Daly opened the scoring with a first-half field goal, only to have Navy’s Newton Nichols tie the score with a touchdown just before intermission. The multi-talented Daly then took the wind out of Navy’s sails with a 95-yard kickoff return for a touchdown to open the second half and clinch the 11-5 victory.
Army 22, Navy 8 Nov. 29, 1902 – Philadelphia, Pa.
Offense, defense and special teams each had a hand in Army’s 22-8 victory over Navy. Paul Bunker and quarterback Charles Daly each had rushing touchdowns for the Cadets, while Navy’s Ralph Strassburger tackled Daly in the end zone for a safety. Navy cut Army’s lead to 10-8 just before halftime when Strassburger returned a punt 55 yards for a touchdown. The Cadets held off the furious Navy comeback with a pair of second-half touchdowns. Bunker reached the end zone for the second time that afternoon, while Daly scored a touchdown and added the extra point.
ARMY AND NAVY FOOTBALL; Cadets and Midshipmen WEST POINT PICKED TO WIN Both Teams Did Their Final Practicing on Franklin Field — Annapolis Prepared to Make a Stiff Fight. New York Times – Nov 29, 1902
… the Army and Navy elevens will wind up the college football season of 19O2… University of Pennsvlvania. in Philadelphia, was offered and accepted,…
http://query.nytimes.com/mem/archive-free/pdf?res=F00811FD355414728DDDA00A94D9415B828CF1D3
ARMY 22, NAVY 8 – Boston Daily Globe
ARMY DEFEATED NAVY AT FOOTBALL; West Point and Annapolis in Their Annual Gridiron Struggle Annapolis Cadets Scored Eight Points to the Winners’ Twenty-two — Prominent Government Officials Present. – New York Times – Nov 29, 1902
http://query.nytimes.com/mem/archive-free/pdf?res=F40D17FD3B5A16738DDDA90B94D9415B828CF1D3
Army 40, Navy 5 Nov. 28, 1903 – Philadelphia, Pa.
Click on photo
Army used two Navy fumbles and a blocked field goal attempt to overcome a five-point deficit and overwhelm the Midshipmen, 40-5. Navy took a 5-0 lead on an H.L. Chambers field goal in the first half, but that was the extent of the Mids’ offensive output. They mustered just three first downs the rest of the day. Army, on the other hand, boasted a balanced scoring attack. Fred Prince had 15 points, Ray Hill added 10, Tom Doe seven, Russell Davis five, while Ernest Graves, Charles Davis and Horatio Hackett had one point each.
ARMY AND NAVY FOOTBALL; West Point and…- New York Times – Nov 27, 1903
http://query.nytimes.com/mem/archive-free/pdf?res=F30915FF345F1B738DDDA10A94D9415B838CF1D3
Army Versus Navy Football At Philadelphia
Newburgh Daily Journal – Nov 28, 1903
… looked upon as a football society function rather than as a spectacular gridiron, battle, and ‘or that reason the demand for tickets has been enormous…
http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=6rpgAAAAIBAJ&sjid=ZXMNAAAAIBAJ&dq=football%20philadelphia&pg=4401%2C4337637
Army Against Navy Rival Cadets Meet…- Boston Evening Transcript – Nov 28, 1903
http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=Ux00AAAAIBAJ&sjid=xOAIAAAAIBAJ&dq=football%20philadelphia&pg=4866%2C3766033
New York Times – Nov 28, 1903
SOCIETY AT ARMY-NAVY GAME.; Great Exodus to Philadelphia…- New York Times – Nov 28, 1903
The Secretary of War and Miss Root will go to Philadelphia to-morrow to see the West Point-Annapolis football game. The trip will be by special car…
West Point Defeats Middies…- Sunday Morning Star – Nov 29, 1903
http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=_B0nAAAAIBAJ&sjid=1gIGAAAAIBAJ&dq=football%20philadelphia&pg=3507%2C8285212
Army 11, Navy 0 Nov. 26, 1904 – Philadelphia, Pa.
Midway through the first half, Navy lined up to accept Army’s punt at the 50-yard line. The ball apparently touched Navy’s Homer Norton, and the Cadets’ Art Tipton, racing down the field, kicked the ball ahead of him. The game had suddenly transformed into a modern day soccer match, with Tipton kicking the ball once again toward the Navy goal line. When the ball reached the end zone, Tipton fell on top of it for Army’s first touchdown. Despite the controversy surrounding this incident, it was ruled a touchdown and set the tone for Army’s 11-0 triumph. This was the Cadets’ fourth win in a row over Navy and Army’s first shutout in series history.
