Army has unveiled its special uniform for its annual bout against Navy, set to take place on December 14 at Northwest Field in Landover, MD.
Made in partnership with Nike, the jersey honors the 101st Airborne Division, also known as the “Screaming Eagles,” for its heroics against the Nazis in the Battle of the Bulge during World War II.
The annual Army-Navy Game is a great American tradition, played virtually every year since 1890, featuring one of college football’s most storied rivalries.
A ‘Rendevous With Destiny’
Surrounded by Nazi forces and facing brutal winter conditions, the brave men of the 101st Airborne Division fought for weeks at the strategic crossroads of Bastogne along the Belgium-Luxembourg border.
With great resolve and after tremendous sacrifice — with hundreds of troops from the 101st Airborne Division killed in action — they successfully repelled the enemy in a decisive battle in the war.
In the Battle of the Bulge, combined Allied forces prevailed over Nazi Germany in what was its last major offensive of the Second World War. The 101st Airborne truly lived up to its motto: “Rendevous With Destiny.”
The Uniform
Army and Nike collaborated to produce a uniform that is modern in form but steeped in history. The design incorporates symbolic elements that pay homage to the 101st Airborne Division’s bravery during the Battle of the Bulge.
101st Airborne Shoulder Patch
The uniform features on the left shoulder the 101st Airborne Division patch, showcasing its bald eagle mascot, “Old Abe.”
“Old Abe” was originally the emblem of the Civil War’s 8th Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry Regiment and was subsequently adopted by the 101st Airborne Division to reflect its Wisconsin roots.
A Statement of Defiance
The back of the uniform features the Army name punctuated with an exclamation mark, replicating both the font and defiant attitude of the typewritten response of Gen. Anthony McAuliffe, the acting commander of the 101st Airborne Division in the Battle of the Bulge, to the Nazis’ demand for surrender.
McAullife famously gave the Nazis a one-word reply: “Nuts!”
A Good Sign
The chest of the uniform includes a patch replicating the road sign held by Gen. McAuliffe after the Nazi siege of the Belgian city of Bastogne was broken.
Watch the Uniform Reveal
To see the full uniform in action, check out the official reveal video:
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