checking a score on occasions but nothing more. A grandson attends USAFA. We attended a couple of games last year, including Navy and will be attending this year's game with Army.

I now follow all three academies and watch them whenever possible. I enjoy the pomp, tradition, flyovers, midshipmen and cadets--nothing else like it in all of college football.

Knowing now a bit about the midshipmen/cadets, their schedules, difficult classes, etc., and that football players are not exempt, I very much appreciate the product on the field. The discipline, execution, toughness--they are consistently undersized--makes them enjoyable to watch.

BYU now has little entertainment value. While I cheer for them and have season tickets as an out-of-state fan, I won't be attending the Boise State game, simply not worth the 9-hour one-way drive. The entertainment value of service academy football--say what you will about the different option offenses they run--is superior to BYU today.