Sing Navy Blue And Gold! Road to CFB Visits A Navy Football Game Day

For eight years, I have been in pursuit to experience a game day at every FBS stadium. I’m drawn to college football because of its diverse identities and strong tie to American culture. A Saturday in the south differs so much from one in the upper Midwest that you’d assume they’re entirely different leagues. It’s a completely different and unique experience 136 times over. But a Navy football game day stands so far apart from the rest of the landscape that it belongs on every sports fan’s bucket list.

Once a year, my dad joins me out on the road. I usually reserve one of college football’s cathedrals for those weekends. Previous trips with my old man included Notre Dame, Tennessee, Wisconsin, and Virginia Tech. This year, we chose the U.S. Naval Academy.

Pageantry and tradition don’t even begin to scratch the surface of the Navy football experience. The feeling I got sitting in the stands was ethereal and unlike anything I’ve experienced before.

What can you expect on your next trip to Annapolis? Read on for my full guide on a Navy Midshipmen football game day below.

DON’T GIVE UP THE SHIP

Pregame in Annapolis

A minimum of two full days is recommended for Annapolis. There’s so much to see in downtown Annapolis that jetting in and out in a day would really do you a disservice. Buildings dating back to the 1700s line brick roads that all point toward water that leads to the Chesapeake Bay and Atlantic Ocean. The Historic Maryland Inn offers visitors an opportunity to stay in a hotel that was built in 1772 and joints like the Middleton Tavern have been in operation as an inn since 1750.

You can find something no matter the occasion – upscale night out (Choptank), a pregame beer (McGarvey’s), or a litany of any places for seafood and famous Maryland crab. There’s coffee shops, delis, and apparel shops. Truly an FBS gem.

The morning of the game, my dad and I opted for breakfast at the Iron Rooster. This place features fried pork belly and house-brewed coffee. Chick & Ruth’s Deli came highly recommended, but we missed our window as it’s a small joint that was packed to the gills by 8 a.m.

I’d also recommend touring the U.S. Naval Academy campus, nicknamed “The Yard,” a day before (especially before a noon kickoff). It’s a campus dense with history that includes several must-see spots. The on-campus museum inside Preble Hall, the chapel, and visitor center exhibits–plus the time it takes to wander campus itself–takes several hours. Don’t try to cram this in an hour before kickoff!

Treat visiting the USNA like the airport. Bring a REAL ID (a gentleman in front of us was denied entry because he didn’t have this!) and be prepared to empty your pockets and take off belts. It’s a painless operation so long as you’re prepared.

To avoid postgame traffic and fees, I recommend parking at the satellite Harry S. Truman Park and Ride. Free shuttles run starting five hours before kickoff until two hours after. It’s quick and painless process that’s entirely void of cost and gives you traffic-free access to i-97.

The Brigade of Midshipmen and the March On

For game day itself, start downtown with a bite and a drink then head over to Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium. It’s a pleasant walk, but one that takes about 30 minutes to complete, so be sure to save yourself enough time.

Take a stroll around the outside of the stadium itself and locate the decommissioned F/A-18 Blue Angel jet on the south side. The entire exterior is beautiful and matches the USNA campus, but the southeast façade is really worth an extra look. Tailgate tents flood the parking lots around the stadium laden with flags and other details that announce companies and other roles from USNA alumni.

Get to your set early for one of college football’s most impressive displays of tradition: the march on. The Brigade of Midshipmen stands over 4,000 strong, broken up into 36 companies. The commander of each company is announced over the loudspeaker and the midshipmen march onto the field to the beat of the USNA band. Fans are requested to stand as the colors pass–from the stars & stripes to a flag for each branch of the military–and through the completion of the march on. For first-time witnessers like myself, it’s a powerful display.

The USNA band plays the national anthem and the entire ceremony is concluded with a flyover from a pair of F/A-18 super hornets. If you sit in the upper deck on the visitor’s sideline, these jets fly right over your head.

The Brigade signs off by spelling out N-A-V-Y to each side of the stadium before making a mad dash to their section (many opted for the covered upper stands due to rain and others opted for prime seating).

Students at the U.S. Naval Academy are known as midshipmen and the student body (comprised of over 4,000 midshipmen) is known as the Brigade. They are not cadets like students at rival West Point, Texas A&M, and the Air Force Academy. I already made this mistake on Twitter so you don’t have to.

Go Navy! Beat USF!

Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium is a well thought out venue with lots of great seating options. Upper deck seats keep you close to the action while keeping that all-22 view. That comes in handy with Navy’s offense which, though modernized, keeps the historic triple option system in place. When operated at a high level, it’s a work of art and demands the highest level of discipline.

Seats in the lower decks are individual, not bleacher, while seats in the upper deck offer individual seat backs placed on bleachers. It gives each fan plenty of space and gaps between rows are as spacious as anywhere in the FBS. For a place that frequently fills every seat, this is a huge convenience. Be sure to take a walk around the north end zone memorials dedicated to USNA involvement in each major war (and see conflicts written around the stadium in place of bowl wins or retired numbers).

Navy’s PA announcer is engaging and fun. He belts out Fiiiiirrrrrrst Doooowwwwwn Navy! in song and keeps the energy in the stadium going. No DJ, barely any licensed music in between snaps. It’s raw college football.

Before kickoff, be sure to watch the scoreboard. As the Midshipmen take the field, video reel from jets taking off from an aircraft carrier usher the start of the game. It concludes with the “launch” signal and Navy’s kicker starts his run up. It’s exceptionally done and, surprisingly, not footage taken from Top Gun (though there’s plenty of that, too).

