Day 92/365 - Put Me In Coach!

Tonight I went over to my friends Chris and Desiree's place to watch the OU-UF matchup in the BCS Championship Game. I wasn't that bothered about the game, really. Mostly I just went over to hang out and support my friends. They both went to UF and are huuuuuge Gators fans.

They did their part to bring good luck to their team by putting on their Gators gear and decking out Chewie, their miniature Australian shepherd, in a UF shirt and bandana. It must have worked because the Gators wound up beating the Sooners 24-14.

I think Chewie really wanted to be subbed into the game at running back.

(Taken with my Nikon D80)

Day 73/365 - At the EagleBank Bowl

I'd never been to a college football bowl game before today. This morning, the Inaugural EagleBank Bowl was played at RFK Stadium in Washington, DC between Wake Forest and the U.S. Naval Academy. I bought my ticket for the game just as soon as Navy accepted the invitation to play.

I'd also never seen a football game at RFK and I hadn't been back to that stadium since the final home game of the Nationals' 2007 season. It hadn't changed much. As soon as you exited the Metro you still had to battle your way through the pushy hordes of ticket scalpers and hucksters selling knock-off hats and t-shirts that were crowding the sidewalk. That's definitely one thing I don't miss now that the Nats have moved to their new digs. The concession stands also ran out of hot dog buns at half-time, just like they always used to do during baseball games. That's another thing I don't miss.

The weather wasn't too bad at kick-off, but by half-time the temperature had dropped noticeably. The stadium was only about one-fourth full. There seemed to be fewer Wake Forest fans there, but they definitely went home happier than we Navy fans did. Navy lead 13-0 at one point, but the offense just never could get going all day and eventually the defense wore down and got picked apart by Wake Forest's passing game. The final score ended up being 29-19 in favor of Wake Forest.

Oh well, at least they beat Army this season. Go Navy!

(Taken with my Nikon D80)

Day 59/365 - Go Navy, Beat Army!

I took the train up to Philadelphia today to watch Navy's football team put a 34-0 whuppin' on Army in the 109th playing of the Army-Navy Game. This marks Navy's seventh straight victory over their arch-rival. I was actually worried that this might be the year Army took one from Navy. Army had been playing better this season and Navy had been up and down. I should've had more faith in the Midshipmen.

Unless you're a Navy fan like me, it probably wasn't a very interesting game given that Army never really even came that close to scoring. I thought it was great, though. The weather was cold but the end result made it all worth it.

Now if the Navy basketball team can just beat Virginia Tech tomorrow the weekend will be doubly awesome.

(Taken with my Nikon D80)

Day 38/365 - Notre Dame vs. Navy

Took the train over to Baltimore today to attend the Notre Dame-Navy football game. Last year Navy won in triple-overtime after having lost to ND for 43 straight years -- an NCAA record. Unfortunately, Navy couldn't quite make it two in a row today. Guess I won't be getting another commemorative t-shirt this year.

They almost pulled off another miracle comeback, though, after being down by 20 points in the fourth quarter for the second straight game. With the score at 27-21 in favor of ND, Navy had the ball on the ND side of the field with 1:30 left to play, but the Fighting Irish proved to be a tougher opponent than Temple had the week before. Unable to get a first down when they most needed one, Navy turned the ball over on downs and ND ran out the clock.

I got so excited at the prospect of the comeback win that I was hopping up and down in the stands and cheering as loudly as I could. My throat is still sore and hoarse. Most of the crowd had already left at that point, some certain of the eventual outcome and others chased off by the high wind and heavy rain that struck mid-way through the fourth quarter and made it feel like you were being pelted with nickels.

I stuck it out to the end though and hoped for the best. Navy lost, but I'm not disappointed in them. They fought their way back into the game, recovered two on-side kicks and scored two TDs in less than two minutes to put the fear of the goat into the Fighting Irish. They played their hearts out just as they have all season. They might not be the biggest, fastest, or most athletic college football team, but they never quit. Never.

After the game I wandered over to the Inner Harbor to drown my sorrows in beer and hot wings at Hooters. A sizeable contingent of the Brigade of Midshipmen wound up there as well. Some things never change -- wherever you find beer and women, there you'll find sailors.

(Taken with my Nikon Coolpix S200)