Size Doesn’t Matter
Doug Bateman, USNA ’70, former Navy Seal, former FBI Special Agent

Years from now, the record books will show Navy defeated Missouri in the Texas Bowl.  But what they won’t show is the David and Goliath nature of the contest both on and off the field or the contrast in “style”. You had to be there to appreciate the game, fan support, marching bands and press conference.  The telling of this is not to mollify or enrage Missouri and Navy fans, nor is it to cast aspersions on a worthy opponent.  Rather, it is meant to celebrate the core values of the Brigade of Midshipman, Navy Football and Naval Academy Alumni - honor, courage and commitment.

 At the game ending press conference, Coach Pinkel, the Missouri coach was still in shock when he paid Navy a “compliment”…they (Navy) had a “nice little scheme” …and did “nice little job”.  And we know a “nice little” compliment when we hear one!

 Missouri was favored by the pundits for many reasons, not the least of which was their Big Twelve schedule, fourth ranking rushing defense (96 yds/pg), and NFL pro style offense and talent (wide receiver, No.81).  Coupled with this is the undeniable fact that Missouri was much bigger than Navy.  Missouri players outweighed Navy by at least 40 pounds a man.  As a fan, you don’t really appreciate the Missouri size advantage until you see them on the field next to the Midshipmen. Missouri dressed 21 players over 285 pounds, with 13 tipping the scales over 300 pounds.  Navy on the other hand, had just 3 such behemoths (2 @ 285 and one @ 301 pounds).  There’s an old adage in football –“you can’t coach size” – you either have it or you don’t.  And evidenced by Navy handily defeating the larger MU team, Missouri didn’t coach size very well that day.

Surely what occurred next wasn’t coached at Missouri either.  On the second play of the game, Missouri’s No. 81, the 6’5, 215 pound future NFL draft pick scored on a 58 yard pass reception and while en route to the end zone, turned his head and stuck his tongue out at the Navy secondary.  No doubt thinking, “Hey, this is easy- fool!” This tongue extension was captured for NFL scouts by a photo journalist and published in the Houston Chronicle (see attached photo).   However, the game is played for 60 minutes and Navy controlled the ball 41 of those. While rushing 385 yards and passing 130 yards, Navy clearly out gained, out scored and outclassed a modern day football Goliath. 

 If you can’t win the game at least the bigger school could win the battle of the fans, right?  On their respective home turfs this season, Missouri averaged 64,000 fans while “little” Navy mustered only 32,000 fans - advantage Missouri.  Each school was allotted 11,000 tickets ($65 @).  Missouri finished a distant second to “little” Navy in ticket sales (4,200 v. 18,000 of the paid attendance - 69,441).  This loss cost the Big Twelve and Missouri dearly because instead of receiving half of the $1.25 million dollar guarantee, they must “buy” the unsold tickets (approximately $400,000).  Navy’s ticket sales also included over 800 tickets ($25 @) purchased by the alumni and given to the Midshipman attending the game.   In addition, Navy sold over 5,000 tailgate tickets ($25 @) for the catered pre game meal in a tent covering half a football field.  

Well, if you can’t win the game or tailgate at least Missouri could win the battle of the bands, right?  The safe bet was on the 300 members of the Missouri Marching Band dominating the Naval Academy’s 50 strong Drum and Bugle Corps.  Compared to Navy’s silver bugles and drums, Missouri was imposing with their larger golden euphoniums, tubas and sousaphones.  It was easy to see that Navy’s D&B was in for a long afternoon.

However, what the TV viewing audience could not appreciate happened after the last whistle blew.  In keeping with tradition, win or loose, the Navy football team assembled by the Drum and Bugle Corps and their fellow Midshipmen in the stands for the singing of the school Alma Mater, “Navy Blue and Gold”.  Also staying to sing the Alma Mater (win or loose) and celebrate the trophy presentation were most of the 18,000 Navy faithful and alumni.  In contrast, the Missouri football team, cheerleaders and “Golden Girl” majorettes ran from the field into the tunnel when the last whistle sounded (a Missouri tradition?).  Likewise, the few remaining MU fans made a quick exit, leaving only the 300 MU band members and the Reliant Stadium cleaning crew on the other side of the field.  Unfortunately, Navy fans were not privy to the predetermined the order of events after the game.  The playing of the loosing team’s Alma Mater would commence first, followed by the winning team’s Alma Mater and ending with the trophy presentation.

It has since come to light that the Mizzou Band traditionally plays five songs after every game (two different fight songs, followed by the MU Alma Mater, and finally repeating the first two fight songs).  These five songs took approximately six minutes to play.  At the beginning sixth and final minute, the D&B started playing “Navy Blue and Gold”. Moments after the D&B finished and the cheer “Beat Army” from those closest to the D&B was heard, the Mizzou Band sounded their last note.  There was a perception by Navy fans, especially after the music began to repeat, that they were either witnessing a band practice or this was an unsporting display.  A crescendo of boos from the 16,000
Navy faithful resonated throughout the stadium.  Now we know it was all a terrible misunderstanding (the D&B for encroachment and Mizzou for interference) and apologies have been extended and accepted.

 This perceived one-upmanship might seem trivial to those who never attended the Naval Academy but for the Alumni, it was an insult equivalent to playing your school fight song to drown out “God Bless America”.  The Naval Academy is not your typical college nor is Navy Blue and Gold the typical college fight song, the kind you hear at Notre Dame, Ohio State or Missouri.  Its somber, hymn like quality speaks not only to the tradition and purpose of the Naval Academy but to the bravery and colors of the United States Navy.

Years ago Coach Holtz brought a Notre Dame team to play in the Academy’s Navy Marine Corps Memorial Stadium (emphasis on Memorial), and after reading the 42 names emblazoned on the façade of the second deck, - names like Pearl Harbor, Guadalcanal, Iwo Jima, and Midway, - he remarked, “Now that’s one heck of a schedule”.  Indeed it is. It’s a schedule Navy never bargained for, but was prepared to win… because loosing was never an option.  

This year, Notre Dame lost to the smaller Navy team in South Bend and out of respect, Notre Dame’s Coach Weiss had his team stand behind the Navy during the dulcet tones of Navy Blue and Gold.  As they had done all season, Navy reciprocated.  Likewise, Ohio State’s Coach Tressel invited the smaller Navy football team to meet under the stands before the game, shake hands and take the field along side his Big Ten team.  Thus, avoiding the traditional jeering and booing of a visiting team by 80,000 Ohio State fans.  Later, Coach Tressel received an award for this rare display of sportsmanship.  Let it be said some football programs know how to coach size.  Yes, it’s true some things can’t be coached and one of those intangibles is “heart”…you either have it or you don’t.

The best summation came from a Navy Captain whose current job at the Navy Warfare Development Command in Norfolk is to review Navy Doctrine.  Captain Matt Sharpe ’82 wrote “…our (the Navy’s) core values are not merely words on paper; our core values are deeply held beliefs that define our conduct in all endeavors, from the football field to the battlefield.  When your have honor, courage, and commitment size doesn’t matter.” 
Go Navy! Beat Army!