Rob Gronkowski slid headfirst into a combat wave pool at West Point on Sunday to win a special prize for the cadets. Before he made the jump, the former NFL star pulled a brick from the water, promising the students a break from their strict dress code. According to Fox Sports, the message on the brick read “Combat uniform all next week,” which means the cadets can skip their formal uniforms for seven days.
The stunt was part of a two-hour Veterans Day special that marked the first time the broadcast visited both military academies. Gronkowski wore full combat boots and pants while tackling the Survivor Gate 4 challenge, a test every cadet must pass. He also put on football pads over an Army uniform to show his roots before scoring a touchdown with Julian Edelman and Charles Woodson. The group celebrated with a classic Gronk spike that brought the field to life for the viewers at home.
The Green Camo Look
While Gronk was making waves, Army revealed a new set of uniforms for their upcoming game against Navy on December 12. The look features a green camouflage pattern designed to honor the 4th Infantry Division, also known as the Ivy Soldiers. Per ESPN, the design reflects the “dense, ivy-covered foliage of Central and Eastern Europe, honoring the Ivy Soldiers’ legacy of service.”
The 4th Infantry Division was established in December 1917 during World War I, giving the uniforms a connection to more than a century of military service. An “IV” decal encircled by four ivy leaves adorns the helmet, whereas the unit’s insignia appears on the jersey’s left shoulder patch. Jason Cochran, a Nike designer, addressed the project’s importance in a news release, saying, “It’s important to honor and to showcase the service academies because, yes, they’re playing a game, but they’re really there to serve their country.”
Details on the gear include chiseled-looking typography inspired by memorials like the Utah Beach monument. The back nameplate shows “IVY SOLDIERS”, featuring the “IV” in white while the remaining text is green. Stephen Nnadozie, an Army safety, noted that the jersey’s significance weighs on his mind, adding that “People have died behind these units that these jerseys are representing.”
This marks the 11th consecutive year that Army, Nike, and the academy’s history students have worked together on a special uniform. The game balls will also feature the division’s insignia and the green pattern. For the 127th meeting at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, Navy has not announced its uniform plans.
Rivalry Beyond the Field
The competition extended beyond the gridiron as representatives from each academy faced off in a rope-climbing race from their respective locations. Army took the win in a tight contest, earning bragging rights for the day.
