It was a cool, crisp November morning in Plano, Texas.  Time for the annual Service Academy Alumni 7 on 7 Football Tournament.  Eight grizzled combatants assembled to represent Navy.  Lead valiantly by Mark Lambright ’75, the team of Glenn Young ‘ 90, Jake Ellzey ’92, Andy Kirby ’99, Mac Reichenau ’99, Matthew Graham ’10, Nick Henderson ’10, and Conor Young ’24 took the field.  Already vastly outnumbered by the opposition, things took an ominous path when Nick Henderson went down with a disabling leg injury on the first play.  

ntx-flag-football-2019

Bottom Row – L-R – Glenn Young ’90, Mac Reichenau ’99, Mark Lambright ‘75

Top Row – L-R - Conor Young ’24, Matthew Graham ’10, Nick Henderson ’10, Andy Kirby ’99, Jake Ellzey ‘92

Still Navy battled, play after play, as both Army and Air Force were able to sub in fresh bodies on what seemed like every down.  Displaying that never-say-die attitude, the Navy team dug in their heels in true "Don’t Give Up the Ship" spirit.  Fighting fatigue, pulled hamstrings, turned ankles and bruised egos, they scrapped and clawed their way for every yard.

Eventually and unfortunately, they fell victim to the superior numbers and departed without the victory.  However, while the loss was a bitter pill to swallow, they held their heads high with their pride still firmly in place after gallantly representing the Blue and Gold!  
There were many laughs, friendly hand-shakes, and those familiar barbs thrown that only fellow service academy alumni understand.  We went our separate ways for another year with an enjoyable tournament in the books.  The battle cry of November 2020 is already starting to rumble.   

 

Go Navy! Beat Army!