Service Academy Football, Playing better than ever

Each one of the three Division 1-A or FBS (as it is called now) service academies have at one time or another had some successful times in their past.  So before we look at the present let's have a little history lesson. First with Navy, they claim a National Championship for the 1926 season and have 2 Heisman trophy winners in Roger Staubach and Joe Bellino.  Some however could argue Navy football has been its best since 2003.  In fact this season will be the first since 2003 Navy will not own the coveted Commander in Chiefs Trophy.  Navy's greatest rival Army also has a storied football past.  Army was able to win three consecutive National Championships in the late 1940s, 1944-1946.  Two of the three Heisman winner for Army was during these championship years, Mr. Inside and Mr. Outside, Doc Blanchard and Glenn Davis, Pete Dawkins also won the award for Army in 1958.  Air Force might have the most successful program as far as having a consistent winner.  The Falcons started playing football in 1956 and have made 20 bowl games the most of the three academies.  Air Force's standout season was in 1985 when they went 12-1 and finished # 5 in the country.

So after reading all of this im sure you're wondering why bring this up now?  Well this saturday Army beat Kent State 45-28.  So what right, with that win Army has 6 wins which in college football means you are bowl eligible.  Which is big for two reasons.  One, Army has only gone to four bowls in its history, and havent been to one since 1996.  But the biggest reason is for this first time ever all three service academies should be bowling in the same season.  That is an amazing stat, Army and Navy have been playing football since the 1890s and Air Force since the 1950s.  You would think that once just once all three would make it.  At this time only Navy has accepted a bowl bid, they will be playing in the Poinsettia Bowl in San Diego.  Army (6-4) and Air Force (7-4) have not officially accepted a bowl bid but you have to imagine they will accept when they get invited.  There was a time when playing the service academy teams was an easy win for most programs.  After this year maybe things will change a little.  All three schools have had their moments in the sun but very rarely have they all shared it at the same time.  If nothing else this years Army-Navy game should be the most competitive in years.  Hopefully 2010 will become the rule more than the exception, the better all three play the more exciting college football is to me.