OT Michie Stadium

Get there early to watch the long gray line and all the other ceremony that goes with a fall day at West Point.

take a campus tour, too, if you have the time. there's a lot of great american history there.

my favorite part was the giant chain we put in the hudson during the revolutionary war to stop british ships from coming down the river.

Fantastic atmosphere - give yourself a few hours to walk around the campus, too. i don't think you get that type of access on a regular, non-football day tour. the drive up is pretty nice too, made sure to stop at the Bear Mountain Bridge for a few photos.

as a bonus, there is a beer tent just outside the stadium, and they do allow re-entry into the stadium after.

Some of this might have changed since I'm now an Old Grad...damn I hate to say that.

The parade takes place on the Plain (about 1/2 mile from the stadium) so if you want to see the Cadets march go early - if I remember right it's around 10AM. This is obviously different than Army-Navy where they march onto the field.

Most tailgating is done in the parking lots - as I remember it after the game. You'll often see Cadets walking around...it's very common for tailgaters to invite random Cadets to share a burger and soda (or beer if they are a Firstie (Senior) At least when I was there only Firsties could drink and the penalties for drinking on campus are very large so either don't serve or help them hide it well :) I always appreciated the invites as the social life can be a bit lacking - especially for the lower classmen.

Great time of year to go as the leaves will be beautiful. I'd arrive early and park at the stadium then walk around campus a lot. It's beautiful by the Hudson. If you have a lot of time I think the ferry to Constitution Island may be running (where the massive chain was anchored to) and that's a great view. There are shuttles as well to/from the parade and around.

Just outside the gates at the main entrace at the vistors center there is a museum with a lot of info. I know they were building some new things and haven't been back in a long time so that could have changed too. This link should have a lot of helful info http://www.usma.edu/visiting.asp

Keep in mind that it's a military base and security may be tight nowadays so leave time going in, etc.

Hope you have a good time.

Go Army, Beat Vandy!

I'm jealous -- I've been to a game at Air Force, but never at Army, and I'd love to go. The football game day experience at service academies is unlike anything else.

I went for Ball State with my step-brother, who's very good friends with an Army family. I live about 10 minutes from West Point. You definitely want to get there early to see the paratroopers take to the field from the sky; watch the cadets take their places in the student section; see the team take the field and hear the band play probably the second best fight song in all of college sports (On Old Brave Army Team).

After every first down, the PA announcer will say, "Mr. Referee, move those chains...that's another first down for ARMY (everyone joins in to say Army)". After every Army score, WP blasts a cannon the appropriate number of times from off the pond. Also, don't be surprised when you get a free handout, like a bobble-head, souvenir football, etc., at the stadium gate. Just awesome.

Finally, make sure you have your IDs ready on approach to the stadium; they're checked before you're allowed on campus.

Thanks all. I'm still trying to figure out where to park. I don't have a pass or anything. I definitely want to check out the Cadets march. I assume its all right on main campus and I wont have too hard of a time finding it.

Thanks again.

Make sure you take a tour of the campus. It will make for a great history lesson.