I don't see why or how Herbstreet would see us passed over...No, I figure this is more about Jo-Pa, "spreading the wealth" and hitting a venue that they think they "ought" to when there's at least a match up that is reasonably attractive, ratings-wise.
(BTW, Army/Navy is ALWAYS played early in Dec.--nowadays, it tends to be the weekend after the regular college season and before the conference championships, but in 1941 I believe it turned out to be on the last day of "peace" in America before the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, Sunday, December 7...virtually every man on the field--and most of those in the stadium too, for that matter--went to war shortly thereafter...so when it is played is one more tradition that resonates with history. )