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Angela and I, being very passionate college football fans, have traveled thousands of miles to see live gridiron games whenever we can. 
One college sports tradition we have never paid much attention to, however, is the annual Army-Navy game, as we have no vested interest in either team. Working in the US Navy as a profession, I come across many Annapolis grads who hype up the game. This year we decided to experience the game as much as we could here in Japan. The week before the game my boss, a USNA grad, started talking trash-talk about West Point and how they used to prank Cadets. At this point I realized the rivalry was a unique one, different than say the Hokies hatred towards Miami (UVA used to be a rival… but they have to try to win a game once a decade).
The game was set to air live at 0330 local Sunday morning, so we hatched a plan with my co-workers to party all night prior to the game, and continue into the morning. We headed out to a late dinner at our favorite Yakiniku place to fill up. It should be noted that Angela and I actually donned Navy gear, despite our natural inclination to wear Hokie jerseys to have that “REAL” college football feel. After delicious meat we sang our lungs out at a typical Japanese Karaoke bar till 2 in the morning. The Officer’s Club on base was having a free breakfast bar and showing the game, so we staggered in for eggs and coffee as the place filled up. Once kickoff happened, the viewing experience was different than any college game we have watched together. During most Hokie games, we watch every play intently waiting for that special moment when Tyrod
Taylor did something awesome, or to see a blocked kick make Lane Stadium explode. The Navy fans sort of watched the game, but focused more on drinking and talking hours worth of trash on Army. Navy won the game handily, eliciting cheers and more drinking. There was little game analysis, but it was fun all around. If Navy had lost the atmosphere would have likely been exactly the same. We shook congratulatory hands all around and walked out of the bar into harsh daylight. It had been quite a while since we had done an all-nighter, but we left having experienced another unique moment in college sports.
Once Nebraska lost the Big 12 Championship game to Texas by a last second field goal, we were excited to see them come to San Diego for the Pacific Life Holiday Bowl. I have grown up on Nebraska Football, watching the dominant Tom Osborne teams of the 1990s and was excited to see them play twice in the same year. Angela and I were in attendance for the Virginia Tech-Nebraska game in September in which the Hokies paid the devil back for delivering us Michael Vick with a last minute win over the Huskers. I have been impressed that Nebraska hired Bo Pelini to take over their program, as Callahan was the worst hire in modern college sp
orts history and nearly ran the program into complete mediocrity. I mean, who installs the West Coast offense in Lincoln?! The Huskers came into the game a bit disappointed and cheated from their game against Texas and were set to play the Arizona Wildcats who were coming into the game off of an upset of USC. With the game across the street, we were excited to possibly tailgate and meet some fans . We ordered Nebraska T-shirts and game-faces and made the perfect tailgate food in runzas. If you have never been to Nebraska, a runza is meat and cabbage wrapped in dough. Simple goodness. I made a few then we hit the tailgates. It was raining (odd in SoCal)
so was not as picturesque as normal, but there was a buzz in the air for an exciting game. We bought good seats from MWR, bought drinks (Margarita in a cup, really?) and watched a packed stadium enjoy pre-game festivities. The game itself was a beat-down by the Huskers, winning going away 33-0, and we had a good time trying to stay warm. Sitting near a guy in a chicken suit was annoying but we moved when all the Arizona Fans gave up on their team. We got some sleep and got ready to drive to Vegas for New Years!
