West Point Weekend

This is the last year that Brendan and James will play together on the Sprint football team at West Point.  We wanted to see them one last time so we packed our bags and headed to West Point with Mark and Michele.  That flight sure leaves early in the morning!

We left a little late but we got there just fine.  I had the window seat so I took a few aerial shots:

The Statue of Liberty in New York Harbor welcoming your sick, your poor, etc.

Citi Field where the Mets play.  That's on my bucket list of places to see a game.

Manhattan!

USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center where they play the US Open.  Also on my bucket list!

LaGuardia has been remodeled and it is so much nicer than before.  Now the hard part starts.  It took FOREVER for us to catch the bus to the other terminal where we had to stand around to catch the bus to the rental car facility.  LaGuardia has a little more work to do in that area.

The traffic sucked but the drive was beautiful once we left the city.

We were staying in an old fashioned Motel!  The West Point Motel.  It was no Hilton but it also wasn't 30 miles away from West Point.  This place worked out just fine!

Tailgating before the game.

Playing of the National Anthem.  I forget that these guys are in the Army.  Brendan is in the middle.

Friday night was the Sprint Football game.  West Point vs. Cornell.  That's James on defense (#30).  He and Brendan both sacked the quarterback!

Goofing around at the end of the quarter.  The weather was fantastic!  

At halftime, they honored the 1970 Sprint Football team - they were undefeated!  Most of those guys are in their 70's and they left shortly after halftime.  

Final score!  I felt bad for Cornell.  It was a blowout.

After the game we got to go down on the field and have our photo made with the coolest players.

Up early the next morning, we headed back to West Point so that we could get good seats for the Military Review.  James' regiment was marching but James was excused because the game the previous evening.  It was a cool parade just the same.

After the parade, we got on a bus to take us over to Michie Stadium for the football game.  This was on the bus.  I guess this driver is prepared for anything, which was a little creepy.

This is in Black Knights Alley right outside the stadium where everyone "tailgates".  This band was playing all kinds of cool songs.  They were really good.

Taking pics while we were waiting for the boys to join us.

John and Michele.  We're waiting for the boys to join us.  Michele is prepared with two dozen donuts from Dunkin'.  They bring their friends and they all get a snack before the game.

Tailgate food!  The sausage sandwich with onions and peppers.  The sausage was yummy.

The reservoir.  The water is reflecting the clouds.

Game time!  Army vs. Villanova.  There's one regiment that marches onto the field and greets the players.  Then the parachutes come in.  This is during the National Anthem.  It's so cool to see them salute.

The parents section.  The weather was fantastic.  Only problem was that we were in the sun until the third quarter but this time we were prepared with big brimmed hats!

Before the game starts, the parachute team does a cool demonstration.  There are a few of them and they all jump so that when they hit the field, they land on the West Point logo.  It's incredible.

In the third quarter, the boys come over and say hi and get food.  James and Brendan.

Army beats Villanova 49 - 10!!

After the game we met up with the boys and a couple of their friends for dinner.  It was a short weekend but it was a fun won.  We love going up to New York to see the boys.

Go Army!!