"Yea, let get it boys one more time you'll belong here huh yea you do" "I promise you we're better then them." "We are better then them, just do your job you get in the moment and you play the next snap, you win the next snap, guys your key to victory, the army team on the next snap." "Of you boys and you, and you never stop..." "Let's go man, everything you got today leave everything you got on leave everything you got on that field, one, two, three." "Here we go guys, touch it up let's go sixty minute one play at a time..." "Forward march..." "Do you solemnly swear to support and defend the constituion of the United States against all enemies foreign and domestic" "I do." "We're done, we're done man we're done." "Best day of my life" "I'm so jealous ...are you kidding may 2011 at Annapolis and west point, future leaders of the United States military celebrate graduation day after four years of intense demanding training they are now commissioned officers ready to move on and serve there nation." "That's my boy ahh, we're done." "Wooo ahh, we're done." "Wooo" "but for both military academies the mission to train leaders of character is never done." "At west point in June just thirty seven days after graduation, the incoming class of 2015 begins it's journey at reception day, r-day." "The first group reports at six A.M., they follow a line formed by pillars of American history, ulysses s." "Grant and history, ulysses s." "Grant and" "Robert e." "Lee." "Dwight d." "Eisenhower and George s." "Patton." "All faced r-day, and now it's the turn of these fresh faced teenagers." "From early morning until mid afternoon on r-day the barber shop broom never stops, nor does the fleet of buses bringing the new cadets and there families to the nations oldest military installation good morning welcome to west point, cadet and there families" "please hop in line." "They come to this upstate new they come to this upstate new" "York fortress from everywhere in the union, there ranks are filled with honor students, valedictorians and varsity team captains, including among the last group of the day Chicago all-city running back, Terry baggett." "All though recruited by penn," "Harvard and Michigan." "He chose to become the first in his family to attend west point upon arrival the high school football star and his classmates all receive a personal welcome from it." "General David huntoon from it." "General David huntoon the academy superintendent nice to see you where are you coming from..." "North Carolina what part?" "Ah eastman good, nice to see you, coming in..." "You are going to do fine." "Well done." "For the cadets and there families it's hard to be at ease on r-day, for some it's there first time away from home and for all of them it's first of beast barracks, six week long" "rigorous basic training program." "Do you have any questions, do you have any questions, don't hesitate to ask, we are the approachable ones don't here Ok." "As the cadets and there families file into the auditorium of eisenhower hall they all know that they are taking part in a uniquely" "American right of passage." "Inside erratically new life awaits." "As behind them the door closes on there old lives." "Good morning ladies and gentleman, I'd like to welcome you to the United States military academy of west point." "Military academy of west point." "To canidets congratulations on your selection for admission to the class of 2015, you are now about to keep your first step in becoming an army officer and a member of the long gray line." "Keep a positive attitude, stay focused, don't get discouraged." "We would not have brought you here, if we didn't believe you had what it takes to make it through all four years." "Remember every cadet you meet today all survived r-day experience as well." "You have 90 seconds to say your good byes." "...move quickly through the" "door." "Quickly." "Door." "Quickly." "Do not look at us, look at the board." "The transition from warm family embrace to the cold reality of military life is instant and jarring." "Let's go, let's go." "Cadet canadets in a few seconds you will step through my door, where are you going?" "Where are you going?" "Fall in..." "Follow instruction fall in..." "Follow instruction move, hurry up canedets one at a time through the tape let's go." "Let's go, let's go..." "You are not going to laugh anymore right?" "Yes sir..." "You are not going to smirk off anymore, I'm sergeant two bars means sergeant." "Get back in line let's go." "Getting my butt kicked." "What place are you in?" "In a Philadelphia suburb another high school football star enjoys his last hours as a civilian at home with his family and girlfriend Chelsea shortly maika will be making the drive to Annapolis for his first day at the naval academy." "The fullback is used to tough challenges, like playing football with a famous polynesian name." "Polynesian name." "There is tons of pressure to be samoan and being in this culture and being in America." "One of the biggest problems maika had was living in" "Pennsylvania, having the last name polamalu it's tuff but it's something I got used too." "And as I grew up the pressure slowly went away." "Being the first cousin of all pro safety Troy polamalu is an inspiration and a responsibility" "I mean it's a great deal to live up to him and continue this tradition of the polamalu family tradition of the polamalu family it's a huge honor, I'm just glad to be a samoan." "That's all a remember." "It's a great honor for the samoan people to be going to the naval academy, one of the top academic institutions in the world, I'm giving up a lot, I've sacrificed a few years." "Sacrificed a few parties, but" "I'm willing to do it for my future, um my education to play football." "Watching your oldest child take a first step to becoming a take a first step to becoming a man." "Pursuing a career, leaving the nest, hah, you name it, it's just, it's going to be hard." "Obviously it's going to hard for my wife, it's going to be hard for the kids." "It's going to be hard for me." "While maika polamalu and his family head to Annapolis the hardships of r-day are just hardships of r-day are just beginning for Terry baggett and his classmates, there high intensity incitation upgrades to lessons in marching saluting and discipline." "The incoming plebe class consists of 1250 young men and women chosen from nearly 14000 applicants, none of them get a moments rest on r-day you will drop your right foot, from there you will pivot at that point your heal will be" "together and you will back at attention, you understand?" "Yes sergeant yes sergeant about face nothing is left unturned in striping identity and molding uniformity, right down to the military issue glasses" "all the way..." "By design the cadets are put under dawnting stress they must be a quick study in they must be a quick study in academy history and military protocol, before inuring the moment of truth, the tyranny of the red sash" "new cadet line one, turn around new cadet in the third rank turn around..." "Step up to my line, not on my line, not over my line..." "You are on my line new cadet you are still on my line new cadet." "At west point there is no at west point there is no margin for error and no sympathy for failure new cadet is that the position of attention your feet are not at 45 degrees, drop your bag on my" "line, that is too many thing wrong." "Why are messing up new cadet?" "What's so funny, my name..." "This is the United States military academy, over 200 years of perfection, excellence and tradition.." "...keep laughing, keep the jokes coming." "Do you know how difficult basic training is?" "Do you know how much you are going to be tested in the coming weeks." "Tested in the coming weeks." "I'm not trying to make you fail, I'm not here to haze you," "I'm not here to play games..." "I got your name..." "I'll be watching you all beast." "Yes sir new cadet, move out come on how are you sir?" "Is that how we talk to officers, go to attention." "Chillen out, feet above your shoulders, let's go." "You are just going to chill when you are talking to him." "What's up, hey he's not your bro." "I'm not..." "Go to attention." "Heals together new cadet heals together new cadet airborne, look who else is here, 3 n.C.O.S." "Terry baggetts football skills do not gain him a break from the red sash barrage why are you making facial expressions, you do not make facial expression to him..." "He gets no relief not even from a future black knights teammate knights teammate" "I try not take it personal you know cause it kind of sucked but" "I mean theres nothing you can do about it right, so you just, you just take it and you keep going it's kind of a shocking experience, they told you what to expect from it but theres" "nothing really like being there." "Do I look like a sir to you new cadet baggett?" "Mam, all the way mam all the way sergeant" "nestled along the shores of the chesapeake bay the navel academies first day for new midshipman cane dates is called induction day, the name my be different but this new plebe class faces a similar ritual to there army counterparts." "We're on your time, you better start walking fast right now." "Having a son that's willing to protect this country, it's absolutely incredible." "Do you solemly swear or affirm that you will support and defend the constitution of the united the constitution of the united states against all enemies foreign and domestic and that you will well and faithfully discharge the duties of the" "office of which you are about to enter, so help you god." "I do." "Welcome aboard shipmates" "what was supposed to be a what was supposed to be a moment a pride for the polamalu family turns bittersweet with a unexpected and disheartening revelation" "are they talking about his tattoo?" "Yes what about it?" "He might have to fix it." "He might get part of it he might get part of it removed?" "Maybe" "the tattoo inked on maika's left arm, a proud symbol of his samoan heritage may violate academy regulations, the plebe academy regulations, the plebe fullback faces a tough decision." "He turns to his family for guidance." "One of the things that has always been part of this family is you always make your mom and dad proud, he is doing something that benefits this country so I can't feel nothing but pride grudgingly maika decides to" "grudgingly maika decides to accept the academy ruling, he joins his classmates as they march away toward the longest year of there lives..." "The first day at the service academies is unlike that of colleges anywhere in the country in contrast to most student there age west point and" "Annapolis plebes don't just face four years of education but in a time of war a five year military commitment upon graduation, a fact not lost on the incoming fact not lost on the incoming class or there loved ones." "Morning" "enjoyed watching your team last year man." "Thank you." "Good luck again this year." "Thank you, take care" "I said coach at the naval academy, in recruiting, some people say now my son could be in war, right and he could go to" "Iraq and he could go to" "Afghanistan, right, and you have to tell