More Than Sports

For Military Academy Athletes, the Final Score is Anything But Final

Each year, the Commander-in-Chief’s Trophy is almost always overshadowed by big-name bowl games with corporate sponsors, prime-time television spots, and an endless runup to the “big game.”

For military academy athletes, the one trophy that matters most is the one they fight all season for and usually goes unnoticed by casual college football fans. This year, we were fortunate to photograph the annual contest between Army and Air Force, one the few games that determine the Commander-in-Chief’s Trophy. All the major military academy teams compete for that crown: Army, Navy, and Air Force. It’s especially significant because a vast majority of the players won’t go pro in anything other than their military careers after they graduate.

All academy athletes list “football” as a distant third on their list of responsibilities. Those players are soldiers and students, first and foremost, receiving little to no compensation for their efforts to play. That means earlier mornings and later nights to practice and play, and their labors are genuinely outstanding because they love the game. This year’s competition was especially significant. Although Air Force was a heavy favorite going into the contest, Army eventually prevailed in a very exciting game. We applaud both teams in the contest and each player who works tirelessly to play football in addition to the service they provide to us in the U.S. Armed Forces.

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