Army Vs. Navy Big Game To-day – Meriden Daily Journal – Nov 26, 1904
http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=1NtIAAAAIBAJ&sjid=8AENAAAAIBAJ&dq=football%20philadelphia&pg=1511%2C4595527
Ready to do or die, the navy football players left Annapolis yesterday for Philadelphia. The players wero given a rousing send-off when they left the acdemy grounds…
ARMY 11, NAVY 0 – Boston Daily Globe
Tipton’s Kicking Great Football – Meriden Daily Journal – Nov 27, 1904
Army Beats Navy – Sunday Morning Star – Nov 27, 1904
In Hard Fought Game Won Annual Football Match
http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=FOsmAAAAIBAJ&sjid=6AIGAAAAIBAJ&dq=football%20philadelphia&pg=3932%2C2627061
Navy 6, Army 6 Dec. 2, 1905 – Princeton, N.J.
Princeton President Woodrow Wilson convinced West Point and Annapolis officials to play the 1905 Army-Navy game at Princeton, where the two service academies battled to a 6-6 tie. It was immediately obvious that Princeton was ill-equipped to handle the large crowd in attendance, as a huge traffic jam made both teams late for kickoff. As a result, the game was suspended with four minutes left due to darkness. Henry Torney scored Navy’s touchdown early in the first half, while Archibald Douglas tallied Army’s touchdown.
Navy 10, Army 0 Dec. 1, 1906 – Philadelphia, Pa.
“Anchors Aweigh” made its debut at the 1906 Army-Navy game, and the Midshipmen took the song to heart in defeating the Cadets, 10-0. The win over Army was Navy’s first since 1900. The 1906 football season was memorable nationwide, as it marked the debut of the forward pass. Navy coach Paul Dashiell added a twist to this new rule to help his team to victory. Thanks to a long field goal by Percy Northcroft, Navy led 4-0 in the second half. On the Mids’ next possession, Navy’s Homer Norton dropped back in punt formation. Yet, when the ball was snapped, he threw a 25-yard touchdown pass to Jonas Ingram to give Navy the 10-0 victory.
Navy 6, Army 0 Nov. 7, 1907 – Philadelphia, Pa.
Navy combined an early Army turnover with a solid defensive outing to turn back the Cadets, 6-0. The Midshipmen’s Percy Wright recovered Frederick Montiford’s punt at the Army 25-yard line. It took Navy six plays to score, as Archibald Douglas plowed through from the one-yard line to give Navy all of the points it would need in its second-straight shutout over Army.
Army 6, Navy 4 Nov. 28, 1908 – Philadelphia, Pa.
Ed Lange’s fumble on the opening kickoff proved costly to Navy, as Army’s Henry Chamberlain retrieved the loose ball and raced all the way to the Navy one-yard line. From there, Bill Dean crossed the goal line for the touchdown (worth five points). He kicked the extra point himself to account for all six points in the 6-4 Army win. Lange somewhat redeemed himself by kicking a second-half field goal (worth four points), but it wasn’t enough to upend the Cadets.
Rivals Leave For Big Game – West Point Cadets and Annapolis Middies Depart for Battle Field.
Youngstown Vindicator – Nov 25, 1908
http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=DRFIAAAAIBAJ&sjid=1oAMAAAAIBAJ&dq=football%20philadelphia&pg=4851%2C4674625
ARMY AND NAVY IN FOOTBALL BATTLE; West Point and Annapolis Cadets Clash at Philadelphia To-day. TEAMS FIT AND CONFIDENT Battalions of Both Academies to See Conflict — Social and Official Throngs as Spectators. – New York Times – Nov 28, 1908
The football season for 1908 will close this afternoon when the rival … To-day is a general reunion day in Philadelphia…
http://query.nytimes.com/mem/archive-free/pdf?res=F40716FA3C5517738DDDA10A94D9415B888CF1D3
30,000 PERSONS SEE ARMY TEAM DEFEAT NAVY ON FRANKLIN FIELD; Grizzled Veterans of Uncle Sam’s Service Mingle with Youth and Beauty, While Embryo Generals and Admirals Contest for Football Supremacy. ARMY VANQUISHES NAVY ON GRIDIRON – New York Times – November 29, 1908,
PHILADELPHIA, Penn., Nov 28 — The thirteen engagement in the perennial strife of football between West Point and Annapolis went into history this afternoon with a score of “Army, 6, and Navy, 4,” to be emblazoned in Army archives, and to be recorded on the other side of the ledger at Annapolis.
http://query.nytimes.com/mem/archive-free/pdf?res=F70D14F83A5A15738DDDA00A94D9415B888CF1D3
Army Vanquishes The Navy – Lewiston Morning Tribune – Nov 29, 1908
http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=D31fAAAAIBAJ&sjid=xy8MAAAAIBAJ&dq=football%20philadelphia&pg=1375%2C7001733
Navy 3, Army 0 Nov. 26, 1910 – Philadelphia, Pa.
