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A Civil War: Army Vs. Navy a Year Inside College Football's Purest Rivalry
A Civil War portrays American college football in what the author believes is its purest two teams who play for love of the game and the honor of their schools, rather than for money or fame. Bestselling sportswriter John Feinstein follows the Army and Navy teams for a single season.
465 pages, Paperback
First published November 1, 1996
56 people are currently reading
540 people want to read
About the author
John Feinstein
75 books591 followersJohn Feinstein was an American sportswriter, author, and sports commentator.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 77 reviews
January 12, 2015
Reading this book was a reminder of why I love to read, and why I love sport so much. This book was perfect for me, as is usual whenever I read something by Feinstein. Despite the fact that literally on the first page of the book, Feinstein tells you how the 1995 Army-Navy Football game ends, there was never a point during the book that I thought that it changed how I perceived the story, players, coaches or events. This book is a wonderful balance of detailing the Army-Navy Football rivalry, a recount of the 1995 season, the history of the Academies, football programs and rivalries, as well as the personal stories of key players, coaches and people.
I couldn't get enough of this book, and the best thing was that despite knowing lots about football in general, I felt that I learned something anyway - not just about football, but also of rivalries, the histories and life at the academies. What really stood out for me, largely thanks to Feinstein's in-depth reporting style was life at the academy, and how differently it really is from a civilian college. These really are people of a different calibre, which makes the powerful. The stories that are recounted of the players and coaches, who overcome and give up a lot to choose to be a part of academy football. I would recommend this to anyone - you certainly don't have to be a football fan to appreciate the stories told in this book.
I couldn't get enough of this book, and the best thing was that despite knowing lots about football in general, I felt that I learned something anyway - not just about football, but also of rivalries, the histories and life at the academies. What really stood out for me, largely thanks to Feinstein's in-depth reporting style was life at the academy, and how differently it really is from a civilian college. These really are people of a different calibre, which makes the powerful. The stories that are recounted of the players and coaches, who overcome and give up a lot to choose to be a part of academy football. I would recommend this to anyone - you certainly don't have to be a football fan to appreciate the stories told in this book.
October 21, 2007
I have a life goal, dear readers. It's not a very realistic life goal, but it's a life goal all the same: some day I'd love to read a book by John Feinstein -- on any subject! I will read the fucking golf books if I have to! -- in which he does not suck Coach K's dick in print. I thought A Civil War was it; I was in the 90s, page number wise, and I hadn't seen a single mention of Ol' Rat Face, and I was starting to relax, and then boom! I turned the page, and there, right on page 98, was three whole paragraphs about The Man Himself. Way to not show your bias, John Feinstein. Two thumbs up.
Despite that, and despite the fact that it took me six weeks to read this book, it was an enjoyable book. Feinstein has a knack for finding the most interesting people stories and building his books around them, and he didn't fail in this one -- the cadets and mids he chose to follow were real people to me by the end of the first chapter, and I followed the exploits of both teams with great interest.
Particularly interesting to me was the time Feinstein spends talking about how different it is for athletes at the military academies, than at normal straight-up Division 1 schools. A fact little known by the internet is that I worked in collegiate recruiting for three years, on the private sector end of things, and that job left me with a real clear picture of both the recruiting process and the realities of student athletes on all levels, not just Division 1, and Feinstein just corroborates what I was pretty sure I already knew: recruiting a good team to compete at D1 at a military academy is one of the hardest jobs in the country. Harder than recruiting D2, even, because if you're a D2 coach and you're lucky, you're working with a private firm to connect with athletes, and the athletes are educated and they know point-blank they're not good enough to even play at a minor D1 school. D2 gets you an education that's paid for, and you might not get to play on TV but you get to keep playing for another four years, and that's all that matters to a lot of kids.
But the military academies -- you might be on TV, you get to play big-name schools, but you're still at a military academy and that's still harder than anything that goes on at a low D1 or D2 or D3 school. Feinstein doesn't sugar coat it, and the thread of difficulty running through the book really made it work for me at an even higher level. I felt for these kids, I felt for these coaches, and by the time that Feinstein got to the actual Army/Navy (listed alphabetically, though apparently Navy always says Navy/Army) game, I was genuinely heartbroken that both teams couldn't manage to win it. Feinstein pulls out all the stops in telling the story of that game, and combined with all the struggles earlier in the book and the genuine difficulty that comes with recruiting and/or playing for a military academy, I will freely admit it: I cried at the end of this book.
