Army center Pete Bier arrived at West Point in 2002 with great anticipation of defeating Navy at the end of every regular season.
Bier knew coming to Army would likely mean victories would be hard to come by, considering the Black Knights had not posted a winning record since 1997, when they went 10-2 and narrowly lost to Auburn in the Independence Bowl. Still, Bier could handle that as long as he could graduate with at least one win over the Midshipmen.
Four years later, Bier is still waiting for that elusive victory. He?ll get one last chance Saturday at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia, where the Midshipmen and Black Knights will face off for the 107th time. Navy (8-3) owns victories over Army (3-8) in the last four meetings by a combined score of 176-54. However, Navy holds only a slight 50-49-7 lead in the overall series.
“I don?t want to be the guy who was at Army for five years and never beat Navy,” said Bier, a 6-foot-4, 282-pound co-captain. “Navy is going to be my complete focus from now until the game. I?m going to treat every practice like it?s the actual game.”
Bier said beating Navy in his final collegiate game would erase all of those bad memories, including a 42-23 Midshipmen rout last year. A victory by the Black Knights would give them a share of the Commander-in-Chief?s Trophy for the first time since 1996. However, Navy would still retain the actual trophy thanks to its victory over Air Force and Army?s subsequent loss to the Falcons last month.
Bier?s mindset is shared by all of Army?s 32-member senior class, which is 1-6 overall against fellow service academies Navy and Air Force.
This is a far contrast from Navy?s current 35-member senior class, which is looking to leave Philadelphia Saturday having never lost to a service academy.
“I?ve had a real sour taste in my mouth the last three years because we haven?t been able to beat Navy,” said Army co-captain and defensive end Cameron Craig. “It?s been even worse with how bad Navy has beaten us over that time. I would erase every win we?ve ever had for a chance to beat Navy this year. If that happens, I would consider this a successful season.”
Army vs. Navy
Where: Lincoln
Financial Field
When: 2:30 p.m., Saturday
TV: CBS
Radio: 1090 AM
ARMY-NAVY NOTES
» An Army victory over Navy Saturday would snap a five-game losing streak by the Black Knights and allow them to match last season?s 4-8 record.
» Despite Navy?s recent domination, Army had not trailed in the all-time series since 1991.
» A Navy win would match its longest winning streak in the series. The Mids also won five straight over Army from 1959 to ?63. Neither service academy has ever won six straight over the other.