Seven proved to be a lucky number for both Jack Dalton and his Midshipmen teammates. After missing his first-six field goal attempts in the 1910 Army-Navy game, Dalton connected on his seventh, which was all Navy needed in a 3-0 triumph. This field goal was also valuable in that it capped the Mids’ first undefeated season, a year that saw them outscore all nine opponents, 99-0. Dalton’s field goal was the lone offensive highlight in a game that saw both clubs combine to punt 40 times.
Navy 3, Army 0 Nov. 24, 1911 – Philadelphia, Pa.
On paper, the 1911 Army-Navy game was slated to be an even matchup. Army entered the season finale 6-0-1, while Navy was 5-0-3. Each team had surrendered less than two points per contest, while averaging two touchdowns per outing. The game lived up to its billing, with Jack Dalton’s second-quarter field goal proving to be the difference in a 3-0 win. Dalton did much more than kick a field goal, however. He had a pair of 15-yard runs on the Mids’ scoring drive and also recorded a 72-yard punt.
Navy 6, Army 0 Nov. 30, 1912 – Philadelphia, Pa.
At 6-2, 228 pounds, Navy’s John “Babe” Brown was not your typical placekicker. In fact, he used his imposing frame to his advantage in the 1912 Army game, and the result benefitted all of the Midshipmen. With five minutes left in the game, he lined up to attempt a field goal. But rather than dropkick the ball when it was snapped to him, he took off running before the Cadets tackled him at the five-yard line. He booted a 12-yard field goal two plays later and tacked on a 35 yarder with less than a minute left to give Navy a 6-0 victory. The triumph was Navy’s sixth in nine decisions and dropped Army’s final record to 5-3.
Army 22, Navy 9 Nov. 29, 1913 – Philadelphia, Pa.
Navy coach Doug Howard could look at the 1913 season from two perspectives. His defense allowed a total of 29 points in nine games, which is quite impressive. But when you consider the Midshipmen allowed 22 in one game, and it was the game against Army, Howard’s club did not end the year on a solid note. Indeed, Navy would need more than three Babe Brown field goals to overcome the Cadets. Vernon Prichard and Louis Merrilat caught the Midshipmen defense off-guard with two touchdown passes, and Merrilat’s 60-yard run set up West Point’s other score in the 13-point victory.
Cadets Final Practice – Army Eleven Ready for Big Game in Gotham Saturday – The News and Courier – Nov 27, 1913
http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=MAFgAAAAIBAJ&sjid=AwsNAAAAIBAJ&dq=football%20philadelphia&pg=4578%2C2443191
OPEN FOOTBALL IS PROVED THE BEST; West Point Victory Is Another Verdict for Open Game as Played This Season – New York Times – Dec 1, 1913
A decisive triumph for the open style of play, as compared with the more conservative and less spectacular line bucking species, stands out as the main feature of the 1913 football season, which came to a close Saturday at the Polo Grounds, when the Army and Navy elevens clashed in their annual battle.
There is little doubt that football in the future will far excel that of the past … The main reason for the transfer from Philadelphia to New York was that…
http://query.nytimes.com/mem/archive-free/pdf?res=FA0B1EFF3C5913738DDDA80894DA415B838DF1D3
Army 20, Navy 0 Nov. 28, 1914 – Philadelphia, Pa.
Army capped its first undefeated season (9-0) with a “textbook perfect” 20-0 triumph over Navy. The Cadets took advantage of a blocked punt and two Navy fumbles to score their first-14 points. After forcing Navy to punt on its opening possession, Louis Merillat blocked the punt in the end zone for a safety.
The Mids’ H.C. Blodgett fumbled a second-quarter punt that “Robert Neyland” picked up at the Navy 20-yard line. One play later, Louis Merillat was in the end zone after catching a 20-yard touchdown pass from Vernon Prichard. Finally, Blodgett fumbled a second punt that quarter which resulted in a Paul Hodgson one-yard touchdown run.
