History was made on Saturday when Navy played its first game as a member of the American Athletic Conference after competing as an independent the previous 134 seasons.
It was a success on the field as Navy used its potent triple-option offense to dismantle East Carolina, 45-21.
American Athletic Conference commissioner Mike Aresco came to Annapolis to commemorate the occasion. On Friday night, Aresco attended a dinner party held high atop Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium inside the sparkling new Akerson Tower.
Vice Adm. Walter E. "Ted" Carter, the Naval Academy superintendent, spoke at the affair before handing the microphone off to athletic director Chet Gladchuk and Aresco.