Everything about the annual rivalry game between the Army Black Knights and Navy Midshipmen is iconic, from its standout date on the calendar to the offensive schemes to the uniforms themselves. Each year, both teams debut special uniforms to honor past heroes, and 2024 is no exception.
This season, Army football is honoring the iconic 101st Airborne Division with its Army-Navy Game uniforms. Everything from head to toe symbolizes a piece of history in the 125th meeting of Army-Navy.
Army Football Releases ‘101st Airborne’ Special Uniforms
In the 125th edition of the Army-Navy Game, the Black Knights are wearing a first-ever tribute to the 101st Airborne Division. Every part of the uniform represents a part of the unit’s history, starting with its heroic stand in the “defense of Bastogne.”
The paratroopers and a handful of other divisions were outnumbered five to one, a critical crossroads in the heart of the fighting at the Battle of the Bulge late in World War II.
When the German commander called on the U.S. forces to surrender, acting commander Brigadier General Anthony McAuliffe simply replied, “Nuts!”
The 101st held the line against a heavy siege of 24 divisions, including 10 divisions of Panzer tanks, until the rest of General George S. Patton’s Third Army could reach Bastogne. Then, the paratroopers spearheaded the counter-attack that effectively ended the War in Europe.
Every element of the Black Knights’ uniforms pays homage to the division’s history.
Why Does Army Have Different Helmets for Army-Navy Game?
The first thing you’ll notice is that the Black Knights will have four different helmets, each one of the suits of cards. They’re randomly distributed throughout the team, each representing the unit affiliations of several 101st paratrooper and glider units on the jump into Normandy and, subsequently, the fighting in the European Theater.
The clubs represent the 327th Glider Infantry Regiment, diamonds are for the 501st Parachute Infantry Regiment (PIR), the 502nd PIR is represented by hearts, and spades are for the 506th PIR.
Also on the helmet is the “Screaming Eagles” patch above the facemask, a depiction of “Old Abe” a bald eagle first used by Union troops in the Civil War.
Emblazened on the right shoulder is “The Invasion Star” surrounded by a circle with seven gaps representing the seven roads that converged at Bastogne. Similarly, a jersey patch reading “BASTOGNE” has been made to copy the lettering of the road sign entering the city.
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The 101st Airborne traces its roots back to the 8th Wisconsin Infantry Regiment, a volunteer infantry regiment formed in the Civil War. A shoulder patch with “Old Abe” pays homage to the division’s roots.
The back of the jerseys will have “A R M Y !” written in the typography of McAuliffe’s famous reply. The other shoulder patch is an exact replica of the 1944 patches worn on the paratrooper’s jumpsuits.
Even the color has meaning, as the slate gray of the uniform is a nod to the canopy of fog, shadows, and snow in the Ardennes Forest. The lack of clear sight around Christmas 1944 made the paratroopers’ defense even more improbable. They had no air support and were greatly outnumbered but held their ground.
So when you watch the 125th edition of the Army-Navy Game, enjoy the uniforms and know that every part was done with purpose and precision.
Army and Navy play on Dec. 14 at 3 p.m. ET in Landover, Md. Both teams made a bowl and, once again, the winner will hoist the Commander-in-Chief’s Trophy.
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