It's a good read; it might very well be Feinstein's best book, though I will admit bias because his backhanded portrayal of Dean Smith in A March To Madness always pisses me off, and it's been years since I read A Season On The Brink. I certainly enjoyed it a hell of a lot more than I liked The Last Amateurs. Worth a read, especially if you're interested in the technical side of collegiate recruiting.
And if you're a big girl, like me, pack tissues. It's a weeper.
Despite that, and despite the fact that it took me six weeks to read this book, it was an enjoyable book. Feinstein has a knack for finding the most interesting people stories and building his books around them, and he didn't fail in this one -- the cadets and mids he chose to follow were real people to me by the end of the first chapter, and I followed the exploits of both teams with great interest.
Particularly interesting to me was the time Feinstein spends talking about how different it is for athletes at the military academies, than at normal straight-up Division 1 schools. A fact little known by the internet is that I worked in collegiate recruiting for three years, on the private sector end of things, and that job left me with a real clear picture of both the recruiting process and the realities of student athletes on all levels, not just Division 1, and Feinstein just corroborates what I was pretty sure I already knew: recruiting a good team to compete at D1 at a military academy is one of the hardest jobs in the country. Harder than recruiting D2, even, because if you're a D2 coach and you're lucky, you're working with a private firm to connect with athletes, and the athletes are educated and they know point-blank they're not good enough to even play at a minor D1 school. D2 gets you an education that's paid for, and you might not get to play on TV but you get to keep playing for another four years, and that's all that matters to a lot of kids.
But the military academies -- you might be on TV, you get to play big-name schools, but you're still at a military academy and that's still harder than anything that goes on at a low D1 or D2 or D3 school. Feinstein doesn't sugar coat it, and the thread of difficulty running through the book really made it work for me at an even higher level. I felt for these kids, I felt for these coaches, and by the time that Feinstein got to the actual Army/Navy (listed alphabetically, though apparently Navy always says Navy/Army) game, I was genuinely heartbroken that both teams couldn't manage to win it. Feinstein pulls out all the stops in telling the story of that game, and combined with all the struggles earlier in the book and the genuine difficulty that comes with recruiting and/or playing for a military academy, I will freely admit it: I cried at the end of this book.
It's a good read; it might very well be Feinstein's best book, though I will admit bias because his backhanded portrayal of Dean Smith in A March To Madness always pisses me off, and it's been years since I read A Season On The Brink. I certainly enjoyed it a hell of a lot more than I liked The Last Amateurs. Worth a read, especially if you're interested in the technical side of collegiate recruiting.
And if you're a big girl, like me, pack tissues. It's a weeper.
May 16, 2020
I was interested in this book because I am a proud NAVY brat. I learned a lot about the rivalry and about football!
September 8, 2024
Having played HS and College football, been an Army Football Fan since 1970 and having attended the 95 A/N Game (my first one), I feel qualified to say this book accurately captured the emotion and intensity that game provided to fans and players alike.
I regret not reading this book sooner!
I regret not reading this book sooner!
May 24, 2016
I absolutely loved this book. I've always been interested in the life of a student-athlete at an academy school. The things the students endure alone is insane let alone the people who are also playing division one football. Author, John Feinstein spends a year with both the Army and navy programs and shares what he learned. He talks about the programs past history, the coaches, and the backgrounds of a few players. He shares the triumphs and downfalls of both the programs. I give Feinstein a lot of credit for presenting all of this information in a very interesting way. I would of never thought a non fiction book would be able to make me want to keep reading as much as this one did. I highly recommend this book for anyone who is interested in college football or learning more about the academies as a whole. This is one of my favorite non-fiction books that I have ever read. Feinstein wrote a masterpiece!
January 6, 2017
As I first started reading this book I thought it wasn't going to be good but it got interesting as it went on. One of my favorite sports is football so that's one reason why I chose to read this. The first thing I liked about this book was that it told all the games they played in and described how intense the rivalry between the schools were. Another thing that I liked was it was very detailed. An example would be when two players on the army team did not have their dorm rooms tidied and cleaned up; their coach benched them for the next game. And the last thing I liked was another detailed event that happened throughout the book. The kicked for Navy Ryan Bucchianeri was getting poorly treated by his teammates and the coaches, and surprisingly no one would step up for him. One thing I did not like about this book was that they never described any other intense games they had. I was looking forward to them showing or telling us hat they had more rivals and it was more than just one.
