They say familiarity breeds contempt. In the case of Air Force and Navy football, it breeds respect.
The Midshipmen and Falcons have developed a fierce rivalry over the past decade and a half, but it is one rooted in mutual respect.
Air Force has fielded a winning program for the better part of three decades, beginning shortly after Fisher DeBerry became head coach in 1984. Navy is in the midst of the most successful era in program history with winning records in 12 of the last 13 seasons.
Much of what Navy head coach Ken Niumatalolo and Air Force counterpart Troy Calhoun do over the course of each year is aimed at beating the other.