On This Date in Sports December 7, 1963: Army-Navy, Where History is Made (Featuring Bonus 2018 Pick)
In collaboration with the Sportsecyclopedia.com
Navy holds off a late charge from Army 21-15 at Philadelphia Municipal Stadium. The game is played in memoriam of President John F. Kennedy, who was assassinated two weeks earlier. The Midshipman captained by Heisman winner Roger Staubach get three touchdowns from fullback Pat Donnelly. The game also featured the debut of instant replay on a touchdown by Army quarterback Rollie Stichweh in the fourth quarter.
A fall ritual that began in 1890, the Army-Navy Game has become the ultimate battle for military bragging rights. John F. Kennedy was a big fan of the game and often was in attendance after his decorated Naval career. He was planning to go again, before being killed in Dallas. The game itself was put in jeopardy by the assassination as it was postponed from November 30th, with the nation in a 30-day period of mourning. However, with the persuasion of the Kennedy family, the game was played a week later on Pearl Harbor Day another important day on the calendar at the U.S. Naval Academy.
Few Army-Navy games had more of an impact as both teams had strong seasons, with Army coached by Paul Dietzel sporting a record of 7-2. Navy was even better at 8-1 under the guidance of Wayne Hardin. The Midshipman were ranked #2 with quarterback Roger Staubach winning the Heisman Trophy. The winner of the game would get a date with #1 Texas in the Cotton Bowl, with Navy getting a shot at National Championship. The game was met with more anticipation than normal as more than 100,000 fans flooded into Municipal Stadium in Philadelphia, the traditional home to the Army-Navy game, due its proximity nearly halfway between Annapolis and West Point.
During the pregame ceremonies, silence filled the air, as the fallen president was remembered. Had he not been killed, Kennedy would have performed the opening coin toss as he did in 1962. Army drew first blood, with quarterback Rollie Stichweh scoring in the first quarter. From there it was Navy taking over as they controlled both sides of the line of scrimmage, building a 21-7 lead in the early stages of the fourth quarter, thanks to three power runs from fullback Pat Donnelly. Following Navy’s third score, Army marched down the field and found the end zone again on a one-yard run by Stichweh.
It was at that moment, that television sports changed forever. Prior to the game, Tony Verna, director of the CBS telecast decided to experiment in videotape replay. Videotape was a relatively new technology, with tape decks weighing over 1000 pounds and being the size of a refrigerator. Verna attempted several times to get it right and finally had the right shot to roll out his invention called “Instant Replay”. Not to confuse the home viewers, announcer Lindsay Nelson had to instruct viewers they were not watching live.
Rollie Stichweh added a two-point conversion, making the score 21-15 in favor of Navy with 6:13 left. Not wanting to give the ball back to Roger Staubach and the high powered Navy offense, Army decided to pull out a surprise on-side kick and got the ball back, looking to take the lead. Army would use up the rest of the clock again marching down the field. With the crowd, deafening Army drove down to the two-yard line, but ran out of time as Navy held on for the win.
Navy would go to lose the Cotton Bowl against Texas 28-6, missing a chance to lay a claim at the National Championship. In 1964, the stadium the game was played at would be renamed JFK Stadium.
BONUS PICK FOR 2018 Army-Navy Game
Army 37 Navy 13
The Army-Navy had always been a close matchup, with each team having their years where they dominated. For most of the first 100 plus meetings, the teams traded the all-time series lead. As of 100 meetings in 1999, Army held a slight 48-45-7 series lead. However, in the new century, it was Navy that ran off a dominant stretch, winning 14 straight games from 2002-2015. Army finally ended the drought in 2016 with a dramatic one-point win in 2016 and again won in the snow last year. As of now, Navy leads the series 60-51-7, but Army showing how cyclical that history of the game has been looking ready to go on a streak of their own. It was a strong season for the Black Knights of the Hudson posting a 9-2 record with one loss coming to #4 Oklahoma in overtime on the road. Navy meanwhile suffered their worst season since 2002, losing eight of their last nine games to sit at 3-9. Their defense has struggled all season, especially against option teams. Army has looked strong all season and will go in and roll to a big win seizing momentum in the series with the hopes of one day, regaining the all-time lead.