Army Navy Pep Rally Brings Excitement To Baltimore

BALTIMORE (WJZ) --- It's about pride. It's about tradition and a day unlike any other. Saturday, one of the top football rivalries comes to Baltimore as Navy takes on Army. Linh Bui reports on the excitement building for the big game.

There's plenty of people downtown in their Navy and Army gear. Black and gold. Blue and gold.

There was a huge party filled with singing, dancing and cheering as everyone gets pumped up for the game Saturday.

Fans are fired up and ready to go.

"I take this to every Army Navy game with me... Go Army... wait, it gets better.... Beat Navy," an Army fan said.

Hundreds showed up to a pep really at the Inner Harbor. Excitement's building for the 115th Army Navy game.

"I'm looking to buy on these shirts," one parent said. "We have a son at the academy."

"Weather... any kind of conditions we're here whatever it is," one visitor said.

"It's amazing and to know that they're 2-2 in Baltimore and this is going to be the tie breaker game... there's a lot of excitement and it's just wonderful for the city," Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake said.

The sounds, the spirit, the strength.

When asked how it was winning the pull-up challenge....

"It was incredible... very rewarding experience," a Navy midshipmen said.

The competition is intense. This rivalry is historic.

"This is awesome. It's great. These great young men and women are serving our country and we're very proud of them," an Army fan said.

It's America's game. Navy and Army fans, students and parents came together to cheer on U.S.A.

The Midshipmen were up early Friday morning for another tradition. The annual running of the game ball is when midshipmen take the football and run it to Washington, D.C.'s monuments and memorials. Afterwards, there are closing remarks on the White House lawn.

In the meantime, a marathon team from West Point is running a football from New York to Maryland. Before the game, both teams will run on to the field to present both their team's balls. This is just another tradition that shows all the pride and enthusiasm that comes with this rivalry game.

Even though Navy is on a 12 year winning streak, both teams are confident they'll win.

Watch pregame coverage on WJZ at 12 p.m. The game will follow.

Other Local News: