ExtremeRavens Posted yesterday at 12:30 PM Posted yesterday at 12:30 PM The storied Army–Navy Game is returning to Baltimore this weekend, and for Ravens safety Alohi Gilman, it brings back the one moment he would do anything to feel again. “If I could go back and relive just one more [game], that would probably be it,” Gilman recently told The Baltimore Sun. Gilman is one of two current Ravens who’ve experienced the rivalry from the inside. His path ran through the Naval Academy. Rookie fullback Lucas Scott came from the other sideline at Army. Their college careers never intersected, but their journeys at the respective service academies, including their involvement in the rivalry, helped shape them in similar ways. With one of college football’s most historic traditions arriving Saturday afternoon at M&T Bank Stadium, those memories come rushing back for a couple of alumni, who now occupy stalls inside the home locker room of the city’s professional football team. Gilman, 28, and Scott, 22, understand the weight and pressure that comes with playing in the 126th edition of the iconic rivalry. Both players know how much Saturday will mean to the players on the field and to the thousands who served the country after participating in the mid-December tradition. They also know how quickly a full season’s work can suddenly turn into either immense pride or unforgettable heartbreak. Gilman learned just that during his lone season as a freshman in 2016, when Army halted Navy’s 14-year win streak. The defensive back recorded eight tackles in the 21-17 upset loss. Afterward, he witnessed something he had never seen before. “Guys were crying,” Gilman said. “My teammates, legit crying. It meant that much. It’s an amazing rivalry. It’s special to be part of.” Gilman grew up in La’ie on the North Shore of O’ahu. He committed to Navy, mainly because former coach Ken Niumatalolo also hailed from the same town in Hawaii. As a freshman, Gilman played in all 14 games, earned All-American Athletic Conference honorable mention and finished second on the team with 76 tackles. Thousands of miles away from home, he felt he had found a path that fit both his identity and career goals. Months later, the rules and regulations changed. A Department of Defense decision during the Donald Trump administration required service academy athletes to fulfill a minimum two-year military commitment before pursuing professional sports. Trump will be in attendance Saturday at M&T Bank Stadium. “It was a tough decision,” Gilman said of leaving Navy. “They changed the rule after I got there that if I wanted to go pro, I had to serve first. Which is different from when I first got there, guys had an opportunity to go pro.” Gilman transferred to Notre Dame, where he recorded 168 tackles over two seasons and served as a captain. He also formed a close bond in South Bend with fellow safety Kyle Hamilton that has carried into their time with the Ravens. Although his football journey took him away from Annapolis, Gilman will always cherish his time with the academy and his lone experience in the Army-Navy game. “There is a brotherhood that is built there that you carry for the rest of your life,” Gilman said. “You talk about rivalries, that was big-time, one of the best traditions in the sport.” Scott recalls those life-changing moments, too. He watched the game growing up, remembering it as the only college football matchup still on television after championship weekend. During his college recruitment, he specifically pointed to the Army-Navy as a sticking point, comparing the game with any other stage he might reach. “You are not playing in front of 70,000 to 100,000 people at a smaller school,” he said. “One of the reasons why I committed was to be able to play in that game. So much tradition and history. It definitely sways you. “I think it is the best game in college football. There is so much respect on each side, but also so much will and drive to want to beat each other.” Army went 2-2 against Navy in Scott’s four years at West Point. In 2022, Army won the Commander-in-Chief’s Trophy by beating both Air Force and Navy. The Black Knights did not play in a bowl game that year, so those victories represented their season’s punctuation mark. “Beating Navy was an awesome way to send off the seniors,” Scott said. Ravens fullback Lucas Scott, right, goes through a drill during training camp. Scott played in four Army-Navy games during his college career. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff) Last year’s memories aren’t so fond for Scott, a member of the Ravens’ practice squad. Army posted one of its best seasons in program history, but lost, 31-13, to Navy. The disappointment still lingers between Scott and his former teammates, a group of self-described ‘lifelong brothers,’ he hopes to reunite with this weekend. “That loss kind of felt like a big failure,” Scott said. “It’s an amazing game, it’s awesome that Baltimore is hosting it. Last year was obviously a heartbreak, especially with the season we had, to go out there and lose like that. “But it’s an amazing game, it definitely plays a role in why people commit to Army or Navy or Air Force, it’s to serve and play on that beautiful stage. Just so much tradition and history involved, it definitely sways you. It’s awesome to be part of.” Scott’s versatility as a former offensive lineman and tight end helped him land in Baltimore, where he has been learning under five-time Pro Bowl fullback Patrick Ricard. Scott’s coach at Army, Jeff Monken, also is the cousin of Ravens offensive coordinator Todd Monken. Like Gilman, Scott pointed to the strong sense of brotherhood that is established as athletes at service academies. “The best of friends I have ever met came from Army,” he said. “They will be there for me the rest of my life. They are like family to me.” Navy (9-2, 7-1 American Athletic Conference) leads the all-time series 63–55–7, although Army (6-5, 4-4) has won six of the last nine meetings. Recent history, though, shows records don’t mean much at all. The pageantry, tradition and competitiveness attached to Army-Navy reigns. Gilman and Scott continue to carry their respective memories into every day they spend as teammates. Have a news tip? Contact Josh Tolentino at jtolentino@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200, x.com/JCTSports and instagram.com/JCTSports. View the full article Quote
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