Chief S Trophy

In terms of length and lore, the rivalry between Navy and Air Force does not come close to approaching the storied 118-year marathon between the Midshipmen and Army. "Army is bigger in the sense that it's America's game. That's the one that's played on national television," Navy linebacker Clint Sovie said this week. "The Army game has all the festivities. ... Air Force does not. To the outsider, I'm sure it looks a lot different. It is about the same for us." Said Air Force athletic director Hans Mueh: "[Army-Navy is]

What went right Navy's defense played better, forcing Northern Illinois to punt four times - a season high - and the defense also picked off a pass and had two sacks and several hurries. All major improvements. What went wrong The defense couldn't stop Northern Illinois on fourth down, as the Huskies went 7-for-7, while Navy was 0-for-1. Defining moments Senior free safety Greg Thrasher, starting for the injured Ketric Buffin, stopped a potential game-tying drive by Northern Illinois when he intercepted a pass tipped by Corey Johnson with 8:27 to play in the second quarter.

Navy fullback Adam Ballard echoed the sentiments of every senior on the Midshipmen football team yesterday when he said: "We don't want to be the ones to lower the bar." Navy, you see, has started a tradition - a four-year tradition now - of winning seasons, going to bowl games and being the winner of the Commander in Chief's Trophy that goes to the team winning the series among the three service academies. "The thinking here has changed a lot since my freshman year," senior center Antron Harper said.

Philadelphia -- All the pomp, pageantry and tradition that make the Army-Navy game unique will be on prominent display again today when the military academy rivals clash in their 106th meeting at Lincoln Financial Field. But to the opposing football teams, it's primarily about capturing the hardware and resultant bragging rights for servicemen and women throughout the world. For the first time in nine years, the coveted Commander in Chief's Trophy will be the spoil that goes to the winner, adding vital significance to a game that always stands as the most important of the year for the Black Knights and Midshipmen.

The Navy football team will know its postseason destination soon, but it already knows where its immediate focus should be. Army is on the horizon in less than two weeks, and the bowl opponent will have to wait to get the attention of the Midshipmen. The Commander in Chief's Trophy is in the balance. If the minds of the players wander, the coaching staff will certainly snap them to attention. "It's a big, big game," coach Paul Johnson said yesterday of the 106th meeting with the Black Knights on Dec. 3 in Philadelphia.

Now, Navy's football season turns very serious. With a first victory finally secured - albeit not easily because of miscues and penalties - the Midshipmen will be stalking big game this weekend when they host an Air Force team from which they have wrested the Commander in Chief's Trophy for two years running. Named in honor of the nation's president, the trophy is presented to the winner of competition among the three major service academies. "This is a big game coming up, and it's always going to be a big game," Navy coach Paul Johnson said.

All the pomp, pageantry and drama of the Army-Navy game will be renewed against a likely snowy backdrop today when the two service rivals clash in their 104th meeting at Philadelphia's Lincoln Financial Field. With a worldwide audience watching and/or listening, the resurgent Midshipmen will attempt to accomplish their third goal of this season - to secure the Commander in Chief's Trophy that is awarded to the winner of competition among the three major services academies and is named in honor of the president of the United States.

The spoils are awaiting Navy's claim. Beginning with today's Senior Day game against Central Michigan, a raft of rewards are at stake for the Midshipmen to climax this comeback season, including their first Commander in Chief's Trophy in more than two decades, a first winning record in six years and a potential bowl-game invitation. Not to mention some restored pride. But first things first. After three dismal autumns that produced three victories in 33 games, Navy can clinch a winning record by beating the Chippewas and send off 22 soon-to-be-graduated seniors in grand style.

Everything has happened so quickly for Navy freshman safety Kevin Newsome. One minute, he was winding up his days at Raines High School in Jacksonville, Fla. The next, he was battling the rugged, two-month academy introduction known as plebe summer. Then, suddenly, Newsome was playing before crowds exceeding 30,000, in games more fast-paced than anything he had ever known. "It's a process of getting out there, tasting it, seeing how fast everybody was running around," Newsome said. "It seems like a dream, with how fast it's happened."

Navy hasn't won the Commander in Chief's Trophy outright since 1981.Air Force has laid claim to the award, emblematic of service academy football supremacy, six of the past eight years.Who wants it more?That question and some others will be answered today when Navy (2-2) plays host to No. 19 Air Force (6-0) at sold-out Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium in Annapolis."Winning the Commander in Chief's Trophy has always been the No. 1 goal in our football program and is something we take enormous pride in trying to achieve," said Air Force coach Fisher DeBerry, who enters today's noon kickoff with a 20-6 interservice academy record.