This game is sure to be remembered for a long time.
On Saturday, the 6-2 U.S. Merchant Marine Academy will head to Boston to face off against the 7-2 U.S. Coast Guard Academy at Fenway Park.
Both Division III rivals, who share a deep bond as comrades at sea, are vying for the honor of hoisting the prestigious Secretary’s Cup.
“I think this game is like a DIII Army-Navy matchup,” said Mariners senior linebacker Derrick Leverage. “Whether we go undefeated or not, this game tops our list,” he continued, referring to their opponents from New London, Conn., who are marking the 235th anniversary of the Coast Guard.
The fierce rivalry, which has seen the teams contest each other 53 times, currently has Merchant Marine leading the series 37-16, although they’ve faced defeat in the last two matchups.
Leverage shared, “After losing, it was tough being at sea for months. Especially with Coast Guard members on our ships, they definitely remind us of it now and then.”
make waves
Mariners head coach Jameson Croall mentioned that the rivalry’s intensity can be a bit overwhelming.
“There are folks from Long Island who might not fully grasp it,” he noted, reflecting on how things shifted during his first year when the Coast Guard arrived at Kings Point for what they called a “prank video.”
“They dropped off a bear costume, and one of our cadets who wasn’t on the football team ended up swiping it from their truck,” Croall recalled, adding that the bear’s head caused quite a stir during warm-ups. “I just thought, ‘Wow, this is different from what I’m used to.’”
With the match now gaining national attention due to ESPN’s coverage, both teams have adopted a more nautical mindset. Croall humorously remarked, “I just don’t want to mess this up,” before revealing he hung a sign of Fenway Park in his office, letting his team visualize the importance of the game.
“Our goal is to spotlight how special our place is,” he added, referring to the unique aspect that graduates of the Merchant Marine Academy can enter any branch of the military.
unknown waters
An additional challenge for USMMA players is the mental pressure, especially since this game typically marks the end of their season.
“Once the season wraps up, most of us head out pretty quickly,” junior linebacker Aidan Graham shared, noting the lengthy periods they often spend aboard military and commercial vessels. “Last time, we got deployed right after the Coast Guard game to Japan,” he mentioned, recalling the unexpected mission.
This time, they’re still waiting to see if they’ll qualify for a bowl game after the clash with the Coast Guard, which makes it hard to concentrate. “We know things can change quickly,” Graham commented.
Players returning must find ways to keep fit while at sea, adapting to whatever equipment they might have. “If you’re lucky, there might be a gym on board,” Leverage explained, though he added that often it’s just cramped quarters with little equipment.
“I had to sprint on the flight deck, working with maybe 50 feet of space,” Graham shared, as he trains for a potential career as a Navy SEAL. “I made the most of it, focusing on my pace and trying to stay in shape.”
All these factors only fuel their desire to bring the cup back to Nassau County before embarking on a ship with Coast Guard personnel. “Winning makes being on the boat so much more enjoyable,” Leverage concluded.
