FOXBOROUGH, Ma s. (AP) College football keeps changing.The Army-Navy game never does.In an era of booster collectives and transfer portals, the nation's two oldest Roberto Perez Jersey service academies will line up their triple-option offenses at the home of the New England Patriots on Saturday for a day full of pageantry, tradition and a deeply rooted respect that comes with one of college football's fiercest rivalries. It will be the 124th meeting between the two teams, with Army (5-6) hoping to follow its upset of then-No. 17 Air Force last month and claim the Commander-in-Chiefs Trophy.It wouldnt matter if we hadnt won a game this year. This is going to be a big game, Army coach Jeff Monken said at a Gillette Stadium welcome event last week.ADVERTISEMENT Just the pride of winning this game. Theres nothing like this game, said Monken, who has led the Black Knights to five wins over Navy (5-6) in the past seven years. It doesnt matter what the record is. Wouldnt matter what weve done all this year. This is a huge football game for us. One we desperately want to win.Navy coach Brian Newberry doesn't need to be reminded. He was the defensive coordinator when head coach Ken Niumatalolo the winningest coach in Navy history, with a 10-5 record against Army was fired. The reason: a 4-10 record against Army and Air Force his last seven years, and a slump in the Commander-in-Chief's Trophy competition dating to 2019.Theres no love lost during the week of this game. But theres certainly Erik Gonzalez Jersey an amount of respect on both sides, Newberry said. I love the way they do things. Theyre a gritty, tough football program, and theyre building leaders over there. Theyre going to be officers, just like we are. And so, its going to be a dogfight. But nothing but respect, for Army, for the players and their staff.COMMANDER-IN-CHIEFS TROPHYThe teams will be playing for the Commander-in-Chiefs trophy, which is awarded to the service academy with the best record in their head-to-head games.With a victory on Saturday, Army would claim the CIC Trophy outright for the first time since 2020, having beaten then-No. 17 Air Force 23-3 on Nov. 4 despite coming in as an 18-point underdog. It was the first lo s of the season for the Falcons, who went on to lose the last four games of their season.The Midshipmen lost 17-6 to Air Force on Oct. 21, so a Navy win on Saturday would create a three-way tie for the CIC Trophy. If so, 2022 champion Air Force would retain po se sion.BELICHICK HISTORYThe game is being played at the home of the New England Patriots for the first time, and theres .Patriots coach Bill Belichick grew up in Annapolis, where his Cleveland Indians Jersey father was an a sistant coach for 34 years. The elder Belichicks library of books on football strategy and history are now the Belichick Collection that are housed in a lounge at the Naval Academy.The Patriots have a rare in-season weekend off because of Thursday nights game in Pittsburgh. Newberry said there are plans to have Bill Belichick talk to the team after a team meal Friday; Patriots long-snapper Joe Cardona, a Navy graduate who is still active in the reserves, stopped by last week's welcome event before practice to greet the players.Ive been very fortunate to play in a lot of big games here in New England, said Cardona, a two-time Super Bowl champion. But, realistically, all of them pale in comparison to those Army-Navy games.ACTIVITIESThe first Army-Navy game in Ma sachusetts, where George Washington first took command of the Continental Army, will feature activities at historic sites around the Boston area.Cadets and Midshipmen will compete in the Patriot Games, including events such as tug of war and a relay race, from Boston Common and Faneuil Hall to Minute Man National Park near Lexington, which commemorates the first battle Hanley Ramirez Jersey of the Revolutionary War.A fan fest at Gillette Stadium from Thursday-Saturday will allow fans to see demonstrations and military equipment. The 3 p.m. game will be preceded by the traditional March On of the Brigade of Midshipmen, followed by the Corps of Cadets.IN UNIFORMArmys the Dogface Soldiers of the 3rd Infantry Division. During the opening phase of Operation Omar Vizquel Jersey Iraqi Freedom, the 3rd Infantry mounted the longest and most rapid armored advance since the World War II.In adopting their mottos, symbols, and ethos on the field of friendly strife, we seek to emulate their application of these characteristics to defeat our rivals, the school said.Navy will , its families and supporting personnel. As a nod to its nickname, The Silent Service, the uniforms will be a dark navy blue with white letters in a font designed to convey the markings on a submarines hull.___AP Sports Writer Noah Trister in Baltimore, Maryland, contributed to this report.___Get alerts on the latest AP Top 25 poll throughout the season. ___AP college football: and
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