Army-Navy Game for 2020: Report from Annapolis | Annapolis, Maryland 9 December 2020
Dear Classmates, Family and Friends of the Class of 1963,
It is overcast, clear and cold here in Annapolis. The weather report calls for a trace of snow. Winter
has arrived. We are close to the winter solstice and the shortest day of the year.
It is Army-Navy game time. This year the game is being played in Miche Stadium at the
U.S.Military Academy at West Point. This is the first time the game has been played at West Point since
1943. The City of Philadelphia declined to host the game due to COVID 19 virus restrictions. West Point,
this year's host, agreed to have the game there. There will be no open admission to the game. Only the
Corps of Cadets and the Brigade of Midshipmen, along with support personnel and select officers, will
be in the stands. Attendees will be seated four feet apart. West Point will provide meals for all. The
Brigade of Midshipmen will begin boarding 170 busses at 0400 for the four and a half hour trip to West
Point. The first contingent will arrive about 0830. The busses will have a police escort all the way to
West Point and for the return trip immediately after the game. The "march on" is scheduled for 1200 or
so.
Game time is three PM (1500} EST. The game will be televised on CBS. ESPN will air a pregame
program from 0900-1200. CBS will pick up at noon. This could vary in some areas.
There will be only 25 midshipmen per bus to allow social spacing. The cost of busing the Brigade to
West Point and back is estimated at $600,000. As sponsor for the game, USAA has generously
volunteered to pay the expense of moving the Brigade to West Point and back.
This is exam week at the Naval Academy. The last exam will be administered on Friday afternoon.
After returning from West Point, the Brigade will get a good night's rest and depart on five weeks of
leave on Sunday afternoon, returning on 5 January.
The COVID Bubble The Naval Academy has done a fantastic job of creating a virus deterring
bubble in the Yard. Based on an Air Force Academy operations research model, 15% of the Brigade,
faculty and staff are tested every week. That accounts for 60% of the whole each month, which allows
for the identification of "hot spots" and appropriate isolation procedures to be effected. It is working well.
Varsity athletes are tested three times a week. There have been no positive tests on the Navy or Army
football teams recently.
There has been no liberty granted in the last five weeks. The Academy is closed to all but faculty,
staff and midshipmen. The result has been an Academy positive testing rate of 0.5 percent as
compared to what is now almost 8.0 percent in the Annapolis area. On returning from leave in groups,
all midshipmen will be tested, enter a quarantine period, and be tested again. Classes begin on the 19th
of January and will be virtual initially, shifting to personal classes or a hybrid as conditions permit.
There will be no midshipmen quartered at St John's in the Spring semester. St. John's hopes to be
bringing its own students back next semester. Since the first wing will still be required as a COVID
isolation area, three hundred midshipmen comprising all classes will reside with family and sponsors in
the local area and commute from there for classes and activities.
The Superintendent is planning for a normal graduation week, circumstances permitting. The Naval
Academy is high on the priority list for COVID vacine distribution. The Brigade is expected to receive the
vacine in February and March so they can join the fleet at the end of the semester for much needed
training that had to be cancelled last summer. At least one cruise aboard ship is now required for
graduation.
The Game Chet Gladcchuck said today that this year's game will be decided on toughness. Navy
enters with a 3-6 season and army with a 17-1 season. The Army record has been against relatively
weak teams---but that's the "fearless Army way". There is really no favored team going into the game on
Saturday. We can expect anything to happen as is usual in an Army-Navy game. The Navy team is said
to be ready, even though exam week this week and a game last Saturday has left little traditional
practice time to focus solely on Army. I know we will all be cheering for a great Navy victory on Saturday.
This team can do it. Expect to win!!!
The President is announced as attending the game. He will sit on one side and shift sides at halftime .
Tecumseh. A major differance this year is that Tecumseh will not be wearing his traditional war
paint. On suggestions from members of the Brigade, faculty, and staff, Tecumseh is no longer painted
for major events. The two cannon pedestals to either side of the entrance to Tecumseh Court are
approporiately painted instead. Tecumseh is still, however, receiving left handed salutes and pennies (or
larger coins depending on going in GPAs) from mishipmen enroute exams. I was a silver dollar man for
some courses.
The Midshipman Action Group Last year about this time the Midshipmen Action Group collected
60,000 pounds (30 tons) of foodstuffs for local food banks. This year, with the restrictions imposed by
the COVID 19 virus, they had to rely primarily on internet on-line appeals. The result is that they have
gathered 70,000 pounds (35 tons ) of food to meet expanding needs. With a spirit and accomplishments
like that, how could we lose to anyone?
That's all the news from Crabtown.
Stay warm and stay safe.
