Calling All Football Fans

Mongo said:
The '60s USNA version:

"We don't play Notre Dame...........
We don't play Tulane..............
We just play Davidson.............
Because that's the grand old Army way."
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It just dawned on me. After seventy five years of poking fun at the Woop's schedule, they finally listened and are playing both this year. And have already beaten one of them. Go Army, beat Notre Dame. And I have tickets for the Army-AF game. Upper level, first row. Can't wait. I have never been to Woopville
 
Originally Posted by Mongo
The '60s USNA version:

"We don't play Notre Dame...........
We don't play Tulane..............
We just play Davidson.............
Because that's the grand old Army way."

As it was taught to the Air Force cadet wing during an evening meal @ 1981 by one of the exchange middies...it went like this:

"We don't play Notre Dame...........
We don't play Penn State..............
We just play Holy Cross.............
Because that's the EASY Army way."

Same idea....

BUT...I must agree! They're taking them both on and they did VERY nicely against Tulane!! I too will be cheering them on against Notre Dame!! :yay:

Steve
USAFA ALO
USAFA '83
 
Mongo:

It is a great venue for a game. The walk up the hill to Michie is a killer after the long tailgate parties down on the plain. Look to your left on the way up the long walk and see the mule stables. The view of the Hudson from the top of the stadium is worth the walk. Walk around and soak it in if you have some time. A beautiful place with all the great statues ovelooking the Hudson on the far side of the parade ground. They also have some old chain links from the original chain across the Hudson to keep the British from going up the Hudson in 1776. (I Think)
 
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AF6872 said:
They also have some old chain links from the original chain across the Hudson to keep the British from going up the Hudson in 1776. (I Think)
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One of the secrets divulged by Benedict Arnold was the existence and location of that chain.

(Anyone from USCGA would be familiar with those links. :wink: )

West Point is an incredible place to visit. Very impressive.
 
Was Benedict Arnold a USCGA Graduate and knew about the chain? Just kidding:thumb::rofl::rofl: LITS and Luigi give me some slack. Anyone who had a decent history class knows about the old chain on the Hudson and might be able to pick out Lake George and Champlain on a map.
 
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AF6872 said:
Mongo:

It is a great venue for a game. The walk up the hill to Michie is a killer after the long tailgate parties down on the plain. Look to your left on the way up the long walk and see the mule stables. The view of the Hudson from the top of the stadium is worth the walk. Walk around and soak it in if you have some time. A beautiful place with all the great statues ovelooking the Hudson on the far side of the parade ground. They also have some old chain links from the original chain across the Hudson to keep the British from going up the Hudson in 1776. (I Think)
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One correction: tailgates do NOT occur on the Plain. The Plain is for parades only, and is situated in front of Washington Hall. The area you're talking about is Buffalo Soldier Field, in front of the Hotel Thayer.
 
AF6872 said:
Was Benedict Arnold a USCGA Graduate and knew about the chain? Just kidding:thumb::rofl::rofl: LITS and Luigi give me some slack. Anyone who had a decent history class knows about the old chain on the Hudson and might be able to pick out Lake George and Champlain on a map.
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I only mention the chain links because of a swab tradition at USCGA:

Tradition of The Chain

As part of the Museum's collection, there are six oversized links of chain, each approximately 45" long located next to the entrance of Waesche Hall. These chain links were donated to the Coast Guard Academy by descendants of Peter Townsend, the man that originally forged them. During the time of the Revolutionary War, the chain was drawn across the Hudson River near West Point to offer protection and prohibit the passage of vessels. General Benedict Arnold had command of the American Fort at West Point, and it was at this time that he plotted to betray the Fort to the British. One of the secrets he shared concerned the existence and location of the chain.

Every year, a challenge is undertaken by the fourth class (swabs) and second class cadets. Over the course of the week preceding the first home football game, the fourth class cadets must hide the chain links somewhere on Academy grounds. The chain has been hidden in places such as the Thames River, the Superintendent's garden, and even under the fifty yard line of the football field. The second class is then challenged to find the chain by halftime of the football game. If they can not, they must reward temporary privileges, such as "carry-on", to the fourth class.​
 
Luigi59 said:
I only mention the chain links because of a swab tradition at USCGA:

Tradition of The Chain

As part of the Museum's collection, there are six oversized links of chain, each approximately 45" long located next to the entrance of Waesche Hall. These chain links were donated to the Coast Guard Academy by descendants of Peter Townsend, the man that originally forged them. During the time of the Revolutionary War, the chain was drawn across the Hudson River near West Point to offer protection and prohibit the passage of vessels. General Benedict Arnold had command of the American Fort at West Point, and it was at this time that he plotted to betray the Fort to the British. One of the secrets he shared concerned the existence and location of the chain.

Every year, a challenge is undertaken by the fourth class (swabs) and second class cadets. Over the course of the week preceding the first home football game, the fourth class cadets must hide the chain links somewhere on Academy grounds. The chain has been hidden in places such as the Thames River, the Superintendent's garden, and even under the fifty yard line of the football field. The second class is then challenged to find the chain by halftime of the football game. If they can not, they must reward temporary privileges, such as "carry-on", to the fourth class.​
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So, the tradition is to take an irreplaceable artefact of American history and bury it or throw it in the river?
 
scoutpilot said:
So, the tradition is to take an irreplaceable artefact of American history and bury it or throw it in the river?
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I'm not 100%, but I believe the original chain had more than 6 links....or it was used on a very narrow part of the river.

