Time out!

Let's hope that's all it is for a great tradition.

The annual game between the top military schools in Canada and the United States, a series co-founded in 1923 by legendary U.S. General Douglas MacArthur, is in jeopardy.

At a time when officers from both armies are serving in the war-torn Middle East, a camaraderie this game is supposed to foster, officials at West Point, N.Y., are perplexed that Royal Military College in Kingston has scheduled an Ontario Universities Athletic Association game against Ryerson on Feb. 10 when the Yanks thought the 84-year-old match was to be played.

"No one there said anything to us," said Brian Riley, coach of the USMA's Black Knights. "I went on RMC's web site (late in 2006) and didn't see our game. It's a little disappointing to find out that way and disappointing that a great tradition has stopped."

When West Point visits Kingston every other year, it's playfully built up as the only time American soldiers have "invaded" Canada since the War of 1812.

"It's not just about the game," Riley said. "RMC would stay here a few days, their Red Coats mixing with our Grays and their coach would stay at our house. The bands of both schools go at it and there is great atmosphere at Tate Arena. The whole gist, going back to the 1920s, is brothers-in-arms who may one day serve together on the same field. This rivalry goes back years in my family alone (Brian's father Jack and brother Rob preceded him as Army coaches)."

Riley points to a 10-year agreement established by the commandants of each school in 2000 for visits in alternating years. But RMC athletic director Darren Cates insists West Point knew in advance that this year's February date didn't work for his school.

That's in part because RMC recently relaxed the eligibility requirements [emphasis added] for its team, allowing reservists and civilian grads to play, thus drawing better players and improving its chances in the OUAA playoffs [that's interesting - MC]. That preparation would be complicated by a West Point visit. Only twice has the game been interrupted, in 1926 when RMC was mourning the death of a cadet and for the last four years of World War II.

HAVEN'T GIVEN UP HOPE

"Ending a tradition depends on interpretation," Cates said. "We've not given up hope this game can be played in the calendar year of 2007. This is the first I've heard that there was a problem (of West Point not getting proper notification)."

Cates says RMC officials will try and work out something when they visit the USMA in mid-February as part of a larger meeting on athletics.

"I want this game to continue, but not at any price," RMC commandant Brig.-Gen. Jocelyn Lacroix told the Kingston Whig-Standard last week.

The series was inaugurated in 1923, by then-West Point superintendent MacArthur and RMC commandant Maj.-Gen. Archibald Macdonnell. Army didn't win until 1939 and since the Riley family began coaching in 1951, the Americans have gradually taken the lead in the series.