Yale-Army offers more than just a game

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NEW HAVEN >> The Yale-Army rivalry is one rich with history and tradition.

The programs, which are two of the most storied in college football, first met in 1893. A crowd of 80,000 at the Yale Bowl, the biggest in Bulldogs history, watched as Yale beat Army 31-10 in 1923. The last time they met in 1996. Army coasted to a 39-13 victory.

The series has had many special moments, and now Yale and Army will get a chance to add another chapter to it.

The Bulldogs will host the Black Knights on Saturday at 1 p.m. at the Yale Bowl, part of the 100th anniversary celebration of the historic venue.

“It’s great to be a part of this game,” Yale captain Deon Randall said. “There’s so much history and tradition behind it, that motivates the guys to play well.”

But this isn’t just a football game. It’s bigger than that.

Festivities will kick off on Friday night at Woolsey Hall. Marching bands of both schools will join together and perform a free concert beginning at 8 p.m. They will play patriotic music, game day classics and school fight songs.

(Peter Hvizdak - New Haven Register) ¬ Deon Randall of Yale scores a touchdown after he gets by Oliver Rigaud of Lehigh during first quarter football action at Yale Bowl in New Haven, Conn. Saturday, September 20, 2014. less (Peter Hvizdak - New Haven Register) ¬ Deon Randall of Yale scores a touchdown after he gets by Oliver Rigaud of Lehigh during first quarter football action at Yale Bowl in New Haven, Conn. Saturday, ... more Photo: ©2014 Peter Hvizdak Photo: ©2014 Peter Hvizdak Image 1 of / 1 Caption Close Yale-Army offers more than just a game 1 / 1 Back to Gallery

Around 1,000 cadets will arrive by bus at 9:30 a.m. on Saturday. They will march from Marginal Drive across Derby Avenue, through the Walter Camp Memorial to and then clockwise around Yale Bowl, and on to the field.

During the pregame, paratroopers will drop into the Bowl from helicopters with game balls.

A crowd of about 40,000 is expected. Ticket sales were up to 15,000 last week.

“It’s a reason for people to get excited about Yale football,” Yale running back Tyler Varga said. “It’s great for the school and football in general, to celebrate the storied tradition and the history of an incredible game. And it’s a great opportunity to relish what we have here and pay tribute to the men who fight for America as well. We’re all excited to play in the game. We’re really living in the moment right now, but when we look back at it, it’ll have even more significance.”

This game has been a decade in the making. Yale athletic director Tom Beckett was instrumental in making it happen. He contacted good friend and newly hired Army athletic director at the time, Kevin Anderson in 2004 about the possibility. Anderson was on board. Originally, a three-game series was scheduled. Yale was supposed to play at Army in 2010 and 2012, and then at Yale this year to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the Bowl. But because Army is a scholarship program and Yale is not, the Black Knights needed a waiver to remain Bowl eligible in the FBS. The NCAA did not award the waiver for the 2010 and 2012 games, so Army had to back out. This year’s game remained scheduled and Army was granted the waiver.

“For me,” Beckett said. “It’s been a real thrill to work and make this game a reality.”

Yale has played all service academies, but none matched the rivalry it had with Army. This game is arguably comparable to a Yale-Harvard game or an Army-Navy game. Of the top 10 Bowl crowds, five came against Army and none of those were under 74,000.

After an 18-year hiatus, the two programs will finally meet again on Saturday. It will be the 46th Yale-Army game and it should certainly be worth the wait.

“I think it’s great,” legendary coach Carm Cozza said. “Two things that stand out. No. 1, you’re not going to out-condition them. They start marching in July. They play every game, every play, like it’s there last play. Whether you’re up 50 or down 50, you have to be ready to play every down. And you wouldn’t expect anything less from the people that are defending our country.”

BOOK SIGNING

Author Rich Marazzi will be at the Yale Bookstore on Friday from 6:30-7:30 p.m., signing copies of his book, “A Bowl Full of Memories: 100 Years of Football at the Yale Bowl.”

Marazzi will also be at Campus Customs in New Haven from 5-6 p.m. on Saturday and he will be selling books on game day by Portal 17 at Bowl.

Marazzi’s coffee table book is filled with photos and tells the rich history of Yale football and the Yale Bowl through narrative and first-person stories. He interviewed coaches, fans, sports media and over 100 players.

The book is sold at Barnes and Noble, Amazon.com, the Yale Bookstore and Campus Customs.

ESPN COLLEGE GAME DAY

ESPN may have snubbed the Yale-Army game, as it is headed to South Carolina for College Game Day this weekend. But it isn’t totally neglecting the storied rivalry and the 100th anniversary of the Yale Bowl. Producers will spend some time down at the Bowl this week for a feature on the historic venue for Saturday’s show.