November 10, 2015
Extremely high hopes perhaps worked against it. Inside a rivalry loaded with such meaning and with a writer who handled Tom Glavine and Mike Mussina so well at the other end of their careers, I expected more. It was hard to keep track of all the personalities going back-and-forth between the two teams.
September 30, 2011
One of the best sports books I've ever red. A real pleasure to dive into the Army-Navy rivalry, the finest in college football. If you at all like college football, I strongly suggest you read it
December 10, 2019
I'm an unapologetic Longhorn football fan, but I've always been fascinated by the Army-Navy rivalry. It is the only game attended by the entire student body of both schools, and even when the teams are awful (which sadly is pretty normal these days) the game is exciting and the spectacle captivating. I love watching this game each year, the only non-Texas game that is appointment viewing for me. So when I spotted this book in a discount bin about the 1995 Army and Navy seasons, culminating in their clash at the end, I snatched it up and saved it to read just before this year's bout. Unlike what many of the refs did during their respective seasons, that was a good call.
Feinstein is known more for his books on basketball and golf, and it shows a bit here: his college football knowledge seems a bit lacking in places. For instance, he claims the Army-Navy game is the best rivalry in the country; it is certainly in the top echelon, but what about Harvard-Yale? The World's Largest Cocktail Party? The Battle for the Axe? Michigan-Ohio State? The Iron Bowl? Or the greatest of them all, the Red River Showdown? Similarly with stadiums, he calls Notre Dame Stadium "college football's most famous stadium." Um... how about the Rose Bowl, or Michigan Stadium, or Tiger Stadium? Even the name of the book is a bit odd; the Civil War is what the annual Oregon-Oregon State game is called; nothing to do at all with Army-Navy.
That said, this is a wonderful book and the Army-Navy game is one of the treasures of college football. Feinstein does a great job of ping-ponging between the Army and Navy squads as their year progresses, becoming a biographer of sorts for a handful of players and coaches on each team. Along the way a lot of the traditions and history of the schools and squads are told giving more than a glimpse into what life at a service academy must be like. Even with Feinstein's hyperbole and occasional pretentiousness this was a fantastic book and I look forward to watching the game on Saturday!
First Sentence:
Almost thirty minutes after the last play of his college football career, Jim Cantelupe, still dressed in the black uniform with the gold number 22 on the back and front, walked down a dank, winding hallway in the bowels of Philadelphia's Veterans Stadium.
August 1, 2025
I started this book twice, and for some reason, it just didn't hit me right. I took it to the beach a few times this month, and finished it in a few hours. I don't know what changed, it was just a more enjoyable read. I'm not a jingoist, but this book does help you appreciate how much different the student-athletes at Army and Navy are.
The book mostly starts in August of 1996, telling the story of the Army and Navy football teams, as they prepare for the final regular season game of the entire college football season. There are many things which are different about the Army-Navy game, from the pageantry, to the history to the different level of talent. Feinstein gives all of those topics plenty of room to breathe throughout the impressively researched 400 pages. And maybe research is the wrong term for what he has done. I don't know exactly how Feinstein compiled his information. It feels like he is on both campuses for every minute of every day. The campuses are relatively close- West Point, NY is probably an hour north of New York City. Annapolis is about an hour from Baltimore, on the Chesapeake Bay. Still, it would be hard to make a trip to each one every two days. As Feinstein writes, I got the impression he was in every coaches' meeting, every players' meeting and on both sidelines the entire time.
This book is a credit to what journalism is. Too many people think journalism is when you walk out and talk to someone on the street and then report on what Country Bumpkin #1 has to say. Nothing could be further from the truth. Journalists copiously research every single topic they report. Anything they can't confirm, they tell you is "unconfirmed" or "alleged". And sure, our modern era of news commentary rather than specific 'news' has blurred the lines between what is reporting and what is opinion. But Feinstein has crafted something here which is truly impressive. Sorry, I'll get off my soapbox.