ArmyFB_1914_Stars_MilwaukeeSentinel_Nov241914
ARMY TEAM WELCOMED.; Annual Homecoming Scenes at West Point ;- Wyand Elected Captain.- New York Times – Nov 30, 1914
WEST POINT, N.Y., Nov. 29. — The victorious Army football team reached home at 4 o’clock this afternoon and received a rousing welcome. The scenes which annually feature the homecoming of the football men, whether they are winners or losers, were enacted, although, if possible, with a little more enthusiasm than in the past.
The football men brought with them from Philadelphia the blue and gold blanket which has adorned the back: of the Navy;s mascot goat for many years…
http://query.nytimes.com/mem/archive-free/pdf?res=F0071FF63C5C13738DDDA90B94D9415B848DF1D3
ARMY-AND NAVY END PRACTICES FOR THEIR GAME- Atlanta Constitution – Nov 27, 1914
Army And Navy Teams in Annual Gridiron Contest
About 33,000 Spectators Witness Football Struggle at Philadelphia This Afternoon – Army Scored Safety and Two Touchdowns in First Half – The Day – Nov 28, 1914
http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=TvogAAAAIBAJ&sjid=bXUFAAAAIBAJ&dq=football%20philadelphia&pg=1965%2C3084137
Largest Crowd On Record At Army And Navy Game – Sunday Tribune – Nov 28, 1914
http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=dTFhAAAAIBAJ&sjid=D2MNAAAAIBAJ&dq=football%20philadelphia&pg=3511%2C3552667
Army And Navy In Their Greatest Fight Of The Year…Surrounded by Mighty Crowd, cadets and Middies battle on Franklin Field Today – Army is Slight favorite – The Day – Nov 28, 1914
http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=TvogAAAAIBAJ&sjid=bXUFAAAAIBAJ&dq=football%20philadelphia&pg=6342%2C3147617
ARMY SHUTS OUT NAVY BY 20 TO 0. – Boston Evening Transcript – Nov 29, 1914 – PHILADELPHIA, Nov 28
The West Point football players today beat Annapolis, 20 to 0, this afternoon before the biggest crowd ever assembled on Franklin Field, the Cadets superiority being even greater than indicated by the…
Boston Daily Globe – Nov 29, 1914
PHILADELPHIA, Nov 28–The West Point football players today beat Annapolis, 20 to 0, this afternoon before the biggest crowd ever assembled on Franklin Field…
Army 14, Navy 0 Nov. 27, 1915 – New York, N.Y.
The 1915 Army-Navy game marked the first time each team wore numbered jerseys for identification. However, the Navy offense finished with the same number it had a year ago, 0, as Army blanked the Midshipmen, 14-0. Elmer “Ollie” Oliphant certainly left his impression on the Navy defense, accounting for 130 of his team’s 196 total offensive yards, along with 11 punt returns for 114 yards. The contest once again fell victim to bad weather, which factored into a combined 30 punts and 10 turnovers between the two teams.
Army VS. Navy On Saturday – Reading Eagle – Nov 26, 1915
http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=7lorAAAAIBAJ&sjid=a50FAAAAIBAJ&dq=football%20philadelphia&pg=6364%2C3771085
Army Mule and Navy Goat In Annual Game at Gotham – Atlanta Constitution – Nov 27, 1915
The football elevens of the United States Naval and Military academies will close the eastern gridiron season with their annual contest here tomorrow afternoon. Indications point to a hard-fought game.
Service Game Today May Break Existing Series Tie. Army and Navy Have Each Won Nine Games .. – Lewiston Daily Sun – Nov 27, 1915
http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=nbogAAAAIBAJ&sjid=i2kFAAAAIBAJ&dq=football%20philadelphia&pg=2346%2C3427013
Army VS. Navy On Gridiron. Cadets Score First In Annual Contest….- Reading Eagle – Nov 27, 1915
http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=7lorAAAAIBAJ&sjid=a50FAAAAIBAJ&dq=football%20philadelphia&pg=6364%2C3771085
Soldier and Sailor Elevens Will Try to Break Tie – The Day – Nov 27, 1915
http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=3vsgAAAAIBAJ&sjid=lXUFAAAAIBAJ&dq=football%20philadelphia&pg=6312%2C3072067
40,000 SEE ARMY BEAT NAVY, 14 TO 0; Drizzling Rain Robs Football Game at Polo Grounds of Usual Brilliancy. VICTORS’ SCORE MADE IN MUD President Wilson’s Party, Including Mrs. Galt, Is Saluted by the Cadets in Mass. OLIPHANT HAILED AS STAR Makes Both Touchdowns and Goals ;- Flock of Doves, Set Loose, Attributed to Ford. 40,000 SEE ARMY BEAT NAVY IN MUD; WILSON ATTENDS In Fog and Drizzle West Point Piles Up 14-0 Score, with Oliphant as Star. MRS. GALT WITH PRESIDENT Cheers and Music Resound at Polo Grounds, but Weather Mars the Spectacle. FLOCK OF DOVES SET LOOSE Rumored They Are Furnished by the Ford Peace Promoters, but the Teams Fight On.