him yes, and that's hard to tell him yes, and that's hard as you talk to parents and so we don't hide from it." "We're very up front with people this a military school, and we're the naval academy." "The samoan people have a storied football tradition for the polamalu they can take comfort in the fact that maika at Navy under head coach Ken niumatalolo keep your hips down all of the way through, red26..." "Hut born in American Samoa and raised in Hawaii this proud polynesian spends his final vacation days in oahu before vacation days in oahu before heading back east to the academy his coaching his sons and nephew on the beach just 300 yards from" "his childhood home." "Downhill 45..." "When Navy promoted niumatalolo to lead the blue and gold in" "2007 he became the first ever samoan head coach of a college or professional football team at the same time he was handed the reigns to one side of a rivalry unlike any other in" "American sports, the army Navy game." "You take care you take care back to reality." "There is not a better man in the business then Ken niumatalolo, he is as good as they are." "The ties between army head coach rich ellerson and Navy coach niumatalolo extend far beyond the rivalry, relationship started a world away from there respective academy campuses" "I was at the university of" "Hawaii, for the better part of fourteen years, I played there and then coached there and Ken was on the team when I was coaching there and then we were on the staff together when he on the staff together when he" "first graduated so we've known each other are families have known each other for a long time rich ellerson at army is one of my dear friends, he's not only in coaching but he was a coach that recruited me and so" "if it wasn't for coach ellerson" "I wouldn't be here right now." "In 2008 mentor and student reunited as unexpected opponents when army offered the ellerson the task of rebuilding it struggling program, when I first heard that he got the job at army, I was like great." "He's now army, I was like great." "He's now coaching at my rival school so it was a little awkward at first because we wanted to beat each others brains in when we play each other once a year." "There is no more fiercely contested rivalry in the country at any level in any game go army!" "Beat Navy!" "The game is is far reaching throughout the world and there picking sides the facts are we can't get there without them and they can't get there without us and the nation needs us all." "In the the nation needs us all." "In the meantime we're going to compete." "And compete they do." "An intense family feud summed up in two words army-Navy." "And nowhere is the rivalry more passionate then on the football field." "First played on the plane in west point in 1890 the army-Navy game still represents all that is great about football and nation both academies serve nation both academies serve teamwork, fortitude, leadership and integrity, 111 times the" "black knights and the midshipman have stood guard against each other across the grid iron" "we're rivals at every level and yet we're partners at every level." "War heroes have graced this stage as have five heisman trophy winners between them the trophy winners between them the teams have won four national championships and eight standing." "United States presidents have watched them play, this is truly a game of honor, it's where brothers in arms square off once a year for bragging rights that last a lifetime in this arena there uniforms clash and all others there" "uniforms unite them defining them as a single brotherhood." "With this years army Navy game still five months away the weightroom provides refuge from the scorching July heat for the midshipman of Navy and black knights of army, for both teams training camp is set to begin in three weeks, but while" "upperclassman work hard to get set for the challenges of the grid iron the freshman plebe get there first taste maneuvers." "Alright make weapons ready alright make weapons ready" "it's a huge transition you know, now you are in the military, I made the decision to come here because I wanted to come here and I wanted to be challenged." "It's all you squad leader alright Alpha team ready." "Huht bravo team ready huht alright, advance while the football field is important to both academies it's secondary to the it's secondary to the battlefield at west point's beast barracks the new cadets begin combat training, just two" "months since his prom night and only days after r-day running back Terry baggett is in the field, locked and loaded with his camo face on, he's learning how to advance against the enemy and fire live ammunition." "Keep that butt down unless you" "want to be forest gump." "To take them from not knowing anything about..." "To all of a sudden executing this training today, they are leaps and bounds ahead of what they were. 24 ahead of what they were. 24 hours ago" "it's kind of scary because you are with the guys and they all have live ammunition so one mistake and somebody could end up hurt pretty bad." "I knew it was going to be physically challenging and mentally challenging but it's something that you can get through as long as you are mentally tough, I hope we did" "Ok." "I just loved it, and this is the only place I want to be" "move to the right, there is a piece to your farther right..." "Initially, it was a very different story in Annapolis for" "Navy plebe maika polamalou you got to jump up..." "For being told he would have to remove part of his tattoo on induction day polamalu wanted to leave the academy, he felt misled, he sent photographs of his tattoo with his application no one had flagged it as an" "issue but rather then quit polamalu appealed the ruling polamalu appealed the ruling" "the tattoo is who I am it represents my family and my heritage and what I've been through and what my family has been through, taking a piece of it away would feel like they were trying to taking away who I" "was." "After pleading his case to superior officers the academy ruled in polamalu's favor and let him keep the tattoo" "it's a rough place to be at we have to go though a lot of... as freshman, I wasn't sure if I freshman, I wasn't sure if I wanted to be here, I was" "thinking about taking that as a out and just leaving, they told me I can get rid of it or leave." "A lot of guys question do I really want to be here, is this really what I want to do." "It's a culture shock, it's a shock to there system and so it's hard, it's not just difficult for a young man but difficult for anybody." "And I just try to think about the transition there senior year they're probably the prom king and things are great and you come her and now you are and you come her and now you are the bottom of the barrel." "Like most freshman at division one football schools polamalu knows there is a chance he'll spend more time in the stands then on the field in his first season, he's Ok with that." "Football is not the reason he and Terry baggett chose the service academies these guys are winners and they wanted to go some place and they wanted to do something that was going to challenge in every way, they weren't just about" "football." "1-2-3-4" "there's nobody else in the country doing what our guys are doing, experiencing what our guys are experiencing these are things that are absolutely unique about are guys journey." "For Terry baggett some of the most important steps in his plebe journey come in the arduous twelve mile march at the end of beast..." "Joining baggett and his classmates is 58 year old rich ellerson, the black knights coach is the son of a west point graduate, which probably explains his unusual stance in explains his unusual stance in asking his players to put" "football second to there other responsibilities." "People talk about the march back and that was something that football players had not done for a few years prior to my arrival and the more I listened to how guys talked about that moment felt like, gosh our guys" "are guys need to be a part of that." "For me it's kind of a challenge, we just got back from football the night before, so we started marching and I had cramps the entire time, but anything that is mandatory for everybody else the football team" "everybody else the football team must do, we don't get out, we don't get out of things like that." "You know, I could be somewhere else, you have to except it, you have to, you kind of have to embrace the suck, that's what they call it, embrace the suck it's the term I learned during" "beast, it actually does help out that's not a blister that's..." "When you graduate from here you're commissioned as a second it." "In the army, it is extremely important for you to have a bond between you and your men, they need to know that you men, they need to know that you are there for them and you need" "to know that they're there for you, that's, when you are in the when you are down there in the suck, you know, they're all you got and that's key." "You are going to be tested in the classroom, in the barracks theres such a high standard of conduct, character, academic achievement and then oh by the way we're playing division one football on Saturday." "Let's go" "as August arrives training" "camp officially begins for the army and Navy football teams coming off the black knights first winning in fourteen years the mood is hopeful and confident, ellerson is looking to lead his squad to there second consecutive bowl game and" "perhaps more importantly the perhaps more importantly the coach and his team want to snap the most dubious losing streak in the programs history." "Sometimes you may look up at the scoreboard and that scoreboard will say oh this is a this gona be this is impossible all you got to do is you go that scoreboard is a lie, you get yourself in the moment you focus" "on the next snap, Ok guys lets.." "The black knights have lost nine straight games to their arch rivals the Navy midshipman the most consecutive loses in the most consecutive loses in the more 100 year history of the rivalry." "Sixty minutes one play at a time." "It's always going to be talked about because it's been so long since we beat them, I mean they're are rival, you know when you haven't beaten your rival on so long and as a team it sits." "I mean you don't ever mention because of the shear frustration it bring out." "No one feels that frustration more then Trent steelman during last years army-Navy game with last years army-Navy game with the black knights down seventeen to seven, with just over a minute left in the first half the quarter back had an" "opportunity to give his team momentum heading into the locker room, but instead his fumble at the goal line was returned 98 yards for a back breaking touchdown, a pivotal fourteen point swing and the final margin of defeat for army." "Ah, I mean it was defiantly play in the game, really a defining moment in my life to be defining moment in my life to be able to be put in that situation it still sticks with me to this" "day, but to beat em this year it would mean, you have accomplished the one thing you set out to do this season, that's to beat Navy." "A Navy team