New York

Surely, there is the temptation to embellish. Look at the subject matter. Army football. Yankee Stadium. Doc Blanchard and Johnny Blanchard. Our great protectors on the most hallowed lawn in sports. Begs for hyperbole.

Because reality isn't that romantic.

Or is it?

The last official sporting act here before Saturday was only Derek Jeter's final swing at Yankee Stadium. Base hit, ballgame over, thuuuuh Yankees win. Another moment at The Cathedral.

This was another: Moments before kickoff Saturday and here comes the West Point Parachute Team, jumping from a helicopter high above the big, bad city. One with the game ball for Army-UConn. Another with the American flag. Fancy that one. The game ball parachutes in, just before Old Glory.

This was Saturday in the Bronx.

Utterly cool.

The majesty of the Stadium, the history of Army, and the UConn Huskies as the invited guests. Normally, a football game between a pair of 2-6 teams would generate a group yawn. But not here. Not here where The Captain played and where future captains played Saturday.

"It was an incredible lesson for our team to play in this spectacular venue," UConn coach Bob Diaco said after a 35-21 loss, "the greatest sports venue in the world."

Yankee Stadium for football: One goalpost at home plate. The other just in front of the center field fence near Monument Park. The Army logo at midfield would be where a popup to shallow center would land (just think Teixeira with somebody on base). Seats at the 50-yard line were near each foul pole. The Army cadets filled the left center field bleachers, while the UConn band played in the right center field bleachers. The teams entered the field through the dugouts. It was a pleasant 50 degrees at kickoff.

The UConn radio broadcast team of Joe D'Ambrosio, Wayne Norman and Bob Joyce did the game from the Yankees radio booth (Joe D reports that Suzyn Waldman left her umbrella there), while poor Kevin Nathan froze his ascot off on the field.

Halftime: The UConn band spells "USA" on the field and the entire stadium is singing "The Battle Hymn of the Republic." After the third quarter, the entire stadium, 27,453 fans, sang "God Bless America."

Sorry. But if you couldn't appreciate this, you have terminal cynicism.

You'll note we haven't addressed the game yet. That's because it defied explanation at times. Any hope from last week's win over Central Florida was chewed up and spit out under the steady churn of Army's option. Army lost to Yale, sure. But the Black Knights of the Hudson had the ball most of the game, rendering UConn helpless.

As one UConn fan tweeted, "If (UConn coach Bob) Diaco is looking for his (butt), the Army staff has been kicking it up and down their sideline for a few hours now. No answers."

John Sterling, whose voice resonates throughout this place all summer, likes to say "Suzyn, you can't predict baseball." But you sure could predict football. At least Saturday. Army ran option. Rinse, repeat. And UConn was powerless. Meanwhile, the "Wildcat" formation (or whatever Diaco calls it) with Deshon Foxx running the ball, so successful against Central Florida, went into witness protection until late in the third period.

Worse, with the Huskies down 14 (but driving) late, disorganization forced them to waste a timeout, leaving the with one for the final 2:06. They recovered an onsides kick and drove to the 6-yard line before quarterback Chandler Whitmer threw an interception that Army's Chris Carnegie returned 99 yards for a touchdown.

What you might not know: UConn beat the play clock by a gnat's eyelash, scarily close to a delay of game. More disorganization.

"(Playing at Yankee Stadium) was a lot for a young, infant program to take in, clearly," Diaco said. "The moment probably was a bit big for some."

Including you, coach.

Still, not such a bad day. Not to beg, but can we do this every year? This is a can't miss. Yankee Stadium, Fenway, Wrigley … it's the best way to add some juice to an otherwise moribund season. And who knows how many more moribund seasons we'll endure here?

There's nothing imminent on UConn's future schedules. That doesn't mean athletic director Warde Manuel can't beg, borrow or steal. Look at it this way: Notre Dame and Boston College play at Fenway next year. Might there be room in 2016 and beyond to get the Huskies on Yawkey Way?

Meantime, here's hoping Army-UConn returns here soon.

There's only one Cathedral.

This is the opinion of Day sports columnist Mike DiMauro.

Twitter: @BCgenius