SPECIAL TO THE NEW YORK TIMES
Playing upon a field slippery with a morning’s rain, and in a mist that now and then thickened to a drizzle which all but blotted out the teams toward the end of the last quarter, the United States Military Academy football team defeated the Naval Academy at the Polo Grounds yesterday by a score of 14 to 0.
November 28, 1915 Front Page
http://query.nytimes.com/mem/archive-free/pdf?res=980CE4DB153BE233A2575BC2A9679D946496D6CF
Army 15, Navy 7 Nov. 25, 1916 – New York, N.Y.
Through 103 Army-Navy games, there has been one constant – neither team can ill-afford to miss an extra point. Of course, there are exceptions to this standard. Take 1916, when “Ollie Oliphant” missed the extra point on Army’s first score of the afternoon. Army coach Charles Daly could not have been that upset, considering Oliphant had carried the ball three times for 89 yards during that drive. It was just a sign of things to come for Navy, which suffered a 15-7 defeat at the hands of the Cadets. Oliphant added a field goal late in the first quarter, and the Cadets used a trick play for their final score of the day. Army was attempting a field goal when holder Charles Gerhardt took the snap and threw to fullback Eugene Vidal for the touchdown. Navy scored its first series touchdown since 1907 when Harry Goodstein blocked a punt and returned it for a touchdown.
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ARMY CONQUERS NAVY, 15-7, AMID CHEERS OF 45,000; Oliphant the Chief Figure in West Point’s Victory at the Polo Grounds. MAKES A RUN OF 83 YARDS Goodstein Scores for Losers by Turning Blocked Kick Into a Touchdown. NOTABLES IN GAY THRONG President Wilson Absent, but Crowd Includes Men Prominent in All Walks of Life.
– New York Times – Nov 26, 1916
More than 45,000 cheering spectators saw the Army football team defeat the Navy by a score of 15 to 7 at the Polo Grounds yesterday. Famous for its gala crowds, the annual contest never attracted a more brilliant assemblage, while spectacular playing, especially by Oliphant and Vidal, the Army stars, transformed the banks of the huge eclipse of the Brush stadium into a mass of shouting, flag-waving humanity..
http://query.nytimes.com/mem/archive-free/pdf?res=F20E10FB345B17738DDDAF0A94D9415B868DF1D3
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Navy 6, Army 0 Nov. 29, 1919 – New York, N.Y.
After a two-year series hiatus due to World War I, Army and Navy renewed their heated rivalry in 1919. Despite posting seven times as much total offensive yardage as the Cadets, Navy could only manage a pair of Clyde King field goals. Fortunately for Naval Academy fans, that was enough for a 6-0 win. The victory marked the fourth time in 10 years that Navy had beaten Army strictly by kicking field goals. Although the game was played in a steady downpour, neither team lost a fumble or committed a turnover. The Midshipmen finished the year 6-1, while the Cadets were 6-3.
Navy 7, Army 0 Nov. 27, 1920 – New York, N.Y.
Navy’s first offensive touchdown in 10 Army-Navy games proved to be a big one, handing the Cadets a 7-0 defeat. This also evened the all-time series mark at 11-11-2. Army was unable to convert on any of its three first-half field goal attempts, forcing the teams into halftime deadlocked in a scoreless tie. This remained until Vic Noyes tossed a seven-yard touchdown to Ben Koehler for the score. The Midshipmen nullified any hopes of an Army comeback with an interception at midfield to end the game.
Navy 7, Army 0 Nov. 26, 1921 – New York, N.Y.
Allowing just 124 yards of total offense, Navy posted its sixth shutout in its last-seven wins with a 7-0 victory over Army. Vince Conroy gave Navy all the points it needed with a short touchdown run midway though the first quarter. The Midshipmen defense sealed the deal with a superb effort, halting the Cadets on two key occasions. Army had driven to the Navy 33-yard line in the fourth quarter, as Denis Mulligan’s field goal attempt fell short. The Midshipmen’s Ira McKee spoiled Army’s next hope with an interception at the Navy eight-yard line. This win was Navy’s third-straight victory over its archrival. In addition to outscoring Army 20-0 in the last three quarters, Navy had a 40-13 advantage in first downs and had outgained the Cadets, 683-230.