I'm not sure Feinstein is as good a writer as people gave him credit. This is the third book of his which I have read. His writing is solid. But it is the access he received that made him such an impressive author. This is one of the better college football books I have ever read. It could be a little specific for someone who doesn't follow college football. Feinstein uses terms without explanation or example. If you can approach this with an open mind, you will probably enjoy it.
The book mostly starts in August of 1996, telling the story of the Army and Navy football teams, as they prepare for the final regular season game of the entire college football season. There are many things which are different about the Army-Navy game, from the pageantry, to the history to the different level of talent. Feinstein gives all of those topics plenty of room to breathe throughout the impressively researched 400 pages. And maybe research is the wrong term for what he has done. I don't know exactly how Feinstein compiled his information. It feels like he is on both campuses for every minute of every day. The campuses are relatively close- West Point, NY is probably an hour north of New York City. Annapolis is about an hour from Baltimore, on the Chesapeake Bay. Still, it would be hard to make a trip to each one every two days. As Feinstein writes, I got the impression he was in every coaches' meeting, every players' meeting and on both sidelines the entire time.
This book is a credit to what journalism is. Too many people think journalism is when you walk out and talk to someone on the street and then report on what Country Bumpkin #1 has to say. Nothing could be further from the truth. Journalists copiously research every single topic they report. Anything they can't confirm, they tell you is "unconfirmed" or "alleged". And sure, our modern era of news commentary rather than specific 'news' has blurred the lines between what is reporting and what is opinion. But Feinstein has crafted something here which is truly impressive. Sorry, I'll get off my soapbox.
I'm not sure Feinstein is as good a writer as people gave him credit. This is the third book of his which I have read. His writing is solid. But it is the access he received that made him such an impressive author. This is one of the better college football books I have ever read. It could be a little specific for someone who doesn't follow college football. Feinstein uses terms without explanation or example. If you can approach this with an open mind, you will probably enjoy it.
February 18, 2022
This book is really 2 stories in 1. It focuses on the 1995 NCAA football season for both Army and Navy. When the author wrote this book he in effect embedded himself into both West Point and the Naval Academy. By doing so he got to to know players, coaches, administrators, and their families from each school. In so doing he really familiarized himself with the culture of each school. As the author wrote the book he really did so chronologically. Starting in the offseason before the 1995 season and proceeding through the season for each school. I will say that for each school's season he provides a high degree of detail in the preparation for each game and then provides even more detail during that week's game. The season of course finishes with the Army-Navy game. Here, the author provides more detail than could ever bee imagined, both in the 2 weeks leading up to the game and during the game itself.
June 9, 2025
After hearing about this book, I finally read it following John Feinstein's passing earlier this year.
This was a very enlightening book about a game that many sports fans watch mindlessly on a Saturday afternoon in late fall. Unless you have a personal tie to the academies or have a connection to the service, this game is a time filler for you.
However, after reading about how important and meaningful this game is to the teams, it offers a whole new perspective for the reader, who will watch the game with a completely different appreciation for the men playing.
John's way os sharing the path of how many of these men made it to the game was exciting, and reading about the joys and sadness that many of them experienced with their decision to attend the academies was fascinating.
Just a few pages in, I learned that one of the main characters of the story, Ryan Bucchianeri, actually attended the same high school as I did, so I was hooked. His story didn't work out the way he would have hoped, but after doing some internet searching, it appears as though he landed on his feet.
This was a very enlightening book about a game that many sports fans watch mindlessly on a Saturday afternoon in late fall. Unless you have a personal tie to the academies or have a connection to the service, this game is a time filler for you.
However, after reading about how important and meaningful this game is to the teams, it offers a whole new perspective for the reader, who will watch the game with a completely different appreciation for the men playing.
John's way os sharing the path of how many of these men made it to the game was exciting, and reading about the joys and sadness that many of them experienced with their decision to attend the academies was fascinating.
Just a few pages in, I learned that one of the main characters of the story, Ryan Bucchianeri, actually attended the same high school as I did, so I was hooked. His story didn't work out the way he would have hoped, but after doing some internet searching, it appears as though he landed on his feet.
October 24, 2025
Every year in September, I like to take up a football related book to celebrate the football season. I selected this book because I knew of the author and his excellent writing and thought it was interesting to think about the service academies and football. Well written, as usual, the book does a great job of weaving in life stories with the playing of football. I thought it was a little long and could have been written with fewer excerpts from specific games, because 30 years later, that doesn't really matter so much in the grand scheme of things.
