Army Black Knights football The Army Black Knights football program represents the United States Military Academy . They are one of the few NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision independent schools ( not in a conference ) . Army was recognized as the national champions in 1944 , 1945 and 1946 . General of the Army George C . Marshall Chief of Staff during World War II said , " I want an officer for a secret and dangerous mission . I want a West Point football player . " General of the Army Douglas MacArthur wrote , " Upon the fields of friendly strife are sown the seeds that upon other fields , on other days , will bear the fruits of victory . " President of the United States and General of the Army Dwight D . Eisenhower and General of the Army Omar Bradley were on the 1912 Army football team . Three players from Army have won the Heisman Trophy : Doc Blanchard ( 1945 ) , Glenn Davis ( 1946 ) , and Pete Dawkins ( 1958 ) . History . Army football began in 1890 , when Navy challenged the cadets to a game of the relatively new sport . Navy defeated Army at West Point that year , but Army avenged the loss in Annapolis the following year . The academies still clash every December in what is traditionally the last regular - season Division I college - football game . The 2011 football season marked Army ' s tenth consecutive loss to Navy . From 1944 to 1950 , the Cadets had 57 wins , 3 losses and 4 ties . During this time span , Army won three national championships . Army ' s football team reached its pinnacle of success under coach Earl Blaik when Army won three consecutive national championships in 1944 , 1945 and 1946 , and produced three Heisman trophy winners : Doc Blanchard ( 1945 ) , Glenn Davis ( 1946 ) and Pete Dawkins ( 1958 ) . Past NFL coaches Vince Lombardi and Bill Parcells were Army assistant coaches early in their careers . The football team plays its home games at Michie Stadium , where the playing field is named after Earl Blaik . Cadets ' attendance is mandatory at football games and the Corps stands for the duration of the game . At all home games , one of the four regiments marches onto the field in formation before the team takes the field and leads the crowd in traditional Army cheers . Between the 1998 and 2004 seasons , Army ' s football program was a member of Conference USA , but has since reverted to its former independent status . West Point competes with Navy and Air Force for the Commander - in - Chief ' s Trophy . Rivalries . Army - Navy Game . The annual contest between the Black Knights of Army and the Midshipmen of the Naval Academy at Annapolis ( Navy ) is among the most storied rivalries in all of college sports . Others . In much of the early 20th century , Army and Notre Dame were considered football powerhouses , and met 21 times between 1925 and 1946 . Many media members considered the 1946 contest to be the " Game of the Century " . Army and Notre Dame met for the 50th time on November 20 , 2010 . Army and Air Force also maintain a rivalry , and the two in addition to Navy , compete for the Commander - in - Chief ' s Trophy . Rutgers . This rivalry stems from Army and Rutgers being two of the only three programs ( a third is Navy ) to come out of the original , informal " Ivy League " that are still members of the top tier of NCAA college football ( currently Division I - FBS ) . ( " See " Before There Was An Ivy League " and " Ivy League # History of the athletic league . ) Army is Rutgers ' second oldest active rivalry . Rutgers has won the last six in a row and 10 of the last 12 . The all - time series is tied at 18 wins each . In 2011 , Rutgers won this game 27 – 12 .