by Mike Sharkey
Staff Writer
If Jacksonville can land a Super Bowl, why not one of college football’s most tradition-rich rivalries?
The City inquired recently about hosting the annual Army-Navy game, which is looking for a new home starting with the 2004 season. This year’s game is scheduled for Giants Stadium in East Rutherford, N.J. with the 2003 contest set for the new stadium in Philadelphia, the usual site of the game. The contract with Philadelphia expires after the 2003 game and both schools are shopping the game to venues around the country.
Late last month, Mayor John Delaney sent a letter to the athletic directors at both academies — Rick Greenspan of West Point and Chet Gladchuk of the Naval Academy in Annapolis — asking them to consider Jacksonville as a possible site for a future game or possibly the permanent home. Delaney cited several factors that make Jacksonville an attractive location, including the fact that the city already hosts a major college rivalry every year (the Florida-Georgia game), the huge local military presence — both active and retired — and the forthcoming renovations to Alltel Stadium in preparation for the 2005 Super Bowl.
“We sent letters to both Army and the Naval Academy,” said Audrey Moran, Delaney’s chief of staff. “We want to be considered for the Army-Navy game because we feel we have a great community for the game.”
Moran said officials weren’t seeking a specific year, but would be willing to host the game any year or sign a long term lease similar to the Florida-Georgia agreement.
“As soon as they want to bring it here, we are ready to have it,” said Moran. “Our facility will only get better.”
For over 100 years, Army and Navy have been playing football, a rivalry dating to 1890 when the first game was played at West Point. Most years the game has little to no bearing on the national college football season. Neither school offers football scholarships and the emphasis at both schools is on academics and service. However, that doesn’t take away from the pomp, circumstance and pride that epitomize the game.
In his letter, Delaney made it clear that he understands the tradition of the game and believes Jacksonville is as good a selection as anyone.
“With a strong military presence and a proven track record for hosting major events, Jacksonville is well-prepared to host this long-standing football tradition,” wrote Delaney.
Neither Greenspan nor Gladchuk returned phone calls, but Greenspan did respond in writing to Delaney, telling him that he was aware of Jacksonville’s amenities and that West Point was currently formulating a Request for Proposal for cities interested in hosting the game. Once the RFP has been completed, Greenspan said they will be sent to all interested cities, site visits will be conducted and at least the 2004 game will be awarded — perhaps at this year’s game.
Other interested cities include Tampa, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Chicago, Baltimore and Seattle. The game, which is traditionally held the first Saturday in December, has never been played at a southern venue, but has been played at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena.
One of the key factors every city will have to address is the ability to house and move the 8,000 midshipmen and cadets that attend the game. Jacksonville may have an edge in that facet considering the number of hotels located in the area combined with the fact that Jacksonville doesn’t host another major event that time of year.