The Army-Navy football game is an event marked on everyone's calendar, and even though neither school attracts the nation's top recruits, the contest is broadcast on national television every year.

Both teams pursue the Commander's Cup, which is awarded to the military academy that fares better in head-to-head competition.

People love watching because it involves a set of young men training to protect American freedom. They've let it be known they're willing to risk their own lives to protect the lives of all throughout the world.

But that isn't the only competition for a Commander's Cup. Michigan has its own version among the various ROTC battalions on campus.

The Army, Navy and Air Force ROTC units compete against each other every fall in flag football, basketball and a five-mile run to determine who will be awarded Michigan's Commander's Cup. In addition, the Navy ROTC faces off against the Naval battalion at Notre Dame and Ohio State in just flag football.

"We take it very seriously," Navy ROTC fifth-year senior Doug Knotts said. "There's not a huge reward for winning, but the Commander's Cup gives you bragging rights for the year."

The games between Michigan's Army, Navy and Air Force ROTC units have the same competitive nature as any other sporting event, but because of their affiliation with the armed services, the games have a different feel than a college or high school game.

All of the players involved have signed up to be in the military in some form after they graduate from Michigan. Eventually some of the players who are going at it in the trenches of the football field could be side-by-side in the trenches on the battlefield.

"It's always a hard-nosed game," Knotts said. "But we're all on the same team. There's mutual respect for each other after the game."

Currently, the Navy team is preparing for its matchup against the Notre Dame Naval ROTC in South Bend Friday night. It's held in conjunction with the actual Michigan-Notre Dame football game next Saturday afternoon.

Up until five years ago, the only competition was among the Navy, Army and Air Force battalions on campus. But then the Naval ROTC began playing Ohio State's Naval battalion before the Big Game. Last year, the NROTC from Notre Dame was added as a yearly opponent. And don't think that these games are a little-seen event.

"If the game is at home, the majority of the battalion and their families will show up," Knotts said. "It's not that big of a deal outside of the ROTC. But considering it's a flag football game, we have a good deal of people at the games watching us."

Since the varsity football team is playing away games against the Fighting Irish and the Buckeyes this year, the Naval ROTC team will be traveling to each school. When Michigan's NROTC battalion faces Notre Dame's NROTC this weekend, future comrades will compete against each other. All members of the Naval ROTC become a part of the Navy after college.

"There's still a rivalry between us because of the schools we go to," Knotts said. "But after the game, we hang out, and the other team will put the others up for the night. Last year, I had three Ohio State players stay with me during the weekend of the Big Game."

Just like any other football team, there are practices during the week in preparation for the games. The games are 11-on-11 with live action on the offensive and defensive lines. Because it's flag football, there is no tackling involved. Any member of the ROTC is eligible to participate, and it's one of the last games the future military officers will compete in.

In just a few years, the games will end and real life combat becomes a reality.

Last year, the Naval ROTC swept all three events to capture the Commander's Cup. The dates for this year's event have not been set, but it's sure to be a highly competitive battle.