Winners shed tears too

In a world where we spend more time wondering if coaches will get to keep wins because of potential violations, players get in fights, and players are under investigation with the NCAA asking for bank records, Air Force and Navy showed us again what is right about college football.

Defensive dominance, quality special teams, and in the end a kicker who went 6-6 this week in practice, sponsored a thrilling, 16-13, overtime victory for the Mids over service-academy rival Air Force for the seventh straight time.

As I interviewed Navy Senior co-captain Ross Pospisil after the playing of the Blue and Gold, Navy's Alma mater, tears flowed from his eyes. He had just helped lead his team to a big win, his brigade got extended Liberty, more important, his team won the first game in defense of the Commander-In-Chiefs Trophy, given to the best team in competition between the Mids, Falcons, and Army.

"Jesus Christ is so strong. How he can lift you up and give you the energy to compete with these great players I play with and play against, I'd got to war with these guys anytime, It's a real brotherhood,'' Pospisil said.

Navy and Air Force have been bitter rivals between the white lines. For many years, Navy could do nothing about the athletic arrogance that the Falcons displayed in practically owning the CIC Trophy. Now, that shoe is on the other foot. AF can't find the one play they need to win one of these close games and kicker Joe Buckley joined a list of Navy kickers in the new decade who have found a career moment against the Falcons.

"Matt Harmon sent me a message this week on facebook and just reminded me keep my head down. Joey Bullen, I love the guy, I'm just glad I could help the team since this game means so much,'' Buckley said. Harmon and Bullen had great moments in the past against Air Force.

There was high emotion all day from both teams. There was blood, sweat, frustration, hard hitting, and great enthusiasm from the 37,820 who were in attendance.

There were future leaders of the country, laying it on the line, when many seniors for both teams will never sniff pro football. While they hate losing to each other, at games end hand shakes and hugs were exchanged. Navy coach Ken Niamatalolo after the game went right to Ben Garland, Air Force's outstanding nose-guard and hugged him and told him how great a game he played. One man rarely stops the triple-option, Garland did that on Saturday.

While there may be chances down the road to broadcast BCS teams, or games with even more national relevance, I'll take broadcasting a game between these two teams any time.

Thank you gents for a job well done.