DAVID SEPULVEDA PHOTO
To celebrate Yale Bowl’s Centennial, the Yale Precision Marching Band joined with musicians of the United States Military Academy West Point Band, during a football half-time tribute that honored the historic stadium and a tradition between the teams that dates back to 1894. During regulation time, however, it was a different story, as teams battled in a see-saw game of shifting leads.
For the 45 times the two teams have met, Yale has had the better with a winning record of 21 – 16‑8. Yale added to that lead Saturday, sending Army Mules packing as the Bulldogs proved tenacious in marching to a 49 – 43 overtime victory.
The event opened with the traditional spectacle of Army marching into the stadium, some 1,000 cadets strong, followed by the United States Military Academy Black Knights parachute team dropping from a helicopter to deliver the game ball.
In most sports reports, players’ names are mentioned, stats are offered and their meanings parsed and debated. This is not so much a sports report as it is to an opportunity to see, through pictures, that tradition lives on in Eli’s house.
With temperatures climbing into the 80s Saturday, scant shade was to be found in the stands where white cadet uniforms helped mitigate some of the sun’s direct rays and effects.
For those catching a brief reprieve from the action on-field, the Bowl’s pressure cooker temps had some players reaching for towels.
Just beyond the Bowl’s southern end zone, a pair of handsomely groomed Army Mule mascots posed for the occasional photo op with fans, oblivious to developments on the scoreboard.
Army cheerleaders did their part to help put points on the board with giant flags and field acrobatics …
… while Yale cheerleaders, dressed in white tank tops and team blue shorts, cheered before a much bigger crowd on their side of the field.
As the third quarter began, Army scored a touchdown building a 14-point lead that quieted the crowd.
Yale was not to be denied and soon came roaring back to close the gap …
… lifting fan spirits,
…and broadening smiles.
Outside stadium walls, more smiles .…
… and thumbs up to another 100 years of Yale Bowl tradition.