Autumn Spectacle: Commander-in-Chief's Trophy

The Commander-in-Chief's Trophy
by AutumnSpectacle.com staff

Traveling trophies are a tradition unique to college football. In no other sport do you see joy expressed from the faces of athletes simply because they win the right to “own” an old jug, a wooden bucket or a golden cowboy hat.

Among the collection of axe heads, bronzed pigs and jeweled shillelaghs, there is a trophy that is as exclusive as its name: Commander-in-Chief’s Trophy (CIC). The United States Military, Naval and Air Force Academies engage in a round-robin competition that carries the utmost importance. While winning an SEC, Big 12 or ACC conference championship is special to the players and fans of those schools, capturing the CIC is the top priority for those who live on the Hudson, the Potomoc and in the Rockies.

In fact, the Air Force Academy is reminded of their objective when they check the time. The coaching staff wears a dot on the face of their watches that lists their goals:

CIC
CONF
BOWL

Though Navy and Army are independents and Air Force is in the Mountain West, the teams play each other every year. Navy and Air Force battle in early October followed by Air Force-Army in early November. The crown jewel of the CIC series is the Army-Navy game, which is held on the final Saturday of college pigskin’s regular season. The team that goes 2-0 wins the CIC outright and to the victors, go the spoils. The seniors of the CIC champion are rewarded with a trip to the White House as guests of the President.

The CIC was first awarded in 1972 and, though each Academy has captured the trophy numerous times, Air Force has dominated the series. Sixteen times the Falcons have won the CIC, with 14 of those titles taking place under Fisher DeBerry’s leadership. Army has won six times and Navy has taken home the trophy 11 times, including the last two. If none of the teams finish 2-0 in a particular year, then the previous winner will maintain ownership.
courtesy Army SID

The trophy itself is representative of its name. In a pyramid-like arrangement, three silver footballs are joined together at the upper apex. The balls stand on a base that is three sided, even though the overall shape of the trophy is circular. Each of the “three sides” highlights one of the service academies by listing its name, the years that particular academy won the trophy and a small sculpture of their animal mascot.

For instance, on the side highlighting Army, “United States Military Academy” stands boldly just below the pyramid of footballs. Then, each year the Cadets have won or shared the trophy is listed just below the name. Finally, the Mule is on display so that the viewer sees that this is Army.

The focus for the academies is not being a “BCS buster.” Instead, they want to beat their counterparts. The battle for the CIC is the only traveling trophy that involves more than two teams and the feel of this rivalry is unlike Alabama-Auburn, Oklahoma-Texas and Ohio State-Michigan. The competitive juices flow, no doubt. But, the common hatred between rival foes is replaced by an unmatched respect for the soldiers they will serve with someday.

In a society filled with self-promotion, the players for the Air Force, Army and Navy football teams keep their eye on the prize. That prize is the Commander-in-Chief’s Trophy.

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