Navy will wear uniforms "inspired by the Blue Angels" for the Dec. 9 Army-Navy game at Lincoln Financial Field, according to a front-page piece by Bill Wagner of the Annapolis CAPITAL GAZETTE. This marks the 10th straight year Navy has "specially designed uniforms for the Army-Navy game." This year’s look "features hand-painted helmets depicting a Delta Formation -- with six Hornets in a tight grouping -- along with a chrome facemask to mimic the visor of the Blue Angel pilots." The Under Armour design team also "incorporated other special elements that pay tribute to the skill, precision and rich history of the Blue Angels squadron." A U.S. flag on the left sleeve "matches the flight suits that the squadron wear in the cockpit." The color of the uniforms is an "exact match to the Blue Angels flight suit." Last year, Navy wore "Beat Army" uniforms that "featured a white and yellow color scheme." In '15, the theme was "Navy Fleet" and the helmets "contained different types of ships based on each player’s position." Navy Associate AD/Equipment Operations Greg Morgenthaler said that the "Blue Angels" design theme was "agreed upon almost a year ago and ultimately approved" by Navy AD Chet Gladchuk and other Naval Academy leaders. Morgenthaler said that the "most eye-catching aspects of this year’s uniform are the jersey numbers that replicate the tail number of an F/A-18 Hornet, the Blue Angel insignia that is identical to those on the flight suits worn by pilots and the face masks that mimic a flight helmet visor." Army has traditionally "worn specialty uniforms for the rivalry game as well." Nike serves as apparel provider for Army and has "not announced what type of uniforms the Black Knights will wear" (
Annapolis CAPITAL GAZETTE, 11/28).
