[Bruce Wang]

Is there a big talent difference between Army football and Navy football players?  If not, then it's just X's and O's, which definitely points the responsibility arrow at the coach.  But if Navy is somehow getting better players, then that might be a little more difficult to deal with.  And then there's Air Force...

My hypothesis is that Navy gets first pick among football players interested in the service academies.  It's first among equals right now because of the importance of force projection.  Also my guess is that the mortality rate (with the exception of SEALs and Marines) is lower than the Army.  Back during the Cold War, the Air Force was first among equals because of the importance of nukes and during that time, I believe Air Force had the better football team, which is consistent with my hypothesis.

There must be people here who know more about this than I do, so would be curious to hear thoughts about this hypothesis.

[Bruce Wang]

Is there a big talent difference between Army football and Navy football players?  If not, then it's just X's and O's, which definitely points the responsibility arrow at the coach.  But if Navy is somehow getting better players, then that might be a little more difficult to deal with.  And then there's Air Force...

My hypothesis is that Navy gets first pick among football players interested in the service academies.  It's first among equals right now because of the importance of force projection.  Also my guess is that the mortality rate (with the exception of SEALs and Marines) is lower than the Army.  Back during the Cold War, the Air Force was first among equals because of the importance of nukes and during that time, I believe Air Force had the better football team, which is consistent with my hypothesis.

There must be people here who know more about this than I do, so would be curious to hear thoughts about this hypothesis.