not only coming off nine consecutive wins over army but one that has posted eight straight winning seasons all followed by a bowl game appearance, in Annapolis there are high expectations for a program has enjoyed nearly a" "decade of winning football, the biggest story in camp is the transition to a new starting quarter back, an inexperienced quarter back, an inexperienced senior whose only appeared in eleven games for the mids." "Kriss proctor has a chance to be as good as any quarter back that we have ever had, athletic, fast, great, confidence." "I have the confidence because you know that's, that's my personality, I don't have to change who I am just because I am a leader now, I've been a leader all my life, you know I'm" "the guy, this is my team..." "I'm 11-0 baby, unbeaten" "I'm 11-0 baby, unbeaten proctor's confidence will soon be tested." "The up coming football season offers a welcome distraction for the Annapolis and west point communities." "Guys, you guys are being coached by some of the best..." "In both places football is an escape for the realities of war everyone knows someone delayed over seas including coach niumatalolo, his Navy youth camp includes the two sons of Clayton" "Kendrick Holmes an old friend who is serving in Afghanistan niumatalolo invited the boys and niumatalolo invited the boys and their mom Johanna to come down from New York, former Navy football player Kendrick Holmes was deployed in 2010." "I mean it will be I think even more meaningful since he's been over in Afghanistan..." "With the Navy's reserves not scheduled to come home after new years, it will fall to mom to take the boys to their first army-Navy game." "It's a familar scene to military families across the country, one spouse performing double duty as a parent while the other serves the nation, back in new serves the nation, back in new" "York Johanna bravery matches her husbands" "I went to Annapolis to be a nanny, was there about a year before I met Clayton, we just realized we had a lot in common and just remembered thinking what a nice guy he was and that there were good guys" "out there so he um, got a ring for me and that summer proposed we have two sons absence their dad's way, he's in Afghanistan they have said that they don't they have said that they don't" "like to see me cry and so I just try to keep things really positive for them." "The boys were born almost exactly three years apart, the older one turned thirteen, the younger one is ten." "They wanted to do a call of duty theme to do a call of duty theme birthday party, all their friends thought that was very cool." "It's frustrating not being around someone your used to being around, and I really haven't been away from him my whole life." "Now listen you each get a corner, yea that's great, that what you had in mind yea it's not that fun when your dad isn't around but he needs to dad isn't around but he needs to" "do it and it's what he signed up for basically." "My husband's a Navy reservist and we found out that he had been called into active duty and he would be over in kandarhar which is right where everything is happening..." "So" "do you want to plug it in?" "Do you want to plug it in?" "I plugged it in now Bo can you see dad?" "Can you see us all babe hey Bo, yea I can see Bo now hi" "How was the party today?" "Fun the water balloon fight was perfect, they each started with two water balloons." "And he said take one but people just took em it was a free for all." "It was a free for all." "I really miss him, just his physical presence, not being here, no matter how we are communicating, you know I don't have my best friend, he's the only one that loves me unconditionally, that really" "makes me feel great about myself but I really miss him." "We missed you daddy big time." "Bye dad, love you dad." "Happy birthday." "Ok love you some much." "Ok love you some much." "Alright love you too." "Bye." "Clayton Kendrick Holmes played in the army-Navy game twice in the early 1990's, playing football at the academy entails carrying a heavy load but it also provides rare privileges on the Eve of army's season opener the new chairman of the" "joint chiefs of staff general" "Martin dempsey visted west point as part of his tour he wanted to address the football team." "Address the football team." "On that day when you put that uniform on with those it." "Bars you are going to know you are ready to go." "Dempsey is a west point man through and through a member of the class of '74 he knows exactly what these cadets face on a daily basis, dating back the early 1800s the academy's honor role of distinguished" "alumni stands as a testament to the schools leadership mission." "It includes five star generals, admirals of the fleet, astronauts, engineers and scientists, plus three united scientists, plus three united states presidents, Grant, eisenhower and Carter." "It late August both campuses are filled with an air of excitement and returning students looking to the future, it's the first day of school and the next stage of everyone's life beckons." "The academic standards at both schools are among the highest in the country, admission requires a nomination almost always from a member of congress and competition for places is intense." "Intense." "In return for serving at least five years active military after graduation all students at both academies receive full scholarships, as the colander flips over to a new school year it's an especially significant occasion for the junior class," "the first day of school is the most important day of there young military careers, for all these juniors, including Navy running back g.G. Greene this is their point of no return." "Until this moment students can until this moment students can leave without penalty on commitment day that status changes now all the juniors must commit through graduation and five year military requirement that follows." "What might seem like an intimidating decision to some is the culmination two years hard work for these young men and women." "Are you ready?" "Yes mam are you sure?" "Yes mam." "Ok" "For them it's a day of accomplishment, pride and celebration." "Congratulations." "Congratulations." "Alright thank you mam." "The Navy owns you now." "Thanks." "I think anybody that came to this academy during a time of war knows that they're going to go over there, that is something that you have to come to a realization about early on before you come here and" "definitely before you are about to graduate because it's real and we will be there." "A year ago black knights line backer Steve erzinger put pen to paper on commitment day, now as a senior, a west point firsty he prepares to cross another he prepares to cross another threshold, ring day." "It's just a lot of fun because it defiantly is a west point experience and not sort of the college experience, when I was a freshman and sophmore I was like" "I am not going to care about it." "But now that it's here it's kind of exciting." "Friends and family welcome to the ring presentation ceremony for the class of 2012 the moment when you place your ring on your finger you should be the moment you remember forever, not only solidifies your place in the long gray line" "your place in the long gray line but it also allows you to grip hands with those members who have come before you, now is the moment when we become true first class cadets, just as we were plebes chasing firstys on this" "same weekend, it's our turn to be chased down, so plan your routes now if you haven't already and move swiftly to you barracks, class of 2012 you may dine your rings." "The concept of the senior class ring originated at west point, since 1835 it has been point, since 1835 it has been one of the most significant milestones in a cadets life but erzinger and others well know that along with the pageantry of" "the ring ceremony comes another beloved tradition, an ambush by the plebes, by age old custom that all firstys old make token efforts to avoid as the entire corp bonds around the deep meaning of the ring." "Oh my god sir what a beautiful ring..." "With school in full swing it's" "time for football to begin opening weekend for both teams opening weekend for both teams is September third, first up" "Navy hosting Delaware." "Pre game show closing in on the kick to the 2011 opener we are amped up ready to go.." "Questions that everyone has had for the past three or four months are going to be answered very shortly." "Once the mits come out offensively under the direction of 6-1, 200 pound senior kriss proctor and of course..." "The last couple of seasons..." "Pre game intensity matches the teams high expectations, after teams high expectations, after three seasons watching, waiting and wanting moment is finally at hand for quarter back kriss proctor to lead Navy and show he can extend the mids recent run" "of success." "There is always going to be expectations but I can't worry about that I can't control the expectations, I can only control the things that I do, on the field and those are the thing that I'm going to focus on." "As kriss proctor goes so does our football team and I expect him to do great things." "Him to do great things." "I believe" "I believe" "I believe that" "I believe that" "I believe that we will" "I believe that we will" "I believe that we will win." "I believe that we will win." "September third 2011, let's..." "Hit em hard, hit them all fucking game..." "Let's go." "I'm going to go fucking eat who wants to go eat with me." "And a great job from proctor and a great job from proctor once he got past that first level people talk about his speed..." "When I say who's house." "You say our house." "Who's house?" "Our house." "Proctor with a play fake, lofts it down the middle..." "A" "Navy touchdown." "As Navy knocks off Delaware in resounding off Delaware in resounding fashion in this 2011 opener with the new full time qb kriss proctor, and the mids win it." "By time honored tradition no academy football game is finished until win or lose at home or on the road the team and student body join together to sing the school Alma mater." "They end the Alma mater with the two words around Annapolis two words around Annapolis beat army" "and later that day northern" "Illinois does just that." "Beating army 49 - 26." "But behind west points granite walls there is no time to dwell on defeat class work demands focus but this" "September week most minds are else where, ten years ago these cadets sat at much smaller desk cadets sat at much smaller desk little girls and boys horrified by the world changing in front of there eyes." "For many of them that indelible memory was that inspiration to enroll at west point, for one army junior running back Malcolm brown, it was a day that struck close to home." "My dad was in the NYC fire department over twenty years on" "9-11 he was actually off of that day and the guys that he served day and the guys that he served with they all didn't make through that day." "I was at home and then I got a call and I responded as quickly as I could to ground zero when I first got down there you start realizing just how devastating it was and just how many people