Army-Navy has one of college sports’ most-storied and most-intense rivalries and Showtime will showcase the teams for a docudrama film titled “A Game of Honor” that will air in December. The project is already underway and will end after this year’s Army-Navy game on Saturday, Dec. 10, at FedEx Field.
Camera crews are following members of the football team from classes to practice and chronicling all aspects of their lives while at Annapolis and West Point.
Showtime’s Ken Hershman discussed this project:
Why pick the Army-Navy game as your first docudrama?
Hershman » The guys at CBS Sports came to me with the project and the more we talked, the more it made sense. I mean you have young men who are playing football for the love of the game and at the same time going through the rigors of becoming an officer in either the United States Army or Navy. They are future leaders whose main focus is to win one game a year. Sure, they would love to go undefeated, but only the Army-Navy game matters to the players, coaches and fans.
What has impressed you about the way the service academies runs their programs?
Hershman » These young men and women who have dedicated themselves to serve our country and lead our military are amazing. The athletic departments at the academies represent the epitome of what sports and sportsmanship are all about, and I thank them for providing our film crews with unprecedented access to their athletic process. We are privileged to tell their stories.
You are going to get eight months of content. What are you going to do with it all?
Hershman » First, we will start with a web-only series. CBSSports.com will air an exclusive 10-episode weekly beginning Monday, October 17. It will give viewers an idea of what goes on prior to each of the games played by both Navy and Army. Then on Wednesday, November 23, we will air a special on the making of “A Game of Honor.” Next, of course, is the Army-Navy game in Washington on December 10. We really hope that President Obama will attend the game. We know he loves sports and this great event. And finally will air “A Game of Honor” on December 21.
Examiner columnist Jim Williams is a seven-time Emmy Award-winning TV producer, director and writer. Check out his blog, Watch this!
