EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. – As the final strains of “Proud to be an American” filtered through the sound system at MetLife Stadium Saturday afternoon and Lee Greenwood lowered his microphone, there was a momentary stillness that seized the crowd of 82,282 in attendance for the 122nd annual Army-Navy game.
For most people watching, that moment probably went unnoticed – a brief pause between patriotic performances. But for me, that single second stretched on and as I scanned the sea of cadets, the surplus of American flags and the familiar uniform decorations I have seen on both of my grandfathers and my father, I felt a sense of unity that had been missing from humanity as of late.
In that moment, the football melted away, the touchdowns and tackles replaced with something deeper, a different kind of respect, honor and purpose.
And as yet another spontaneous “USA!” chant broke out in the stands, I fully understood why this truly is America’s Game.
I was not alone; Navy also understood the assignment. The midshipmen may have started on the slow side, but their steadiness definitely won the race and Saturday’s comeback victory was the truest of testaments to Navy’s season.
“I told our captains and our seniors that I have been coaching 31 years, 24 years at the Naval Academy, which prides itself on being the premier leadership institution in the world and I don’t know if I have seen a better display of leadership than I saw from our seniors,” said Navy head coach Ken Niumatalolo. “Things didn’t go well. We had a lot of close losses to tough teams. A lot of people saying things. But they kept our team together.”
The senior who stole the spotlight was linebacker Diego Fagot, who’s heads-up play on an accidental fake punt extended the game winning drive for the Midshipmen, setting up a 43-yard field goal to secure the 17-13 victory.
“They showed six people on the right and two to the left and we checked to an overload,” explained Fagot after the game. “I was supposed to block the closest guy to the snapper so I was looking that direction. When I checked it, I guess the snapper didn’t hear me. We had a fake in the game plan already, so I think he assumed that is what we checked to. He snapped it to me and at that point it turned into a reaction play, I really don’t know how else to describe it.”
In the great words of Leslie Knope, to win anything in life you have to be good and you have to be lucky. I’m paraphrasing of course. Navy experienced more bad than good when it came to fortune this season but in America’s game, fortune clearly favors the bold.
“To be honest; the ball hasn’t bounced our way the whole year,” said Fagot. “I think for once it did, I don’t really know how to explain it. I just reacted and played ball.”
Niumatalolo couldn’t’ explain it either.
“Sometimes it is good to be lucky,” admitted the winningest coach in Army-Navy game history. “A little miscommunication there. Players have to make plays. I didn’t know we were going to do it either. I just looked at coach (Joe) Coniglio. He has been doing our punting and has done a great job. Thank goodness it worked.”
Navy victory means sharing the Commander-in-Chief’s trophy with Army, the first time since 1993 that ownership of the trophy has been split. Next year, the Midshipmen will be looking for full custody.
“The future of Navy football is bright,” aid Niumatalolo. “The future is bright with a ton of young guys after the foundation has bene laid by our seniors. My wife said to me the other that, ‘You have the best kids. They are all great young men.’ And I said, ‘Honey, yes they are.’ I am so fortunate. My locker room is filled with such great, great people and I couldn’t be happier for them.”
Written by Emily Van Buskirk