you work with you" "loved you cared about were gone." "And this is one of the guys that and this is one of the guys that trained me, this guy is crazy." "Although retired it." "Rosco brown stay connected with his fire fighting fraternity." "I was a pup, ha-ha another brother hood defined by risking there lives to save others." "You look a little familiar..." "No American will ever forget that tragic Tuesday but for" "Malcolm browns father it will always be the day that he lost" "35 of his colleges and closest friends." "Friends." "My life has changed ever since 9-11 because that really influenced me to come to west point and my dad, I just thank god that he is still alive." "Life is not guaranteed to anyone, many people went to work on that Tuesday, thinking they were just going to have a normal day and they didn't come home." "Perhaps nowhere was the impact of that day felt more deeply then among tightly knit community of New York's smallest community of New York's smallest burroughs." "We are always taught as a little kid, god, country, family and that's how a lot of people here on staten island were raised." "Navy senior lineman John dowd was a sixth grader when the towers were struck less then ten miles from his home." "You know my dad was a cop my my is a nurse, really normal" "American up bringing." "Staten island lost a lot of good people that day." "It was good people that day." "It was devastating, just to be there was unbelievable." "So many people in our church alone, my girl scout leader her son died he was a firefighter, my best girlfriend growing up, her brother, he was an electrician in tower one, you go to these funerals, it's still" "hard, it's ten years and it's still hard." "For a lot of people it really hasn't ended, the guys who coached my basketball team coached my basketball team growing up who were umpires and referees, they're cops and firefighters those were my role models when I was a little kid" "and it's hard, I mean I'm at the naval academy because of that day." "Driven by the call of there home towns darkest day native new yorkers Malcolm brown and" "John dowd applied to the academies it was a decision both knew could put them in the middle of a war that has raged for more then half there lives." "For more then half there lives." "They're military, they are the leaders, they're children and every parent knows in there heart has that worry." "Theres not that one parent that doesn't you wouldn't be normal right if you didn't worry." "But doing the right thing the world is sometimes not a nice place but I'm going to support him." "I don't want to see him in a war, I don't want to see him in harms way, but never taught my harms way, but never taught my children never to be scared of anything." "They have one life they need to dedicate their lives for something with a purpose." "September 10, 2011 just 50 north of ground zero, it's the home opener for army and solute to hero's day." "The grand pageantry of a perfect football afternoon is infused with the solid resolve infused with the solid resolve of dedicated patriots..." "It's on your shoulders that the wait of this remaining battle rests..." "God bless you and god bless our beloved America." "Inside the black knights locker room the team prepares locker room the team prepares for a football game unlike any other, army faces not only the pressure of beating San Diego state but also playing for falling heroes." "I hear there is an army team around here fellas that does what no one else does they aint got nothing on us man nothin!" "...nothin, fuck them, sit around all summer with their thumb up there ass playing Xbox games about the shit we were in the fucking field doing man..." "Fucking field doing man..." "Sixty minutes one play at a time..." "Let's go." "I idea that my son is one of the black knights running out of the field, it's exhilarating it's inspirational, it gives me strength in times of weakness" "a give to brown, right side looking to turn the corner, cuts back to the forty has the first down on the forty five, fifty yard line, down the right side line, breaks a tackle at the" "thirty five and then run down from behind, first down for the black knights, ends up being a forty yard run for Malcolm" "Trent takes the snap..." "In the end zone touch down." "After trailing early 14 - 0 the black knights storm back and the score is tied at the half." "But army couldn't hold on the ball, eight fumbles cost them the game..." "Lost football it's lose..." "Picked up by San Diego state at the army 27 yard line." "...Hands off ball comes lose..." "The 15 cuts back up to the 10 the 15 cuts back up to the 10 and he's in for the touchdown." "And this is one team we are going to look at the end of the year and say, woulda coulda." "Shoulda..." "Ladies and gentleman the Alma mater..." "After losing the home opener after losing the home opener the black knights falls to a disappointing 0 - 2 start to the season when you are down after the game it's good to have dad around, but a girlfriend is even" "better." "Tough game today guys, tough game." "Let's see I have Clayton's information." "Down the Hudson river spirits unexpectedly soar for another family." "Family." "We just found out he was coming home and his flight is an hour earlier so that's the best news I've heard in seven months" "I just want to see him as soon as possible, very exciting." "Johanna Holmes has received the news every military wife lives for." "Her husband is coming home early, Clayton's surprise return happens with the boys away at there cousins and now after seven long months apart only an airport runway separates Clayton and Johanna." "And Johanna." "I will be really glad when he's back on U.S. soil can't wait to have him home." "I just want a hug, ha-ha" "here he is, ha-ha" "boo..." "Hey, hey buddy boo..." "Hey, hey buddy" "oh man look at you, you're so oh man look at you, you're so tall, oh my goodness." "Oh my goodness..." "Twenty years ago former Navy line backer Clayton Kendrick" "Holmes trained in Quantico.," "Virginia, like many current mids he wasn't sure which branch of the armed forces he wanted to serve in most train for more then one option, for many" "Annapolis seniors including John dowd a popular preference is dowd a popular preference is the marines once I'm finally done with football, my ultimate goal is to be a marine, my ultimate goal is to be here and" "I have to get ready for both." "Marks 3 - 2 - 1, go." "The first curial step is passing a two day endurance test at" "Quantico." "Basically we are trying to make there heart explode at the punishing intersection of grit, adversity and pure will the midshipman are pushed to the midshipman are pushed to there limits and beyond, this six mile stress test determines" "who can become a marine." "We are trying to disorient them a little bit, make them fatigued make them think under pressure and what it would be like in a combat situation." "You got this as a marine officer that's what their goal is they have to lead marines in a stressful situation no matter what, who ever that is climb down the rope that female come down the rope because you are going to fall." "I said come down the rope." "If you could make it to the top you would have made it to the you would have made it to the top without stopping and frickin boowooing on the good damn rope if I said coming down the rope are you gona fall off..." "Yes gunner sergeant let's go the competition for a coveted marine corp birth is fierce and being in football shape is no guarantee of getting a leg up." "There's guys that all they do is stay in shape for this stuff." "Weekends they're over here running these courses and it's tough because you don't have the time that they have to do it" "some of the heavier midshipman are football players they really struggle and they really try hard, while they are strong and they have brute force and they have a lot of heart it's just a lot harder to get 300 pounds" "over the wall then 180 pounds over the wall." "I thought I was going to do a lot better then I did, I'm fifty pounds heavier then I want to be you it's frustrating because I got..." "Tomorrow." "And they may see the score and say you know what the score and say you know what" "I don't want him to lead marines" "I mean these guys, my hats off to them because they got to put on the helmet during the season and perform at a d-1 level and then come out here and put on the kevlar and perform for the" "marine corp." "So it's a tuff challenge." "Me I'm just aggravated, pissed off, angry, I really wish I could have don't better." "Timings from day one don't count in the final assessment but they do let students know where students stand in making where students stand in making the grade, day two is for real." "The steaks could not be hire for the marine hopefuls, among them" "Navy quarter back kriss proctor for dowd, proctor and their classmates the clock starts running on their military future get walking Brady." "It's..." "In you from the start that fight with your brother, you play with your brother, it's everything." "As they have all been taught from I-day, even at this from I-day, even at this critical career juncture, every midy will put their brigade of brothers above individual ambition." "We really don't know any other way, that's how we do it on the football field, that's how Navy football does it." "And that's how the marine corp." "Does it so that's why so many are out wanting to be marines." "Oh shit" "every mud pile, every log, everything, it's worth it." "Go Navy, beat army." "Got you 9:45,20 time 9:23, 24 time 9:23, 24 the stress doesn't end with reaching the finish line, it will be several weeks before results are posted." "Pretty bad, it was ruff." "Until then these midshipman must wait and hope." "At the academies no spare time is allotted for waiting around, the bugle call of revelry wakes both student bodies every morning at 06:30 hours from the morning at 06:30 hours from the flag raising ceremony onwards" "military precision is the order of the day all day long." "While most students around the country are sleeping in and in some cases just coming in." "It's off to class for cadets and midshipman, at these twin peaks of higher education there is zero tolerance for skipping class no allowance for scheduling Fridays off the daily routine doesn't allow much time for rest, it's regimented down" "for rest, it's regimented down to the minute." "That coupled with the Ivy league caliber standards in the classroom are a big part of the attraction for these students but that doesn't mean that cadets and midshipman aren't human." "I'm trying to find the voltage a to b." "Attention all cadets..." "Even lunch adheres to a strict time table..." "Thou semesters change and uniforms change potatoes wedges..." "Rice krisspies and gatorade for the cadets there is no chance of changing there meal plan, every week day at west point the entire corp of cadets all 4400 of them including the football team gathers for lunch time formation in the cavernous" "gothic style mess hall." "Gothic style mess hall." "Only cadets can dine here, it's one of the most hollowed places on campus, normally