The military academies are well funded by the taxpayers. In return for that, the taxpayers get a well trained cadre of junior officers who serve on active duty for a minimum of five years. Everyone wins. I am not complaining about the extent to which the taxpayers, via the USG, support the Naval Academy. I am also not rejecting the premise that the taxpayers have the right and obligation to review how the military academies spend the money provided by the taxpayers and operate in general.

What I am complaining about is the fact that the Naval Academy leadership is under such scrutiny by *local* politicians over their COVID protocols that the AD and HC decided to ban live tackling at football practice.

In the grand scheme of things, football isn't that important. But the message that is being sent by the over reaction to COVID is, we are a fragile society comprised of fragile citizens that can't function under duress. Coach KN said it best - playing football in the time of COVID is a sign that life goes on, and we should find ways to function, rather than live in fear.

Bottom line - USNA AD and HC did what they had to do to get the football team to the starting line. But they had to give a lot just to get to the playing field.