Army 17, Navy 14 Nov. 25, 1922 – Philadelphia, Pa.
Army’s George Smythe proved to be a thorn in Navy’s side, as his 47-yard punt return set up his seven-yard touchdown pass to Fran Dodd and gave the Cadets a 17-14 win before 55,000 fans at Philadelphia’s Franklin Field. Trailing 10-7, momentum swung to Navy’s side as Vince Conroy’s one-yard touchdown run gave the Midshipmen a 14-10 lead at the start of the fourth quarter. However, the excitement shifted back to the Army sideline, as Smythe’s punt return and touchdown pass gave the Cadets a lead they would not relinquish. The Army defense clinched the victory by stopping Navy at the Cadet 22-yard line late in the game. Despite the final outcome, the Midshipmen won the statistical battle, outgaining Army, 283-154.
West Point’s Eleven Reaches Philadelphia. – Schenectady Gazette – Nov 21, 1922
http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=YU0hAAAAIBAJ&sjid=GYIFAAAAIBAJ&dq=football%20philadelphia&pg=4570%2C2517353
Coolidge, Weeks and Denby to Be on Hand for Army-Navy Clash…- Boston Daily Globe – Nov 22, 1922
CHEERING THRONGS GREET ARMY TEAM; West Point Delegation Gets a Great Welcome Upon Arrival in Philadelphia. – New York Times – – Nov 24, 1922
PHILADELPHIA, Nov. 23.–From the time the West Point football squad, thirty-six strong, arrived at the Reading Terminal at 1:25 o’clock this afternoon until it arrived at Green Hill Farms. Overbrook, the players were greeted lavishly.
http://query.nytimes.com/mem/archive-free/pdf?res=F40910F6355A1B7A93C6AB178AD95F468285F9
ARMY PLAYERS OUT ON FRANKLIN FIELD – Boston Daily Globe – Nov 24, 1922
PHILADELPHIA, Nov 23–Behind holted and guarded gates, the Army football team went through a snappy practice on Franklin Field this afternoon in preparation for the annual struggle with the Navy Saturday.
Walter Camp Looks for Much Passing When Army and Navy Elevens Clash – Middies Will Rely on Long Heaves, While Army Will Shoot Over Many Shorter Ones -Atlanta Constitution – Nov 24, 1922
The Army and Navy game at Philadelphia will hold the center of interest in the football world Saturday. This will be due to the fact that the Army has not been defeated and that this is the Year…
ARMY-NAVY TEAMS READY FOR CLASH; Arrive in Philadelphia and Put on Finishing Touches for Today’s Football Struggle.55,000 EXPECTED AT GAME Hotels in Quaker City, Are Full,Streets, Are Crowded and Service Uniforms Everywhere. – New York Times – Nov 25, 1922
PHILADELPHIA, Nov. 24.–This city was invaded without a struggle today, the civil population giving way gracefully to the advance guard of the Army and the Navy. …The usual phrase that Philadelphia Is football mad on the eve of tomorrow’s, the twenty-fifth , Army and Navy game would not be true…
http://query.nytimes.com/mem/archive-free/pdf?res=F50715F7355A1B7A93C7AB178AD95F468285F9
WEST POINT MOVING TO FRANKLIN FIELD; Military Post Will Be Deserted Today While Everybody Goes to Football Game…- New York Times – Nov 25, 1922
http://query.nytimes.com/mem/archive-free/pdf?res=FA0715F7355A1B7A93C7AB178AD95F468285F9
Service Squads Ready – Lewiston Daily Sun – Nov 25, 1922
http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=hqcgAAAAIBAJ&sjid=TmkFAAAAIBAJ&dq=football%20philadelphia&pg=3187%2C3682463
Army-Navy Game Will Sure Be Full Of Fireworks – Rochester Evening Journal – Nov 25, 1922
http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=axhgAAAAIBAJ&sjid=x20NAAAAIBAJ&dq=football%20philadelphia&pg=1719%2C7613362
ARMY TRIUMPHS BY MIGHTY EFFORT, 17-14 – First Score Against Navy Since 1916–Colorful Scenes For 55,000–Smythe Stars- Boston Daily Globe – Nov 26, 1922
PHILADELPHIA, Nov 25–Playing true to form, the Army football eleven defeated the Navy on Franklin Field today, 17 to 14, in one of the hardest and cleanest gridiron struggles seen on the Pennsylvania field in a long time..