the regimentation is just as rigid in Annapolis, but this week it's different, families in town, while army and Navy always get" "the lions share of attention a third brother rounds out the house hold, the airforce academy the yard is a buzz for stage one of Navy's biggest mission reclaiming the most coveted prize in academy football." "Prize in academy football." "Welcome to the white house and congratulations on winning the commander and chief trophy." "Since 1972 army, Navy and air fore have played for the commander and chief's trophy, last season the air fore falcons snapped Navy's sven year winning streak." "Until this year no one on this team new what it felt like to beat army, to beat Navy, now you know the feeling." "It feels pretty good, so good in fact youngest member of the family thought it's big brother wanted to know about it." "Like most irritating siblings this little kid picked an inappropriate moment to let all of Annapolis know that the air force academy had landed, setting a tone for disrespect, that would spill into the game." "You know we lost it for the first time in a while and a without a doubt that's our top goal this season is get the commander and chiefs trophy." "The blue and gold take to the field determined to regain the prize they value above all others..." "But Navy's quest starts badly." "Down the middle and a catch made by mcarther, comes out of a made by mcarther, comes out of a tackle at the 30, sprints inside the 20 and he's across the 5 headed for an airforce touchdown" "the falcons strike first, they do it quickly." "We have great respect for airforce, it's a huge game for our team, our program, our school, you know every year thats the game, we got to find a way to win, to be the first leg" "in getting the commander and chief trophy..." "Touch down airforce..." "We we're kind of sleep walking and I thought airforce came out and played to start the game." "Fake of the toss and a pitch fake of the toss and a pitch goes right for Clark, he's into the end zone..." "Touch down airforce, just might have put this ball game to bed." "With his team trailing by 18 points in the fourth quarter." "Navy's John dowd tries to reignight the midshipman's fire." "Hey we were here two years ago you know what fuckin happened then, you know what fuckin happened then." "In 2009 Navy won a dog fight with airforce in overtime." "To do that again they'd need a remarkable ralley." "Midshipman facing a critical drive..." "Diving for a touchdown." "With less then a minute remaining, Navy completed the seemingly impossible ...g.G. Makes the catch." "Touchdown Navy!" "G.G. Greene's touchdown catch is followed by a 2-point conversion and the game is tied once again the mids and the falcons go into overtime, home field advantage and momentum were both in Navy's favor and fate of the commander" "and chiefs trophy was back in there hands, but they still had work to do." "It's going to be first and goal to go, proctor off the snap serging straight ahead, that's a touchdown Navy!" "But the excitment of Navy's go ahead touchdown was quickly silenced by a controversal call after the play we have an unsportman like conduct foul on the Navy." "That highly contentious flag on quarter back kriss proctor was the games turning point" "I scored the touchdown, pumped up, I just got up and somebody was in my way, I kind moved him and told him to get out of my way and then their safety who'd way and then their safety who'd" "been talking trash all game, so you know I throw my two cents in, what kind of player I think he is and his worth on the football field and it was a fifteen yard unsportsman like conduct." "That fifteen yard penalty meant Navy's point after kick would be a thirty five yard attempt instead of a twenty yarder." "Gathers in the snap, delivers the kick and it's blocked, it's a six point game." "Momentum suddenly switched the falcons and they wasted no time in pushing home there advantage." "Touchdown airforce to tie this game at 34 in overtime, now for the win..." "Is set, the snap and the spot he delivers the kick, the spot he delivers the kick, airforce wins!" "Falcons 35 Navy 34" "I don't want to blame anybody but it was an emotional game it was the way we fought and came back and alls we had to do is kick that extra point." "Such a dissapointing conclusion after a furious comeback." "Comeback." "After the game both teams gathered for the playing of the." "Alma maters, the goal of any academy team in these games is to sing second, after the losing teams Alma mater is sung first" "no matter how devistating the defeat or how much the losing team feels they were robbed respect must be given to the team singing second on this day that honor belongs to airforce." "That honor belongs to airforce." "For Navy not only is the game lost but so is the commander and chiefs trophy, now that contest is between airforce and army." "Guys listen up, all of us in" "this room, as bad as it hurts right now, make sure we don't lose our class Ok you guys that talk to media, you don't need to say anything durogtory we'll just move forward Ok that's not" "who we are as a team, that's not who we are as a program, that's who we are as a program, that's not who we are as an institution" "Ok, because we talk to the media as bad as it hurts, as much as there is things that you would like to say we are going to carry are self with dignity and class." "It shouldn't come down to a refs call at the end on the game this is an emotional game you got to know that coming in as a ref, you are reffing the Navy and airforce game, there is no" "more emotions..." "You can't get any more psyched about a game like that, when you score a point or a touchdown like that at the end, we fought back, you at the end, we fought back, you" "worked so hard it's dissapointing, I mean to have it go down like that it's pitaful after a devistating overtime loss the service academy rival airforce, more bad news now for the Navy midshipman who were looking to snap their two game" "losing streak, reports out of" "Annapolis tonight that team captain Alexander teich was sent home from practice on Tuesday and will be suspended for" "Saturdays game against Southern miss." "Along with calling out the officials to the media, it was later learned that Alexander later learned that Alexander teich had commited on of the naval academies cardinal sins, leaving the field before the airforce Alma mater, now with" "his team in a two game losing skid he's off the field all together." "Felt like somebody put a bullet through my heart you respect the guys that you work with so much and you love em so much that when that's taken away from you, you know I felt as a leader, somebody that" "they voted for as there captain, to let them down, thats what hurt the most." "Hurt the most." "I truly believe there's a bigger mission then winning football games." "I don't know how the schools will react to it, I don't know maybe they might think it's silly or to steep of a penalty to pay but we are at a different school." "The kick is blocked and he's gonna take it in for a touchdown Southern miss into the end zone." "Touchdown Southern miss." "In the middle wide open" "Bryan Hanks touchdown Southern miss." "I mean what the United States" "I mean what the United States naval academy stands for is developing leaders for a country." "We're gonna try to win and we're gonna try to play as hard as we can." "But there is a way we're going to do it and" "I'm not going to compromise that." "This season we've had more losses than we want." "I think that the best way to put it is it's just been a constant battle." "Maybe isn't the only team playing below expectations." "Army starts one and two with army starts one and two with three of it's next four games on the road." "It's a pivotal stretch of games that could make or break the black knights season." "It will take a huge team effort especially from leaders like offense of lineman Joe Bailey." "He does more than block the army." "The entire locker room feeds off his energy." "When I get in the locker room" "I start feeling that Pre-game buzz." "And everyone's getting warmed up you just start feeling that energy and it just bubbles up inside me." "What's expected of you?" "Kick the shit out of them!" "So it just happens I really don't know how to explain it." "All state, Vanderbilt and" "Miami of Ohio." "Three road games three losses for army." "The black knights record falls to two and five and a season is coming undone." "And the black knights for the third time this year ago on the road and fall short." "Just what it seems matters couldn't get any worse they do." "Joe Bailey army's inspirational" "Joe Bailey army's inspirational leader goes down the pain was just so overwhelming that I was just like doc am I done and I'm going to be able to play again." "And he said Joe, it's not happening bad news for the team is an even more devastating blow for Bailey." "He was looking forward to starting in the army-Navy game for the first time during his four years on the team, now that won't happen." "In fact he'll never play football again." "Never play football again." "He's played his last game." "Mean it stinks it eats at me but at the same time I got to support my boys that are out there doing work and I got to do what I can." "I got to do my part." "And wether that's just to try to keep them focused and fire them up or whatever then I'll do it." "There was absolutely an emotional and that he brought with him." "He was an intense individual it was something that the other guys could feed off of." "He's there with us keeping our emotions on high, which is our emotions on high, which is obviously an important thing." "Here we go here we go." "I think where we are right now is we're a little bit frustrated." "We proved to ourselves that we can be successful but we've also shown ourselves how fragile this thing is." "1-2-3, 3-2-1 but we've got some tremendous senior leaders and for those guys these last few weeks, they are precious." "One of those seniors is six foot three linebacker Andrew" "Rodriguez." "Rodriguez." "Leadership is in his DNA." "During his season is father" "David was appointed by pres." "Obama to lead the us army forces command." "My dad he just recently was promoted to the rank of general." "It's like watching somebody you know going to the NFL or go to the nba." "There's very few people that have the opportunity to do that." "I think he's earned it and it's really cool cool honor." "Really cool cool honor." "General David rodrigez the proud linebacker deflects the high expectations that come from following in his father's footsteps." "I don't really feel any pressure, I'm sure some people know who he is and I am and our relationship maybe their expectations will change but I really can't control that anyways so I don't really feel" "any pressure I just go and try and do my best." "Trophy point provides a spectacular view of west point 16 thousand acre campus." "It's also hear that" "Rodriguez and his other army team captains lead the black knights weekly formation." "These uniforms are the most important." "The academy make sure the cadets are fully aware