Navy has been making a serious push to promote quarterback Keenan Reynolds as a Heisman Trophy candidate, and it is prepared to do whatever it takes in order to get their quarterback to New York City for the Heisman Trophy presentation ceremony, even if it means flying him up by helicopter.

We will find out in a few more days whether or not Reynolds will be named a finalist for the Heisman Trophy. If he is named a finalist, he will be given the invitation to New York for the awarding of the trophy at the Downtown Athletic Club. Of course, earlier that day Reynolds and Navy will be taking on rival Army in the annual Army-Navy Game down I-95 in Philadelphia. The game is scheduled for a 3:15 p.m. ET kickoff and the Heisman Trophy ceremony begins at 8 p.m. in New York.

“If we get him out of there by 7 o’clock and the game is over by 6:20 or 6:30, he should land in time,” Navy athletic director Chet Gladchuk said to Jon Solomon of CBS Sports. “How dramatic would it be if he walks in even when the show is under way? He comes walking down with his Navy blues on. ‘Excuse me, fellas. Sorry I’m late,’ and he sits down.”

Anyone who has ever been to an Army-Navy Game knows the stadium will be packed, and traffic getting out of the parking lots in Philadelphia can be a bit messy even with a police escort getting the buses out for the two service academies. So if Navy is prepared to go all in on getting Reynolds to New York as quickly as possible, they may just want to land a helicopter right at midfield of Lincoln Financial Field after the game.

Earlier this week, Navy called out ESPN for the removal of Reynolds as a candidate on a fan vote. The quarterback returned to the ballot after much outrage over the incident.

Reynolds may not win the Heisman Trophy (Alabama running back Derrick Henry looks like a clear favorite right now), but he represents everything the Heisman Trophy stands for in college football. Seeing him make an appearance in New York in his Navy attire, even if having to do so by helicopter drop-in, would be quite the reward for one of college football’s most outstanding citizens.

Of course, it is not unprecedented for candidates not to be in New York for the ceremony. Heck, when Barry Sanders won the Heisman Trophy in 1988, he was in Tokyo for Oklahoma State’s game against Texas Tech, which was played nine hours later.

About Kevin McGuire

Contributor to Athlon Sports and The Comeback. Previously contributed to NBCSports.com. Host of the Locked On Nittany Lions Podcast. FWAA member and Philadelphia-area resident.

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