Army Team Stages Rally In Final Period…-Atlanta Constitution – Nov 26, 1922
Playing true to the season’s form the Army football elevens defeated their old rivals, the Navy, on Franklin field today by the score of 17 to 14, in a hard, clean gridiron struggle.
DALY OVERJOYED AT ARMY’S SHOWING; West Point Coach Proud of His Team–Refuses Credit for Victory Over Navy – New York Times – Nov 26, 1922
PHILADELPHIA, Nov. 25–There was a riotous scene within the dressing quarters of the Army players shortly after their victory over the Navy eleven at Franklin Field this afternoon.
http://query.nytimes.com/mem/archive-free/pdf?res=F50C1FFD355D14738DDDAF0A94D9415B828EF1D3
Army 0, Navy 0 Nov. 24, 1923 – New York, N.Y.
The 1923 Army-Navy game may have resulted in a scoreless tie, but that doesn’t mean the afternoon was lacking in excitement. After all, when the two teams combine to punt 26 times, something is bound to happen – maybe even more than once. On the first play of the fourth quarter, Army’s Henry Baxter blocked Navy punter Carl Cullen’s kick. The alert Cullen scrambled to recover the punt inside his own 10-yard line, which under the rules allowed Navy to retain possession. Although this was long before instant replay existed, the 65,000 fans were treated to the same incident on Navy’s next punt. Again, the Mids were inside their own 10-yard line as August Farwick got a hand on Cullen’s kick, which the Navy punter also recovered. Navy closed its season with a 14-14 tie against Washington in the Rose Bowl to finish 5-1-3 on the year.
Army 12, Navy 0 Nov. 29, 1924 – Baltimore, Md.
Given the choice of where to play the 1924 Army-Navy game, Annapolis officials chose Baltimore’s 80,000-seat stadium. But this supposed home field advantage did not pay the dividends the Mids had hoped, as Edgar Garbisch booted four field goals to give Army a 12-0 win. He may have accounted for all 12 points, but Garbisch had the opportunity to score 21 against the Mids. Army’s opening drive ended with Garbisch attempting a 30-yard dropkick field goal, however, it was blocked. Garbisch recovered the block, but his 40-yard attempt four downs later fell short. He also had a 45-yard attempt midway through the second quarter that sailed wide. Navy may not have reached the end zone, but it wasn’t due to a lack of effort. The Mids set a then series record by completing 12-of-22 passes for 50 yards. The Army victory gave the Cadets a 13-12-2 series advantage, a lead it would not relinquish for 56 years.
Army 10, Navy 3 Nov. 28, 1925 – New York, N.Y.
Six turnovers proved to be Navy’s demise, as Army held on for a 10-3 triumph before 60,000 fans at the Polo Grounds. After driving to the Army three-yard line early in the second quarter, Navy had to settle for a 12-yard field goal by Tom Hamilton. The Cadets, on the other hand, were able to capitalize upon a fourth down situation just before halftime. On fourth-and-four from the nine, Neil Harding hit Henry Baxter for the touchdown and the 7-3 win. Russell Reeder tacked on a field goal in the fourth quarter for the victory.
Army 21, Navy 21 – Nov. 27, 1926 – Chicago, Ill.
In his first season as head coach at his alma mater, West Point graduate Biff Jones used an intriguing strategy for the Army-Navy game. By starting his second-team units against the Midshipmen, he hoped to give Navy a false sense of confidence. The Mids took full advantage of the “mismatch,” as touchdown runs by Henry Caldwell and James Schuber handed Army an early deficit. The Cadets responded with three touchdowns, the last a 44-yard run by Chris Cagle, to take the lead by the end of the third quarter. Nonetheless, an eight-yard touchdown run by Alan Shapley in the fourth quarter salvaged a 21-21 tie for Navy. Army may have spoiled the Midshipmen’s bid for a 10-0 record, but coach Bill Ingram’s club still laid claim to the national title.
THE GREATEST ARMY–NAVY
By Ray Schmidt
“…No single game in college football history has ever so completely combined the color, spectacle, national media coverage, public popularity, and top-flight level of play as the Army-Navy battle of 1926 at Soldier Field.
Robert Kelley of the New York Times defined the game’s significance when he wrote that day:
“Football had the greatest pageant, its high spot of color, and so did sport in the United States.”
http://www.la84.org/SportsLibrary/CFHSN/CFHSNv17/CFHSNv17n2e.pdf
Army 14, Navy 9 Nov. 26, 1927 – New York, N.Y.