of the responsibility and the possible cause that comes with wearing them." "Today former army football player Tyson qwink is back on campus and is invited to speak to the team." "To the team." "I went back to west point one of my classmates had been killed in afganhnatan, so I went to his funeral and it was a pretty hard funeral to go to." "When I was leaving I had ran into the team at trophy point and coach ellerson asked me to say a couple words to them." "Ok guys this is that moment is when we stop and we reflect on the fact that we are a part of a brother hood, Ok an extented brotherhood, the long gray line brotherhood, the long gray line" "all those that have come before all those that will come later." "You are a little bit sheltered at west point of what the realities of war, but you know what you got yourself into so it's not a suprise." "Instead of me talking today" "I'm going to give to Tyson quink army football class of 2009." "I do play it back all the time ...what I could have done different, a little less then three months ago I got blown up by an i.E.D., stepped on it I by an i.E.D., stepped on it I" "lost both my legs..." "When I was a freshman Tyson was a senior, he was a center, he a great guy, he's was one of the leaders of the old line, he was a phenomonal player, a good guy to look up too." "That group you never will lose it's just really interesting to think about how the brother hood that we have, is just so tight because Tyson can come back and share his story and we know who he is and we love him," "it's such a tight knit group it's really pretty cool." "It's really pretty cool." "1-2-3 stay together 1-2-3 stay together he has a lot to offer because he went through what all of us go through but he suffered some adversity but he's fighting through it, which is just a great example how all of us" "should approach adversity." "West point exists to give soldiers the nessesary skills to triumph over adversity." "Triumph over adversity." "Everyday challenge after challenge is thrown at the cadets to obtain that goal." "We should see them start to come up over this way." "It's often said at the academies that playing football is the easy part of school, no one says infantry training is easy, like many west point easy, like many west point firstys army team captain Steve erzinger is exploring his branch" "service options." "It's an attemp to let you know if you want to do infantry stuff or not." "Obviously it's nothing compared to that, but it's sort of similar, give you a taste of what you can kind of expect." "Which is good." "Instructors monitor the cadets every move, they are requied to plan the mission, issue assignments, and then lead the raid." "In this exersize, conducted on" "the grounds of west point in a specially recreated Afghan village, the cadets must act on village, the cadets must act on illtelegents that a road side bomb factory is in the area" "it's a test of the cadets critical thinking skills" "their objective is to establish trust with the locals find the weapons cache and exit as quickly as possible." "As quickly as possible." "Try to help you you don't like it?" "It's a mission frought with risk and one they face when it's there turn to be deloyed into a real theater of war." "But the best layed plans can quickly go wrong, espcially when trained actors hired by the trained actors hired by the academy are on hand to make that happen." "You want to help me tie him up" "stack up on the door..." "Go get on the ground..." "Down down the cadets take turns leading the platoon, here every move, every discion is watched and graded." "This whole expierence is either you complete it and you do well, get a pass or you don't complete it and you get a fail." "They have spent the last three years in the classroom learning about how to do these things and this is there oportunity now to go out excecute them in the real world evironment." "They could be amnbushed, they could see." "I.E.D. And the bad guys could also go attack the locals which would reqiure some action on would reqiure some action on their part to interact with." "They have a mock enemy, they call them diablo, basically it's at of sort of similar enemy tacticts that you are going to see in afganastan and things like that so thats what we are could of on the look out for you" "never really know when they are going to hit you." "This exercise is similated but soon the cadets will be in a real war, responsible for very real consequencs." "Right now he's got to work on his descision making process his descision making process and think about his men's safety once this area is secure to 100 meters out side the base go ahead and put it to 50 percent" "security." "Ok weel if you are sending out them to the ememy camp how are they going to have enough people to push out to a security element." "Once the enemy knowns their location, they're pretty much through and they got to get out of there." "So this is what we are going to do." "Alpha who ever takes contact first return fire, bravo start bounding back." "Right now with them still sitting in the same area, which sitting in the same area, which is not a good idea are we moving" "where is he, where is he." "What do you see?" "Get one two and ask him the fucks in the woods over there." "Fucks in the woods over there." "My leg, my leg." "A monitoring officer designates erzinger as a casualty." "We've got a man down over here grenade shrapnal has shatterned his leg, an instance response is requied from the platoon to save his life, as they have been trained the cadets jump into action." "But even in a life and death situation the army-Navy game is never far from a cadets mind." "What's wrong with your leg?" "My legs pretty bad we are gona be missing a good inside linebacker, how the hell are we supposed to beat Navy now" "this is the shirt I was wearing when I got blown up, what's left of it." "Some it was cut down the middle that's the front of it there, cut down the middle from the medics, some it was singed off from the blast, seen this arm, there is not much left of it from getting burned" "and some it just torn apart, still smells like explosives" "Tyson quink give us this sort of tangelble relationship that we can have with our with our past brothers and really understand what we are going to be getting into, it's one thing for someone to tell you something and it's another thing" "for you to actually see it." "I knew it was out there I knew there was a possibiliy it could happen I just didn't think it would." "But it happened." "We are going to graduate and we are going to deloy and we are we are going to deloy and we are going to go do missions and you just have to prepare and prepare and be ready for anything as" "Tyson was." "It's pretty inspirational to see somebody who views life as an oportunity to carry on and try to live you life dispite the hand you are delt." "Courage, dtermination and the skills to succeed under stress are ingrained into every west point cadet, Tyson quink relies point cadet, Tyson quink relies on them every day in his new fight to heal his wounds." "I know that resonated with a lot of guys and so we drew on that for inspiration throughout the season." "It just speaks well to his character and the character of our football team you he's a warrior, he's been battling and he was a great part of this team when he was hear and really just allows you not" "to take any moment for granted." "And keep pressing on and moving on forward even when times are tough." "I don't have any regrets about" "I don't have any regrets about going to west point I wish I was still there with my guys, all the expirience I got from west point were awesome, I had a great education, met great people, met my wife, it sets you" "up for success later in life, I wish the outcome was different but in the long run I'll be walking again, I'll be running again." "Like Tyson quink, Clayton" "Kendrick Holmes is an army-Navy game alumni who has no regrets about his delopment, but he sees sacrifice in a new light." "When you are away it's certainly hardest on your family certainly hardest on your family really the hardest part was knowing I wasn't there when things were going on back home." "For Clayton the ajustment to life at home poses a fresh challenge, there is no set play book for what any returning war veteran faces, almost instantly the former liner backer switches from being on actice duty in a" "warzone to a much less explosive senario taking friendly fire from his son." "Your a football coach how could you not know that." "I work in elevens." "I work in elevens." "I guess look at the world through a little bit different lense now, when you go out and just drive the kids to school you don't have to worry about wether there is explosive devices under the ground, I" "would go and do what I did in afganhnastan 100 times if it meant they didn't have to grow up like that." "After the tensions of afganhnastan Clayton gets set for one of the great comforts of home, watching his Alma mater play notre dame, but in south play notre dame, but in south bend, Navy season sinks to new" "depths before 80,000 Irish faithful and with injured starting quarter back kriss proctor watching from the side lines." "Wood has it a drive to the end zone, a touch down notre dame." "The midshipman emplode faster then you can say beat army." "Hands it off..." "But he runs through a hit, he into the end zone, touch down notre dame." "Navy is in the midst of a five game losing streak, by halftime game losing streak, by halftime at notre dame, it seems certain that the streak it extend to six" "I could care less about the score but I saw some guys quit we can't have that, I've never seen that before, got a bunch of guys just star struck out there" "I want to see how bad your ass is going to play for thirty minutes out here in the next four games you understand me?" "And if you are not ready to do it, then you are fucking in the it, then you are fucking in the game, Ok, same with your ass you play your ass off the next thirty minutes or you're fucking" "in the game alright." "I want eleven guys that will run to the ball all the time and now if we bench all the seniors if it's juniors, if it's plebes out there playing I don't give a shit." "I want to see you guys play hard." "We are going play one play at a time regardless of the score, don't look at the fucking score board, just keep playing!" "Guys, you guys got to get it together or they are going to score 100 on us, let's get out there and fight and compete one play at a time, that's just play at a time, that's just" "fight and compete, one play at a time." "Let go..." "Let's go." "Navy would keep notre dame under 100 points but still lose" "56 - 14, while being outscored in the second half 21 - 7" "remember what we talked about we asked a question..." "On the same day army hosts" "Fordham, the black knight record also stands at 2 - 5 and record also stands at 2 - 5 and there season prospects look grim but they are not as grim as the weather." "The gonvenor of New York declaring a state of emergency, this storm, so big and so early it has already made history." "I suprise October