<p>This has got to be the most amazing thread that I have ever read. And in the hopes of being an anonymous quote in the Washington Post, I feel a necessity to respond. As a matter of fact, I joined this forum just to respond to this thread.</p>
<p>First off, no where on my ticket nor in any of the advanced hype for the game did I read anything about it being a football game and a marching contest. In case none of you noted or failed to grasp the obvious significance, the photographs were taken and edited by woops. I’m sure had I known Navy was going to lose and were preparing myself to air some sour grapes, I could have climbed into the nosebleed seats, taken a few pictures, edited out the best of Army, added the best of Navy, and claimed that Army couldn’t march. But I was there for a football game instead of a drill contest, so I really didn’t care. Besides, back in the summer of 1965 right before Parent’s Weekend, my Plebe Summer Platoon Leader told us that at that moment was the best we would ever march. That it would be downhill from there. The Navy is not a marching service. If we were truly attempting to thrill football fans with our drilling abilities, we would not wear white covers, we would fall in according to height, and would take an extra fifteen minutes marching off the field so that the march on would have to be scheduled even earlier in the day. Get over it Army, you lost. I suppose I could develop a slide show showing the Midshipmen cheering wildly and the Woops dejectedly sitting on their thumbs and say that I was disappointed in the Woops lack of enthusiasm but that would be rubbing things in, kind of akin to the sour grapes of perceived marching abilities.</p>
<p>Secondly, we have a bunch of neo-Nazis taking videos. God knows what their motives are. Like Zap, I am not about to give them the attention necessary to figure it out. They made videos of the Brigade movement from T-Court to the stadium. Back in the ‘60s when I did it, we did not march. It was a mass cluster. An informal pep rally. Interaction with the locals. Cheering with the other fans. We gaggled to the stadium, Heck, our little brothers, sisters, and girlfriends “marched” with us. We arrived at the stadium, formed up, and marched in. From all I have seen, as a 20 year season ticket holder, that is what it continues to be. Midshipmen aren’t always the “automatons they see up on the Hudson”. The opportunity to have fun exists occasionally. Getting to the stadium for home football games is one of them. Lighten up folks. </p>
<p>Thirdly, that the WP would stoop to quote a forum such as this with their “undisciplined louts in uniform” comment has got to be the most ludicrous of all. I heard somewhere once that the only fool bigger than someone who posts on internet forums is the person who heeds their advice. The WP journalist in this case certainly fits that description. His actions were more fitting for his neighbor to the north, the Baltimore Sun.</p>
<p>Army, get over it. Navy won. For the fifth consecutive time.</p>
<p>Admiral Rempt is seeing the light and backing off on the Lamar Owens issue. I certainly hope that published loutish ignorant comments such as “undisciplined louts in uniform” had nothing to do with his decision.</p>
<p>The one thing that I choose to find unbelievable about this whole thread is the woops with the golf balls. Also, one of the woop “defendants” stated that it was acceptable to taunt ones opponents. Since when? We are a cut above. When I was a midshipman, we were not even allowed to “boo” our opponents. I will continue to believe that this is just a rebuttal to a ridiculous woop charge from an overzealous Navy fan.</p>
<p>GO NAVY!!!
BEAT ARMY!!!</p>