In the grand scheme of things, it’s impossible to do everything you want to do, but that doesn’t mean you can’t give it your best shot.

In that regard, I have now checked a football game at the U.S. Military Academy off my list of wanna-dos.

During the nearly four decades I covered Kansas University football, the Jayhawks never played a game at tradition-rich West Point. In fact, KU and Army have met just once in football, and that was way back in 1922.

A daughter lives just 15 minutes or so down the road from the famed military school, so, while on a family visit, I was able to make a side trip to the Cadets’ season opener against Temple a fortnight ago.

Basically, Michie Stadium isn’t any different than any other college football facility. Michie (pronounced Mikey) Stadium contains about 40,000 seats, boasts a huge press box and – new this year – a scoreboard with a video screen.

And, like most stadiums, the pregame atmosphere is electric with anticipation, with people milling about, heading for their seats or hitting a concession stand.

Then a helicopter flies high overhead, and you can barely make out two specks falling from the chopper. Momentarily, chutes open, and you hold your breath as two members of the Army parachute team swoop in and land near the 50-yard line.

Next come a regiment of the Corps of Cadets marching onto the field, standing at attention during the Star Spangled Banner, then scrambling for the cadet-seating area in the north stands.

I notice in the game program that Kevin Anderson, Army’s athletic director, calls this the “unmatched fanfare that takes place at majestic Michie Stadium.”

It’s impressive, all right, but hardly unmatched. I’ve seen parachutists at other places – including Memorial Stadium – and nothing I’ve ever seen matches the dazzling dismounted drill of the Texas A&M Corps of Cadets.

For pure tradition and scenic beauty, however, you can’t beat the West Point experience, even if the Black Knights of the Hudson haven’t been a major player on the national scene for decades.

On opening night, several members of Army’s unbeaten 1958 team were honored at halftime. Among the returnees was Pete Dawkins, the school’s last Heisman Trophy winner.

Army’s 2008 team will not go unbeaten. In fact, the Cadets could go winless. The defense, coached by Lawrence native John Mumford, is decent, but the offense is weapon-less. Head coach Stan Brock, a former Colorado lineman, is fighting tanks with slingshots.

Temple cruised to a 35-7 victory that night, thanks largely to two gift TDs via Army fumbles and another on a kickoff return. Over the weekend, Army’s woes continued with a 28-10 loss to New Hampshire (yes, New Hampshire).

As bad as the Cadets are, however, I wish I could return for their Oct. 25 game against Louisiana Tech, the team KU blanked 29-0 on Saturday, because Army will be retiring Dawkins’ No. 24 jersey that day.

Even better, the first 10,000 fans will receive a Pete Dawkins bobblehead.