Quality 63
Spencer Johnson '63
|  | Congratulations
to Navy Men's Basketball in their historic defeat of Georgetown
University (yes, that Georgetown) 78-71 on Tuesday evening, 1 Dec 2020,
McDonough Field House. Historic? First time over Georgetown since winning, 56-55, on Jan. 12, 1977, in Washington, D.C.. Our own alum George Corbalis (shown above in short pants) was impressed also:That
is a really big win! Georgetown is always strong. The only time
we played them while I was playing plebe B-ball, lost in a tough one by
a few points. But I’m my varsity time we beat Florida and Georgia
Tech for the 1961 Gator Bowl Holiday Classic championship. Played
guard, scored 6 pts (I think) in the championship game. We were
rewarded by then traveling to Miami (stayed at the Fontenbleau )
to witness Joe Bellino score 3 TDs in a losing effort to Missouri in
the Orange Bowl. My roommate, Dick Tash, played wide receiver in
that game. So much for my ancient history. | Happy 100th Birthday Maury! |  | It's
not often that a Chapter gets to celebrate the 100th Birthday of an
Alumnus. Like, maybe, never! The Academy's recent 175th Birthday (10 Oct 1845) led the way to Maury Hartle's 100th (20 Nov 1920).
Maury Hartle Class of 1944, and USNA founded 1845 - Two fine
honorable institutions that have stood the test of time! Because
of that crazy Covid-19 thing, Maury and Family will be celebrating on
his 101st birthday in 2021, and you are all invited! Meanwhile: The Bernalillo County Sheriff's Office conducted a special siren
parade and honorary presentation for Maury on his birthday, 20 Nov
2020. The video is on YouTube.
[at left] This portrait of Maury was done as a tribute by a friend and presented to Maury in recogition of his 100th birthday. [above]
CAPT Maury Hartle, USN, and Mid'n Maury Hartle, USNA. Maury hasn't changed that much since his Lucky Bag photo, 1944 - the
smart money says he could still row crew or get back on the gridiron.
| Sports
Note: Air
Force's football game at Army, originally scheduled for Saturday, Nov.
7, at 11:30 a.m. ET was postponed due to upward trends of COVID-19
cases at the Air Force Academy, the football program and in the
surrounding community. The schools will work to reschedule if possible. |
|
2020 Chapter
Officers | | 2020 Chapter
Events (what a mess!) |
Profiles of Chapter Officers are linked at right:
Contact Officers
with your requests or suggestions
|
|
Thursday 23 April 2020 CANX! | Spring Dinner Event - Event has been CANCELLED due to virus shutdown and will NOT be held at the Canyon Club at Four Hills in Albuquerque on Thursday 23 April 2020.
The program featuring Special Guest Speaker: Col Richard "Mike" Mullane, USMA '67, former Astronaut will speak on "An Evening In Space" will hopefully be re-scheduled at some later date. | Thursday 14 May 2020 CANX! | Board Briefing - Event has been CANCELLED due to virus shutdown and will NOT be held at the Canyon Club at Four Hills in Albuquerque on Thursday 14 May 2020.
The planned program featuring Special Guest: Steve Hall '75, our Western Region Trustee
of the US Naval Academy will hopefully be re-scheduled some other year.
|
Sunday 7 June 2020 CANX! |
Chapter Picnic
- Event has been CANCELLED due to virus shutdown and will NOT be held at Elena Gallegos Recreation
Area,
Kiwanis
Shelter (about 1 mile North of Montgomery on Tramway).
|
Saturday
29 Aug 2020 CANX! | Navy-Notre Dame Game (from Dublin, Ireland). Event has been CANCELLED due to virus shutdown . Our own. Coach Niumatalolo has three wins over Notre
Dame: 2009, 2010, and 2016. We made e'm so mad in 2016 they fired their Defensive Coordinator. 4th Victory in 52 years! Why does Notre Dame play Navy every year? Out of gratitude! Here is the story. |
Saturday 3 Oct 2020 7-40 Loss |
Navy-Air Force Game (at Colorado Springs). Disappointing result in Colorado, always a tough venue for Coach Ken. Now we should all cheer for Army in the Air Force-Army game at Michie Stadium on Saturday, Nov 7th, 2020 at 11:30 am ET.
Navy has won the
trophy 9 times in the past 12
years, and Air Force took it all in 2016. |
Saturday 12 Dec 2020 1 pm MST
|
Army-Navy Game (will be played in Michie Field, West Point, first time since 1942 - see Report From Annapolis at top of this webpage.). The
Chapter will opt out of any partying this year. Most of us are
still trying to “socially distance” ourselves. At least we’ve won a few
games; amidst all the hubbub….
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Your Chapter Board: At the Picnic in Albuquerque (Elena Gallegos Picnic Grounds) on Sunday, 4 June 2017, L-R: New Mexico Chapter Board members Hank Schwartz '62,
Mike Blackledge '63, Scott Kraus '73 (President), Ken Fladager '78 (Treasurer), Christine Hoaglund
'97 (Past President), Joe McGuire '68 (Secretary), and Herb Richter '59. Not pictured: Keith 'Casey' Jones '60. |