In the last Army-Navy game played at the Polo Grounds, the Cadets overcame a pesky Midshipmen club to claim a 14-9 victory. Navy held a 2-0 lead at halftime, but it could have just as easily been 16-0. On its first possession, Navy reached the Army eight-yard line, but came away without a point. Midway through the second quarter, the Mids’ Carl Giese blocked a punt out of the end zone to give Navy a 2-0 lead. Navy had another chance to reach the end zone just before halftime, but Army stopped Joe Clifton on a fourth-and-goal from the one-yard line. A two-yard run by Lighthorse Harry Wilson gave the Cadets a 7-2 advantage early in the third quarter. Army added another touchdown to its lead when Chris Cagle intercepted an Ed Hannegan pass and returned it 41 yards to the Navy four-yard line. Wilson scored again, and Army was on its way to the win.
Navy scored its touchdown when Russell Lloyd hit Ted Sloane on a 28-yard touchdown, but it wasn’t enough.
ArmyFB_1927_vsNavy_SarasotaHeraldTribune_Nov271927
Time Magazine When the U. S. Academies at West Point and Annapolis agreed last summer, after a three-year breach (Editors note – 2 years 1928 & 1929) of athletic relations, to resume playing football with each other, they failed to settle the differences on which the breach was based. Navy like other colleges observes the three-year eligibility rule; at West Point cadets who have played three years of varsity football elsewhere are still eligible for the team. This gives West Point an obvious advantage in Army-Navy games. Navy has not won since 1921.
Army 6, Navy 0 Dec. 13, 1930 – New York, N.Y.
A disagreement regarding eligibility policies may have cancelled the 1928 and ’29 Army-Navy games, but a capacity crowd at Yankee Stadium welcomed the rivalry’s return Dec. 13, 1930. Unfortunately for Navy, Army retained its recent series dominance with a 6-0 victory. The final score certainly doesn’t reflect Army’s commanding performance, as the Cadets finished the afternoon with 265 yards of total offense, compared to 63 for the Midshipmen. Yet, Navy was able to keep Army off the scoreboard until the fourth quarter, when Ray Stecker ran 56 yards for the game’s lone score. Navy had a chance to win the game on its final possession. Army’s Wendell Bowman fumbled a punt on his own 37-yard line, and the Midshipmen’s John Byng recovered. The Mids drove 12 yards, but were stopped on downs. The Cadets took over and advanced to the Navy seven-yard line as time ran out.
Army 17, Navy 7 Dec. 12, 1931 – New York, N.Y.
The running of Ed Herb and Ray Stecker paced Army to a 17-7 win over Navy at Yankee Stadium. The first of Herb’s touchdown runs and a Travis Brown 25-yard field goal gave the Cadets a 10-0 halftime lead. Navy cut the deficit to 10-7 in the third quarter when Lou Kirn and Harvey Tschirgi connected on a 55-yard scoring strike. Herb then erased any hopes of a Navy triumph when he went up and over from the one-yard line late in the final stanza. By reaching the end zone twice, Herb certainly garnered a majority of the headlines. However, the real hero was Stecker, who turned in a workman-like 141 yards on 29 carries.
Army 20, Navy 0 Dec. 3, 1932 – Philadelphia, Pa.
Thanks in large part to a Navy offense that mustered just 15 yards on the ground and turned the ball over seven times, Army rolled to a 20-0 win over the Midshipmen. Rip Miller’s club had an early indication this may not be its day when its opening drive was halted by an interception at the Army six-yard line. On first down, the Cadets’ Kenneth Field “quick-kicked” the ball 85 yards to the Navy 15-yard line. Peck Vidal opened the scoring with a two-yard touchdown run in the first quarter, and Army added two more scores in the final half. Jack Buckler scored one on a short run and took a lateral from Tom Kilday and passed 43 yards to Bill Frentzer for the other touchdown.
Army 12, Navy 7 Nov. 25, 1933 – Philadelphia, Pa.
Army scored a pair of first-half touchdowns and held on for a 12-7 win over a feisty Rip Miller-coached Navy club. The win was Army’s ninth in as many games, and a Dec. 2 victory over 2-5-1 Notre Dame would all but guarantee the Cadets the 1933 national title. However, the Fighting Irish spoiled these hopes by handing Army a 13-12 setback. For the first time since 1916, Army scored in the opening quarter against Navy. Paul Johnson took Bill Clark’s punt and returned it 81 yards for the touchdown. But the extra point was blocked, which enabled Navy to take a 7-6 lead when Red Baumberger galloped 38 yards to the Cadet end zone. Nonetheless, Army’s Jack Buckler, whose extra point was blocked on his team’s first score, raced 25 yards for the winning touchdown in the second half.
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