In front of the midshipmen are two live goat mascots, including Bill XXXVI, that wear the iconic Navy blanket. Three other mascots roam the concourse for photo opportunities, one dressed with the Navy sweater, one in a home football uniform, and one in an away football uniform.

If you don’t mind spending a touch more (perhaps 10%), the new north end zone seats are as good as any in college football. There’s enough space between rows to stretch your legs and the vantage point is outstanding. It sits below the north end zone concourse, so you don’t have much foot traffic, but above the old hillside (which still stands half its original size). This is where I’d recommend anybody sit in the stadium.

Navy 41, #24 USF

The American Athletic Conference came into Week 12 with a huge knot at the top. Having played an extra conference game, Navy led by a half-game at 5-1 over Tulane (4-1), North Texas (4-1), East Carolina (4-1), and visiting USF (4-1). The Bulls had dominated opponents left and right, upset Florida early in the year, and earned the #24 spot in that week’s College Football Playoff rankings. That put them in the driver’s seat to be the highest-ranked Group of Five program and to secure a spot in the CFP.

Navy entered the game as a +10 underdog. But the Midshipmen had other plans.

On senior day, Navy rushed for almost 340 yards and four different players accounted for at least 100 yards (QB Blake Horvath, FB Alex Tezca, SB Eli Heidenreich, and backup QB Braxton Woodson). It was a dazzling display with chunk play after chunk play.

USF managed to gain over 550 yards as a team and scored 38, including a wild touchdown late in the game to bring things to 41-38, but Navy killed the clock and wiped out a desperation lateral play to end the game as victors. Bulls QB Byrum Brown accounted for over 460 yards and four touchdowns individually.

After scores, USNA freshmen scramble down across the end zone and do a push up for each point scored. On this day, those freshmen did 164 – a hearty workout for a huge win. A spirit squad of midshipmen hoist a trident after scores as the Brigade counts out each point on the board.

The cherry on top of this epic game day is the singing of Navy’s alma mater, Navy Blue and Gold. In reverence, opposing teams usually stick around to watch, win or lose; USF was no exception here. 90% of fans in the stadium stuck around, too. This is one of college football’s can’t-miss traditions.

Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium is one of the few that afford fans the ability to leave at halftime and re-enter afterwards. You’d miss halftime entertainment, including the drum and bugle line, but many fans did opt to return to their tailgates for a short time rather than buy another $9 beer.

Navy Football Game Day Picks

• Best breakfast: Iron Rooster. Here and Chick & Ruth’s were the most-recommended spots in Annapolis pregame. I got a plate of chicken and pancakes (with shaved house potatoes) and my dad opted for the fried pork belly. They also brew their own coffee grounds and is absolutely delicious. Located near the water.
• Top Game Day tip: Looking to return to tailgating? You can at halftime. Fans who exit the gates are welcome back after halftime (though this isn’t in-and-out privileges all game long). Just show your already-scanned ticket to return to your seats.
• For local beers: Forward Brewing. This brewery is located in a great New England-style building that ties in the feel of harbors and water with an inviting list of local drafts. This is located to the east of downtown Annapolis, so this is a better day before option.
• Under-the-radar: Purchase tickets in the north end zone, if you can. The space between rows is unlike most options in college football and offers some of the most comfortable non-premium seats you can buy anywhere.

Navy Football Game Day Grades

Stadium: B. Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium is perfectly sized to keep seats full but also still pack a punch with noise. There’s a bunch of non-traditional seating options for USNA alumni, donors, and prominent guests. The exterior is clean and a good mix of modern and traditional. Check out the memorials in the north end zone and the F/A-18 Blue Angel jet outside the south façade. Bonus points for the iconic midfield NAVY logo and checkered end zones.

Tradition: A+. Tier 1-A. I place this alongside LSU, Texas A&M, Wisconsin, and Ohio State. Navy blends power, history, reverence, and pageantry for a one-of-a-kind game day. The Brigade of Midshipmen and the march on are enough to earn an A, but Bill the Goat mascots, the triple option, and patriotism send this one above and beyond. This isn’t just a game day, it’s an experience.

Atmosphere: B+. When needed, Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium can get loud. Atmosphere between whistles relies on the USNA band and recognizing plenty of USNA seniors, alumni, and other veterans. There’s moments of silence and recognition, one of the country’s best flyovers, and constant reminders of our servicemen and servicewomen. I perhaps expected a bit too much of the Midshipmen section in terms of noise, but that’s a major nitpick and likely changes wildly based on opponent (like Army or Notre Dame).

Tailgating: B. Solid! Parking lots are packed around the stadium and plenty of local places (mostly churches) serve as tailgate hotspots. Emblems of companies and other Navy affiliations make the grounds and flags unique. It starts early and continues beyond the final whistle.

Fans: A. This isn’t a charity grade given just because the overwhelming majority of Navy fans are Navy veterans and USNA alumni. They’re a friendly, kind, and respectful crowd packed full of USNA and football knowledge. The fans were patient with my endless questions and welcoming to opposing USF fans. All around great crowd.

Extracirriculars: A. Annapolis is one of my favorite college towns I’ve come across. Downtown extends to the east and offers more places to eat and drink than you can count. Move to the east portion and you have newer buildings (by comparison) decked out with breweries and gastropubs. Everything is walkable. Baltimore and Washington D.C. are within a reasonable driving distance and the city itself is accessible by multiple major interstates.

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