We’re proud to welcome thousands of visitors to the Yard each year. We love to see them admire the towering monuments, historic buildings, and famous landmarks that tell the U.S. Naval Academy’s most fascinating stories.
But one of the Academy's most meaningful memorials is easy to miss. Near the statue of Bill the Goat, at the corner of Cooper Road and King George Street, sits a simple stone marker honoring something that has inspired generations of midshipmen: the N★ (pronounced "N-Star").
It may not be the largest monument on campus, but it represents a great Academy tradition and honors one of the most celebrated rivalries in all of college athletics.
A Rivalry Like No Other
The rivalry between Army and Navy extends far beyond a single football game.
For more than a century, midshipmen at the U.S. Naval Academy and cadets at the U.S. Military Academy have challenged one another in dozens of varsity sports. While these future officers will one day serve side-by-side defending our nation, their years at the academies are marked by spirited competition built on discipline, respect, and pride.
Every victory is hard-earned, every contest matters, and every Navy win over Army has the chance to earn an N★.
What Does the N★ Represent?
The marker beside Bill the Goat explains the tradition perfectly:
Each time a Navy varsity team defeats Army in its designated Star competition, an N★ pennant is raised at the Yardarm on the Academy grounds. Women's victories are celebrated with a gold N★ flag, while men's victories are marked with a blue flag.
The tradition recognizes excellence on the field of competition while also celebrating something even greater: the mutual respect shared by the nation's future military leaders.
The marker itself was dedicated in 2002, but the rivalry it commemorates stretches back much farther.
It All Started With Football
The first Army-Navy football game took place on November 29, 1890, at “The Plain” at West Point.
Although Navy had already fielded a football team for more than a decade, Army's program was just getting started. The Midshipmen won that inaugural matchup 24-0, launching what would become one of the most iconic rivalries in American sports.
Today, Army vs. Navy football remains one of the nation's most anticipated sporting events. Played annually on the second Saturday of December, the game traditionally serves as a capstone of sorts, the final regular-season contest in NCAA Division I football. Tens of thousands of fans fill the stadium each year, while millions more tune in from around the world.
The game has been hosted at several legendary venues over the decades, including Philadelphia's Lincoln Financial Field, Baltimore's M&T Bank Stadium, MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, and, during the pandemic in 2020, Michie Stadium at West Point. This year it returns to MetLife on Saturday, December 12th.
The pageantry surrounding the game, from the March-On to the singing of both alma maters, has become as legendary as the competition itself. Right now, the record has Navy at 64 wins, Army at 55, and 7 ties for a total of 126 football games.
Related: The Army-Navy Football Game: Who Is Winning?
More Than Football
While football introduced the rivalry, today's Star competitions include nearly every Army and Navy varsity sport.
Throughout the academic year, Navy and Army meet in contests ranging from cross country and swimming to lacrosse, tennis, gymnastics, rugby, volleyball, rifle, and track and field.
Each designated Star victory adds another chapter to the Academy's proud athletic tradition.
Members of Navy varsity teams proudly wear a gold "N" on their working uniforms. When their team wins its annual Star competition against Army, that emblem becomes an "N★," a distinction earned through dedication, teamwork, and excellence.
It's a small symbol that carries enormous meaning.
The Spirit Behind the Star
The N★ isn't really about keeping score, though. It's about striving to become better.
Competition between Army and Navy pushes both academies to excel, preparing future officers to lead with determination, resilience, and humility. On game day? They are fierce rivals. But after graduation, they become teammates serving a common mission.
That's what makes the tradition so special. When fans proudly shout "Go Navy, Beat Army!", they're celebrating spirited competition while recognizing the institutions’ shared commitment to serve something larger than themselves.
Bring the Tradition Home
Fans don't have to wear a varsity uniform to celebrate the N★. Navyonline.com offers a variety of N★ apparel, hats, flags, decals, and gifts that give alumni, families, and supporters the chance to show their Navy pride throughout the year.
You can also become part of the tradition through the free Navyonline NStar Rewards program, which offers exclusive promotions and savings for members while supporting Academy programs, like 20% off your Navyonline purchase. Want to be a part of this tradition? Click here and start saving!
It's another way to celebrate one of the Academy's most recognizable symbols.
Related: The Big Army-Navy Game: It’s a Win!
Every Visit Supports the Brigade
Whether you're attending an Army vs. Navy matchup, taking a guided USNA tour, enjoying lunch somewhere special on the Yard, or shopping for Navy gear, your visit has a lasting impact.
Revenue generated through USNA tours, Yard dining, and retail stores like Navyonline.com and the USNA Gift Shop helps fund programs that enrich the lives of midshipmen beyond the classroom. Those proceeds support cultural arts, music, theater, USNA club sports, leadership development, and countless other extracurricular opportunities that strengthen teamwork and camaraderie throughout the Brigade.
So the next time you pass that modest stone marker near Bill the Goat, take a closer look. It represents more than athletic victories.
It tells the story of one of America's greatest rivalries, the enduring bond between future military leaders, and a tradition that continues to inspire every generation of midshipmen.
Go Navy. Beat Army.
