The Naval Academy's Army-Navy game uniform is a tribute to a beloved four-legged mascot named Bill
They say he's old and gnarly...
Bill's origin story is a simple one.
The Naval Academy adopted the goat as its mascot after the USS New York anchored off Annapolis. Ship's sailors brought their mascot — a goat named El Cid — ashore with them to observe the Army-Navy game in 1893.
The midshipmen won that game, and after a few more wins attributed to El Cid's presence, the goat's position was cemented. He was named "Bill" a few years later and to this day has a team of caretakers (and an abundance of blankets).
Read more: The bizarre history of the US Naval Academy's mascot, 'Bill the Goat'
Other aspects of the uniforms are steeped in naval heritage and tradition.
"Don't give up the ship" were the last words of Navy Captain James Lawrence, who died from a gunshot wound sustained during battle in the War of 1812.
Lawrence's crew, well, they gave up the ship: they surrendered to the British after a mere 15 minutes.
Regardless, Lawrence is remembered as a hero, and his words became an unofficial battle cry of the US Navy. Captain Oliver Hazard Perry, another hero from that war, had the motto stitched into his battle flag, which still holds a place of honor to this day in the Naval Academy's Memorial Hall.
Six lines on players' pants represent the Navy's first six frigates.
The Naval Academy uniform always features a symbol representing the US Marine Corps.
In the past, the eagle, globe and anchor has appeared on helmets and sleeves, and uniforms sometimes feature a "blood stripe" as a nod to the Corps' dress uniforms.
Naval Academy midshipmen are directly commissioned into the Navy and Marine Corps at graduation. Of the class of 1,000, a handful typically seek commissions in the other services.
On December 8, Navy will try to upset Army's 2-year winning streak.
Historically, Annapolis still has the edge, having won 60 out of 118 games.
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