The Army Black Knights and Navy Midshipmen will wear alternate uniforms that honor the 250th anniversary of the United States military during the 126th annual Army-Navy Game at M&T Bank Stadium in Baltimore on Saturday (3 p.m. ET on CBS).
Army’s all-white Nike uniforms feature a subtle marble print on the jerseys and pants that mimic the headstones in Arlington National Cemetery, honoring those who gave their lives in service of their country, as well as a number and nameplate font that is written in the same style as the U.S. Constitution.
The beveled black numbers are outlined in purple, the color associated with the Badge of Military Merit that was issued by George Washington during the Revolutionary War and was later revived as the Purple Heart, which is awarded to members of the armed forces who are wounded or killed in action.
The Black Knights’ logo sits at the base of the collar and is surrounded by the Hudson River Chains, a series of 75-ton chain booms that were constructed between West Point and Constitution Island to prevented British naval vessels from sailing upriver, as well as “1775,” the year Congress established the Continental Army.
This date also appears on the back bumper of their silver helmets, which display the seal of the U.S. Army on the sides and the Old Guard Espontoon – the ceremonial weapon carried by the 3rd U.S. Infantry Regiment, the Army’s oldest active-duty unit – down the center.
The uniform is complete with the Great Seal of the United States – which depicts a bald eagle holding a banner that reads “E pluribus unum” in its beak and an olive branch and arrows in its talons, as well as a shield representing the 13 original colonies – on the right sleeve and the American flag on the left sleeve.
Navy’s uniforms, meanwhile, are inspired by the U.S.S. Constitution, one of six original frigates of the U.S. Navy and the world’s oldest commissioned warship still afloat. Launched in 1797, it earned the nickname “Old Ironsides” during the War of 1812 when cannonballs appeared to bounce off its thick wooden hull.
The ship, which went undefeated in battle, was subsequently converted into a floating classroom during the Civil War, when it provided housing and training for midshipmen until it was retired from active service in 1881. It’s currently docked in the Charlestown Navy Yard in Boston, where it serves as a museum.
A detailed sketch of the ship is displayed on the left side of the Midshipmen’s hand-painted, copper-colored helmets, which are a nod to the 12,000 feet of copper sheets and thousands of copper nails on its hull, as well as the 1924 campaign that asked students to collect and donate pennies to help restore the historic vessel.
The original U.S. Navy monogram can be seen on the right side of the helmets, while a wooden plank runs down the center, with six ropes wrapped around it in honor of the original frigates. The ropes also feature 126 knots for the 126th Army-Navy Game, while the back bumper is marked with “USN 250.”
The six ropes are then carried over to the collar and sleeves of the navy blue Under Armour jerseys, which include a “Navy” wordmark across the chest and numbers that are inspired by the typography found throughout the 1794 “Act to Provide Naval Armament,” which authorized the construction of the original frigates.
The darker shade of blue on the collar and sleeves and red on the cuffs reflect the U.S.S. Constitution’s hull and cannon-lined sides, while the eagle and six stars above the nameplate mirror the ship’s stern. There’s also an American flag on the left sleeve, the “USN” monogram on the right and a U.S.S. Abraham Lincoln (CVN-72) patch on the left shoulder.
The uniforms are complete with off-white pants to match the color of the sails that propelled the ship and the uniforms worn by the sailors aboard. They include navy blue side panels that – once again – contain six ropes and a single red stripe, as well as the “Eagle, Globe and Anchor” on the left hip and a metallic copper manufacturer’s mark on the right.
The Black Knights and Midshipmen have worn alternate uniforms in every Army-Navy Game since 2012, with the former typically honoring a specific unit or historical battle and the latter often drawing inspiration from its history of naval aviation and maritime warfare. The Midshipmen hold a slightly 7-6 edge in those contests.
Photos courtesy of @ArmyWP_Football and @NavyFB on X/Twitter.
