After living in New York for 16 years, I am a die-hard Yankees fan. Living in Texas while my father was deployed to Viet Nam, I became a Cowboys fan (I even have a soft spot for Roger Staubach!). Having attended Duke for grad school, I am a die-hard Blue Devils basketball fan. Still, when the Yankees, Cowboys & Blue Devils lose, I NEVER feel the way I did yesterday when Army lost to Navy. Why is that?

This is not going to be a Monday morning quarterback dissection of the mistakes we made and things we failed to do (like score) that caused us to lose the game. I have been most upset these last 8 years by how we lose. We haven’t even been competitive lately. Now, I do see improvement with the Ellerson era and I have high hopes for the future based on what I have seen from Plebe quarterback trent Steelman. That highlights my point. It is amazing to me how much this matters and the team, the Corps and the administration needs to know this. Navy is proof that an institution in the exact same situation (recruiting, etc – wise) can produce teams of excellence year in and year out ( see Navy vs Ohio State this year). Army Football can and must return to that level. No excuse, Sir needs to be said and heard more often. It means that much to me.

Everything pales in comparison to the lasting imprint West Point makes on all of us. Bugle Notes was created from motivation that was born out of that imprint. Perhaps it’s telling that I could care less how cliche it sounds when I remark on how my only true friendships and bonds come from my 4 years at USMA. It’s why yesterday sat like an uncomfortable lump in my gut and why we have no choice but to right ourselves.

Beat Navy. What does it mean to you?