blizzard howls across west point just before kickoff, fordhams shivering rams want no part of the whiteout, but the black knights are in there element, they embrace the sun, dashing through the snow, over the goal" "line army goes, again and again line army goes, again and again and again, visibility wasn't great but the army fans loved what they were seeing, the black knights piled up 55 points as the shut out frozen Fordham" "and for touchdown celebrations the cadets switched from push ups to a more seasonal affair" "up next for the 3 - 5 knights up next for the 3 - 5 knights was a visit to airforce, a victory would clitch the commander and chiefs trophy for the high flying falcons" "2 - 3 - 4 - 5 - 6 - 71/2 - 8 9 - 10..." "These falcons really fly high there combat gear includes multimillion dollar machines with a swaggar to match, the boot don't stay on the ground for very long Colorado Springs." "For very long Colorado Springs." "But the falcons mavic aditude doesn't always sit well with their more grounded comrades." "Right hand right foot left hand left foot." "Check in go!" "100020003000400050006000." "Air force." "There's just something about the attitude when we go play there they I really can't put a finger on it but they just seem like on it but they just seem like they're better than everyone else ." "All they do is just sit around in their little rooms pushing buttons." "Recently the falcons have pushed all the right buttons in academy football games." "Armies record at falcon stadium is three and 18." "And the season the black knights for heavy underdogs again." "Yet despite that it was army that took off in the first half." "Quarterback sneak from Max jankins and he's in for the army touch down its army trying first blood with a six nothing lead." "Where they at where they at huh?" "Dixon up the middle breaks at a tackle at the ten runs right to the five to the goal line touchdown!" "Army, Dixon." "Alright alright halftime." "At halftime army took a surprising 14 to nothing lead into the locker room finish it finish the job." "It's a buisness trip baby, finish that job." "Trip baby, finish that job." "You see that fucking shine out there?" "Saying there the best in in the fucking world." "Fuck that shit" "you're better than this group." "You're better it's obvious you are better football team." "Here we go it's a fight it's a fight it's a fight let's go." "Here we go guys here we go." "40 min." "We got plenty of time." "We got plenty of time." "Clark gives a motion" "Jefferson running right into the end zone scores the touchdown for air force." "In the second half the fight proved a mismatch." "Jenkins again back to throw." "Throws up the middle ball deflected in the air and intercepted." "Air force scored on their first five possessions." "Quarterback sneak and Jefferson is in for the air force touchdown." "Final score air force 24 army final score air force 24 army" "14." "Army in control of this game for the first 30 min." "Though the third quarter turn this game like a light switch." "For the second time this airforce sings second against their academy rivals." "As a result the falcon retain the commander in chief's retain the commander in chief's trophy and will pay another visit to the president." "Airforce is top gun again for army and Navy disappointment doesn't begin to describe their seasons." "There is no winning record no commander in chief's trophy no bowl game in a tough season there's only one thing they both have left." "Each other." "School always comes before football at the service academies." "Academies." "Army-Navy game week kicks off with a more sophisticated contest in New York City." "Navy's John dowd and army's" "Andrew Rodriguez are among the 16 finalists for the Campbell trophy." "The prestigious award known as the academic heisman is given to college football top scholar athlete while Rodriguez and his family are in attendance dowds parents represent the mids linemen." "He stayed in Annapolis to prepare for the game." "On behalf of the national football foundation I am proud football foundation I am proud to announce this years recipient is Andrew Rodriguez west point." "Mechanical engineering major" "Rodriguez carries a 4.14 gpa while taking 24 credits this semester and oh yes playing division one football." "Two days after the Campbell trophy award winner is announced, John dowd received an impressive consolation prize." "Impressive consolation prize." "First team two time academic all-American." "The naval academy is a hard place to make history but dowd has done just that." "He also carries 24 credits and maintains the 3.91 gpa but this week is not about hitting the books." "It's about hitting your arrival 123!" "Beat army!" "The first shot has been fired the first shot has been fired it won't be the last." "It's army Navy week and both campuses are armed with plenty of fresh paint and verbal ammunition this is army Navy week!" "I said is it army-Navy week?" "We're not going to just win we're going to beat the hell out of them." "Some of the brightest young minds in this country are soaking up knowledge at west point and Annapolis." "This week they're assigned an important mission making spirit important mission making spirit videos like the football players the filmmakers put everything on the line to be part of the action." "My question to you is are you going to bring a Sally?" "The mid shipment of Navy are viewed with the core values of honor courage commitment." "Let's go army." "The cadets of the army live by the motto honor duty country have fun this weekend get rowdy support us out there beat Navy." "The principle they share and the principle they share and hold most dear is honor." "I promise you we will beat army." "Beat army." "This week on the football field they battle each other fiercely to uphold that honor." "At the Pentagon cheerleaders and pep bands invaded the corridors of power." "This is no place for the faint of heart during army Navy week if you're wearing a uniform you must pick a side." "Must pick a side." "270 miles north of the" "Pentagon one of the games greatest traditions is getting underway at west point." "The ball marathon." "As the army marathon team sets out it requires the team of 20 cadets to deliver the ball and it must never be dropped." "The only time the run can stop is to pay tribute at ground zero every year a game ball is always every year a game ball is always run from both campuses to the the stadium in what is all ways the biggest game of the" "year." "I've never felt anything like the army Navy game when you walk up to this game there is definitely a buzz in the air just everything surrounding the game is pretty surreal every time you walk around the corner here you looking at go army beat" "Navy this week no other college games are being played on" "Saturday and the eyes of nation will be on army and Navy the will be on army and Navy the games press conference is an opportunity for niumatalolo and ellerson to reunite and like their coaches the players share a unique bond" "you are kind of playing against your brother your rival on an opposing team because once we get done with it will be fighting on the same side but before that when there's time still on the clock and there's a place to be left" "played played you want to beat them pretty bad you respect them because he your brother and you care about them but you're out there to win and you're going to do whatever it takes and you're probably going to be" "pretty mean about it." "It's about the guys and the game and what they represent what they sacrificed to be here so you make that sacrifice I love this game enough to give my life to this country is hard not to excited for this kind of game" "of this magnitude." "You know you got to keep your emotions in check." "Now we have to put all of now we have to put all of those other voices all of those other messages on the shelf and focus on the task." "We are there for football game." "But this is no ordinary football game." "Neither team travels alone the entire student body and both academies the players families and the schools alumni are out in force." "This year the stirring landmarks of the nation's capital provide a backdrop for the army Navy game for the very first time." "Game for the very first time." "December 10, 2011 game day." "For these players and coaches their destination is an arena their destination is an arena they'll never forget a place where only victory will suffice because for these two teams there's nothing worse than losing to the other." "Right here right here let's go right here right here." "Let's go baby lets go baby." "You know a lot of my friends always ask me are you nervous before the game?" "You know Chris being the quarterback and yes I am a wreck ha-ha ha-ha it is totally different than any other game there really is in seeing what Steve has gone through has given me much better appreciation for the game." "This will be our fifth one." "John's senior and my husband says we're going to go to every army and Navy after this so you'll be looking out for us because will be there." "You know this is his final opportunity the seniors final opportunity on both sides to win that special game in front of a crowd of thousands of people not only here for watching it throughout the world." "Throughout the world." "It's the culmination of 11 years of his life and for these boys its all about love of the game." "It's the love of the game." "We always thought that he was kind of special with his athletic abilities but I would have never of guessed this is what we would be doing today." "I'm nervous this game is huge and you know I can't wait soon enough ha-ha." "Navy is a special team army is a special team and they're a special team and they're there for a special reason it's not just about the football left turn march." "A game so special it transcends football." "Right turn march." "Among its unique rituals and exchange of prisoners cadets on assignment at Annapolis swap for mid shipman studying at west point." "They released a cause for celebration on both sides." "And at this game there is the most honored guest both teams commander in chief is in commander in chief is in attendance." "But no game can begin without a ball and after traveling a combined up over 300 miles both the marathon teams complete their mission now only the players have work to do." "You all belong here huh?" "Yeah, yeah you do you may look up there and say it's going to be easy... 60 min." "One play at a time." "Anything you got on that field anything you got on that field" "1-2-3 for the seniors on both teams this will be the last organized football game and they ever play for both army and Navy it's a one game season." "Let's go!" "Let's go!" "But breathtaking pageantry concluded and the pregame speeches given the stage is set for the kick off of the 112 army" "Navy game." "We are under way in the 112 army Navy game." "Let's go Navy let's go." "Army season has been plagued by turn overs and yet another fumble cost them early against fumble cost them early against" "Navy." "The mids take over at the black knights 26 yard line and sixth plays