But yes, we take a somewhat irreplaceable artifact and throw it in Thames, or bury it, or anything else. The chain is very hardy and is usually outside.
 
LineInTheSand said:
I'm not 100%, but I believe the original chain had more than 6 links....or it was used on a very narrow part of the river.

But yes, we take a somewhat irreplaceable artifact and throw it in Thames, or bury it, or anything else. The chain is very hardy and is usually outside.
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Uh, yes it had many links. Excellent deduction, Watson! I'm sure you can fathom that not all of them exist anymore. Even the ones on display at West Point are not original, but rather are reproductions because they don't have the original links at their disposal. They're not something we can find on eBay.

I don't doubt the hardiness of the links. My thought was that someday there will be the awkward conversation that starts with "We put it in the river RIGHT HERE, I swear it! It has to be around here somewhere, sir..." :eek:
 
scoutpilot said:
Uh, yes it had many links. Excellent deduction, Watson! I'm sure you can fathom that not all of them exist anymore. Even the ones on display at West Point are not original, but rather are reproductions because they don't have the original links at their disposal. They're not something we can find on eBay.

I don't doubt the hardiness of the links. My thought was that someday there will be the awkward conversation that starts with "We put it in the river RIGHT HERE, I swear it! It has to be around here somewhere, sir..." :eek:
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I'm sure that's already happened! :biggrin:
 
Did not know about the Coast Guard tradition. The great chain was 600 yards long and weighed 65 tons.
 
Buffalo Soldier Field is correct. Under the trees by Security is the best place. Thayer has a great gift store if you want to stock up on Whoop gear. The foliage should be pretty good unless we get some bad rain or really strong winds. Take a walk to the top of the stadium and get a good look at the Hudson valley or if you have some time go out to the point by the statues and the chain.:thumb: One of the prettiest rivers in the US.
 
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AF6872 said:
Buffalo Soldier Field is correct. Under the trees by Security is the best place. Thayer has a great gift store if you want to stock up on Whoop gear. The foliage should be pretty good unless we get some bad rain or really strong winds. Take a walk to the top of the stadium and get a good look at the Hudson valley or if you have some time go out to the point by the statues and the chain.:thumb: One of the prettiest rivers in the US.
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My parking pass is for Target Hill and is baby/poiwder/zoomie blue. Is this an ominous sign? The ticket office lady says the parade is at 9AM and of course I have to witness proper marching since I have never seen nor experienced it before. Have no idea how long it will take to demonstrate proper marching but if I arrive at 8ish, do I need to rush to ensure good viewing for the marching or are there things to see between Target Hill, assuming I am not a designated target, and the parade field and then do I have time to see anything between the parade and the noon kickoff. I suppose I will need to be seated 11:30ish or so so I can again observe proper marching during the march-on?

Where is a good place to eat dinner to soak up the proper woop cadet ambiance?
 
Mongo said:
My parking pass is for Target Hill and is baby/poiwder/zoomie blue. Is this an ominous sign? The ticket office lady says the parade is at 9AM and of course I have to witness proper marching since I have never seen nor experienced it before. Have no idea how long it will take to demonstrate proper marching but if I arrive at 8ish, do I need to rush to ensure good viewing for the marching or are there things to see between Target Hill, assuming I am not a designated target, and the parade field and then do I have time to see anything between the parade and the noon kickoff. I suppose I will need to be seated 11:30ish or so so I can again observe proper marching during the march-on?

Where is a good place to eat dinner to soak up the proper woop cadet ambiance?
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Good dinner? Thayer. Cadet dinner? Schade's, but it'll be packed. You're a man of means. Eat at the Thayer.

Target hill is a LONG way from the plain. You'll have to take a shuttle, as it is almost two miles away from and at least 200' below the plain. You won't see much in between. But, should you choose to walk to the stadium, you'll see plenty. I recommend the route from Washington Rd up past the catholic and Jewish chapels, past the monument to the American Soldier and the Cadet Flight Memorial and Lusk. Others may differ.
 
scoutpilot said:
Target hill is a LONG way from the plain. You'll have to take a shuttle, as it is almost two miles away from and at least 200' below the plain.
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Jeez, I sure hope you guys can march better than you can draw maps. The AA parking map doesn't have a scale but shows Target Hill about 8 football field lengths from the Plain and, to me, that is about 1/2 mile. And aren't they supposed to put those little lines and circles to show elevations?
 
Mongo said:
Jeez, I sure hope you guys can march better than you can draw maps. The AA parking map doesn't have a scale but shows Target Hill about 8 football field lengths from the Plain and, to me, that is about 1/2 mile. And aren't they supposed to put those little lines and circles to show elevations?
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Well, the APFT run course starts at Gillis Field House and goes 3/4 mile out to the end of target hill field, where you double back for 1/4 to complete the first mile. So target hill itself is 1/4 mile long. I suppose it depends where they park you on the field. TH field is only about 30 meters from the river, at river level. The plain is much higher. You can walk it, if you like really long walks (the two miles is a function of the fact that the walking routes are not a straight line.

Edit: google shows the walking routs anywhere from 1.5 to 1.7 miles to the public seating area. All the same, there will be shuttles. You won't miss anything.
 
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