A good read and I recommend for anyone who is a big fan of college football and of the sacrifices required by student athletes especially those in service academies.
A good read and I recommend for anyone who is a big fan of college football and of the sacrifices required by student athletes especially those in service academies.
February 1, 2018
I absolutely love this book! It talks about the two teams army and navy and their never ending rivalry game every year. The book goes through each team and their strategy and highlighted some particular players and who they were as a person. It also gave some glimpses of my favorite college. Notre Dame. One of my favorite quotes was “If you weren’t accepted into Notre Dame, you went to army.” I gave it a 5 star because I personally love football. It kinda looked like a boring book at first but as I started to read it, it got more interesting and in depth. I just found it cool how the game between Navy and Army was such an important game to them to win.
April 30, 2018
Riveting portrayal of a year inside the last, purest rivalry in college football. You don't have to like football to love this book though--at it's heart, this the story of the young men and women who attend our nation's service academies, and what they go through at West Point and Annapolis to prepare for their time serving our country.By the end of the book, you fall in love with these kids. That's the magic of this book, and I highly recommend it to anyone, whether you love football or not.
April 9, 2020
Very detailed coverage of the 1995 seasons for the football teams of the US Naval Academy and the US Military Academy, culminating with their clash in the annual Army-Navy game. As a Navy veteran and fan of Navy football I enjoyed this book immensely. Feinstein’s chapters on the actual game itself were so riveting, my heart was pounding even though I knew the outcome of the game! I just wish I’d have read this when it was published.
January 31, 2018
I think this book is good because it provides a year of foot ball for both teams and what it is like it also shows the football players true feeling. A reson I didn’t give it 5 stars is because i don’t like the part where he switches views from army to navy
December 22, 2019
I purchased the book to give to a friend but couldn't let go till I finished reading it myself. Feinstein's inside account of the greatest rivalry in college football -- if not all of sports -- cemented my desire to attend an Army-Navy game. This is what all athletics should be like.
December 27, 2020
Deep dive on a sporting rivalry I knew nothing about. The author does an excellent job of showcasing why it's unique and telling the stories behind the machine. It's aged well, would highly recommend to a sports fan outside the US or college sports bubble.
July 11, 2023
Feinstein Masterpiece
I have owned this book for years and only just picked it up. Shame on me. One of his best because of the ground the covered. And my brother-in-law , a West Point grade West the thought..... And no book his ever captured academy of better than Feinstein.
I have owned this book for years and only just picked it up. Shame on me. One of his best because of the ground the covered. And my brother-in-law , a West Point grade West the thought..... And no book his ever captured academy of better than Feinstein.
June 8, 2024
Very entertaining book about a season in Army-Navy rivalry. This book takes you through each academies season and into their game usually the first weekend in December.
This rivalry is right up there with the great college football rivalries and although they are no longer national powers the rivalry is a spectacle. I had the opportunity to attend this game and it was a great atmosphere. Besides these guys playing football they are preparing for their careers and defending the country.
As a side note John Feinstein is a great sports writer.
This rivalry is right up there with the great college football rivalries and although they are no longer national powers the rivalry is a spectacle. I had the opportunity to attend this game and it was a great atmosphere. Besides these guys playing football they are preparing for their careers and defending the country.
As a side note John Feinstein is a great sports writer.
August 29, 2025
Great overall book, if you’re a fan of US Military history as well as college football history then this is the one for you. Very insightful behind the scenes look into one of the greatest college football rivalries of all time.
November 20, 2017
Excellent sports nonfiction; following teams for an entire year, author captures culture at West Point and Annapolis, and importance of the game
December 24, 2018
I enjoyed the history and learning about the lives of the Army-Navy football players. I was bored with the play-by-play action of every regular season game of Army and Navy.
March 30, 2019
A wonderful and detailed look inside this long running rivalry.
February 18, 2020
Good read for a college football fan. GO NAVY!
June 15, 2020
A look inside Academy football for the year leading up to the 1995 Army-Navy game. Very entertaining. A good read overall.
July 24, 2020
A great tribute to this rivalry.
January 28, 2021
Really great book. Very moving and an incredible story that ties into global events, too.
November 9, 2021
More respect for military football players.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 77 reviews