later Navy takes the lead on a 4 yard touchdown run by quarterback kriss proctor." "Touchdown Navy and the navs draw first blood." "In the second quarter up seven to nothing Navy would love to capitalize on yet another army turnover." "Full back Alexander teich powered his way over the goal powered his way over the goal line to extend the mids lead." "Touchdown Navy." "Navy 14 army nothing." "For nine straight years Navy has not only beaten army but dominated them winning every game by at least a dozen points." "Now another Navy blowout seems set." "Whatever happened let's play a damn ballgame alright here on out." "Play our ball game." "Alright will you consider being an angel for a helpless west point cadet." "Point cadet." "With army down early the brigade of midshipmen offer the black knights encouragement on the video screens." "Be an angel today thank you." "But this year army refused to go quietly." "Let's go army." "They're motto all season was to sing second." "And later in the second quarter" "Trent steelman and the black knights offense began to hum knights offense began to hum army's junior quarterback launched remarkable rally." "Inside the 20 inside the 10 touchdown!" "Army!" "Black knights right back in this game." "Can you believe?" "A year ago steelman fumbled when he had the opportunity to close the gap on Navy heading to halftime." "That play haunted him." "Now he makes no mistakes executing a near flawless 2 min." "Drill." "Fires over the middle complete fires over the middle complete to Austin." "Ball inside the 35." "With 49 seconds left in the first half running back" "Malcolm brown capped a 63 yard drive with a touchdown." "At the five leaps for the goal line touchdown army!" "Navy's lead was gone we have a brand-new football game for the first time in years." "It's a close game at the half." "Navy 14 army 14." "For both teams the point totals were the same but the moods in the locker rooms at half time the locker rooms at half time could not be more different." "The black knights thoughtful quiet still." "Across the way in the other locker room the midshipman strutted their swagger." "Get your ass ready hell yeah we are going to hit this shit." "They are not used to this they are going to fucking choke down the stretch." "Get ready for it and get ready to take advantage of it outside on the field it was time for the president to take center stage he's the only person allowed to he's the only person allowed to route for both teams" "at half time he marches from the" "Navy sidelines to join armies when I'm on this side I'll cheer for Navy and when I'm on that side of cheer for army." "This is fun but what really counts is the kind of character that these guys display and they do it with pride they do it with dedication, honor, integrity." "They are the best that America has to offer." "Suspended for one game by coach niumatalolo earlier in the season teich returned to the team determined to be more mature focused leader at the most critical moment of his team season the tough texan did what real leaders do he" "called for the ball." "Teich had not returned a kick off all year." "His first of the season was memorable." "He crossed a 25 teich get outside the forty, to sideline to midfield and is tackled to midfield and is tackled at the army 48 yard line." "Reeling at halftime with one immense play Navy ship was back on course on their first possession of the half the mi marched right down the field of five play 48 yard drive with ended with proctor rushing for his second touchdown of the game" "reaching for the end zone Navy touchdown the quarterback who great second effort at the goal line put Navy back in front lets go lets go..." "Lets go lets go..." "But army responded again they did something that no one saw coming." "A fake pitch by steelman, back to throw fires over the middle, complete to the ten to the five, touchdown army." "Malcolm brown wide open as he as he found the end zone for six army no team had thrown fewer passes then the army all season but this rare gem lit up the scoreboard and the game was tied again. 21 - 21" "big time players make big-time plays in a players make big-time plays in a big time games, that's what I'm talking about Navy." "That's what I'm talking about." "For nine straight years this contest's fourth quarter has been a relaxing a prelude to a" "Navy celebration, not this year." "After scoring onto John teague field goals Navy led by six with only minutes remaining but army had the ball." "We are better than them." "We are better than them." "I touch down here and the black knights would be on the verge of nearly ending 10 years of misery steelman rallied his team again." "Play after play." "He drove them up the field." "With the clock is ticking down the quarterback who fumbled the game last year now stood at the crossroads of redemption." "The army offense and the Navy defense would decide the outcome of this year's game." "Of this year's game." "He stays away but he's wrapped up and brought down back at the" "33." "Keep pushing let's go." "The game came down to one play at the mids 25." "Four and seven at Navy 25 this could be the game for the black knights." "One army score with spark the west point celebration of the millennium." "Obviously the biggest play of the football game at hand." "One that last stand and Navy would complete a decade of dominance over there arch rivals steelman inside fake he..." "He's steelman inside fake he..." "He's buried in the back field..." "And take them for a walk." "Navy with a fourth-down stop." "The first army Navy game in the nation's capital ends in exactly the same way as the very first game in 1890 Navy beats army, mid's coach Ken numatalolo and team capt." "Alexander teich extend their record to a extend their record to a a perfect 4 - 0 against there rival" "and that's what Navy will do announcer" "leaving army to sing first for the tenth straight year." "The cadets of west point will undertake tougher missions in there military careers but as football military careers but as football players this is the hardest task they will ever perform." "Vanquished yet again by Navy they cross the field to honor their opponent" "soon both sets of player will all be on the same team, they will stand side by side on fields of strife always watching out for there brother as well as there country but not this night on this field, Navy gets to sing" "second." "There is no rush to leave the field for Navy for seniors there is no desire to take off the helmet and pads for the last time, this is their moment to savor." "In the quiet of another losing locker room there is losing locker room there is little constellation in army having pushed Navy to limit for seniors like Steve erzinger there is only what he describes as a legacy of failure on the" "field, that's a standard only a west point cadet could understand, and every first in the locker room does, they all share the same hollow feeling, they now know that they will never beat Navy." "But the joy of beating army is still the only emotion known to these midshipman of Navy." "But I think ten equals a decade!" "Yea!" "This is the most special place this is the most special place" "I've been a part of and the most special team I've been a part of in the last four years, I've been on a ten win team, I've on but this team right here, the" "care that you guys showed all season, I've talked about it before going on six straight losses man, everytime I send you guys a text man, we will there grinding with you on Monday." "Grinding with you on Monday." "Special group of dudes man." "If I could go to war and back with you all boys, any day of the week, love you all like my family, this is family you make it four years through here, this is your family man, I" "love everyone of you boys, I appreciate the ride." "Tired cliches about going to war, are the common currency of modern day sports, but for these selfless athletes, warfare will most likely soon be there reality, the future finally comes into focus for the seniors comes into focus for the seniors" "at both academies when there service assignments are revealed" "this one decsion sets the course for their next five years, for all 1,027 west point firstys their military paths rest in a small brown envelop." "The mids gather by company to be told the news, there is no garreteer that anyone will the assignment they have requested assignment they have requested for the future leaders of the." "United States military this is the moment they have all been waiting for since there r-day or I-day, for there parents it's a time a enormous pride and high anxiety now that the time is coming that John is going to have to" "make that commitment it scares me, like it scares every parent kriss proctor k.P." "It's going to be hard but we're ready." "We're ready for the we're ready." "We're ready for the next chapter also." "Mr. dowd he's going to far places there going to be serving in" "Afghanistan, that's where they are going there are in harms way they're just a different breed and these young men are going to be leaders some day." "You would never want to push your child into doing something like this it really has to be his or her decision you always worry but that's just normal, parent worry just normal, parent worry that's a very special kind of" "individual, that's a very special club to be in lift your envelops it's not easy to do but that's why not every body does it." "Open them up" "alright..." "Here we go" "Joe called us and told us I got armory and I'm so excited and he was." "He was absolutely thrilled." "He wants to fly and he will be a naval flight officer congratulation you have been selected as a Navy n.F.O." "He'll be protecting us where ever he is." "Can you imagine what these can you imagine what these kids go through, this thing that is going to determne the rest of there lives." "Whaooo every single midshipman and cadet that I have met I want to tell them how proud I am." "His selection was Navy seal, I said no don't do that, I don't want you to do that but when he makes up his mind he figures out and he does it." "You have been accepted to the you have been accepted to the" "Navy seals." "Congratulations." "Thanks mam from the Annapolis senior class of 1108 midshipman" "Alexander teich is only one of 28 designated for Navy seal training." "We're proud of him" "army line backer Steve erzinger is assigned to armor the general's son Andre rodrigez will join the infantry and." "Navy's academic all American" "John dowd who qualified for the marines at Quantico changes direction and goes to submarines for four years strict codes of honor have governed the lives these mid shipman and cadets when they graduate next spring that honor code will be there" "constant companion as they head constant companion as they head into the unknown their futures are uncertain but this is known these are galant servants of the nation, if required they will put themselves in harms way and do it willingly more then a" "game they will live a life of honor." "This was his choice, this is what he wants to do so what ever happens it's meant to be." "Happens it's meant to be."