Academy Traditions

Cooper M

Member
Joined
Nov 1, 2014
Messages
20
Just Curious, what are some of the "different" traditions at USNA? I have heard things like "Do NOT step on the SEAL crest" Please elaborate
 
The seal in front of Tecumseh. If you step on it. You won't graduate... Then there's bets that the upper classmen will make with the plebes. I heard one where if you lose the bet, you have the honor of polishing the goat's balls across from the gift store.
 
The seal in front of Tecumseh. If you step on it. You won't graduate... Then there's bets that the upper classmen will make with the plebes. I heard one where if you lose the bet, you have the honor of polishing the goat's balls across from the gift store.

Not sure what the bet was, but my plebe made some kinda bet with one of the detailers during plebe summer. Something to do with not laughing or smiling for a whole week i think
 
Throwing pennies into Tecumseh's quiver before tests for good luck,

Not being allowed to walk through the main doors at Bancroft until you graduate,

Giving a company mate a brick from Stribling for dating an "ugly" girl

Squaring corners,

"Beat Army!"

And lots more... anyone?
 
Beating Army in football is an awesome tradition!


Sent using the Service Academy Forums® mobile app
 
has anyone ever heard of a midshipmen stepping on the seal in front of tecumseh?
 
Thanks for sharing. I talked to a USAFA grad who did an exchange program at Navy and he said it was the best semester of his time as a cadet because of all the traditions. It's part of the reason I want to go there
 
There are tons of traditions... Yes you will see Mids throw pennies or left hand salute Tecumseh. Probably alot of that this week. There are tons of traditions about walking only on straight paths outside, which doors you can use and also staircases. For example when you march into the main doors after you say bye to mom and dad at I day you won't go in or out those center doors unless you are doing colors or after you graduate. No one walks on the seal. Nothing will happen, you will definitely hear it from everyone, but never seen anyone do it. If you service select USMC guys will get their heads shaved. EOD or SEALS, all body hair. I hear they are trying to crack down on things like that... but from what I have seen, there were plenty of bald Firsties at Army Navy. There are a million other traditions... don't want to spoil all the fun for future Mids!
 
There are a lot of traditions that belong to different companies- like painting Tecumseh, doing particular morning workouts, or other various traditions. There are also some unsanctioned things like dumping pitchers of water on firsties during Air Force and Army week. A large amount of what "traditions" you experience depend on your Company/Battalion assignment.
 
The Seal

I actually did witness a Mid walk across the Seal.

Suddenly my Mid and others starting calling out "Watch out for the . . ." but it was too late. She was oblivious and just walked straight across the seal. There was a collective groan that made you realize just how aware everyone in the vicinity was of that seal.

I know it's just a superstition, but it did make me feel a little sad for her.
 
One of my favorites - the annual spring croquet match between USNA and St. John's College, with the Navy team traditionally fielded by 28th Company. Thirty-three years in 2015, I think. Have fun and google it.


Sent using the Service Academy Forums® mobile app
 
I have heard that it is traditional to pull pranks during Army week. Anyone care to share any they heard of or participated in?
 
What happens in Bancroft stays in Bancroft.

Sent using the Service Academy Forums® mobile app
 
Air Force Week, Army Week, don't step on the Seal in Tecumseh Court, bets with upperclass, throwing the company commander in the water after the last parade of the fall and spring, Worden Whirl, and unlike what you read above, Mids do NOT throw pennies into Tecumseh during exams or any time of testing. Class of '13 here and not once did I see it done (although maybe I should have....)
 
The part about not using curved paths or certain staircases or doors is actually just a plebe thing, once you climb Herndon you can use them. Honestly one of the really interesting things about coming here was finding about all of the small traditions (such as Worden Whirl and dumping CC's in the Severn). There are a lot of small things, but you are better off just waiting to experience them.
 
It's interesting to hear how various traditions have changed or died out altogether over the years. Pitching pennies at Tecumseh for good luck during exams, especially during finals, was very much in vogue back in the 70's - 80's. The lore was that if you got a penny to land in Tecumseh's quiver, you'd ace the test. It wasn't uncommon back then to see Mids launch whole handfuls of pennies at the statue on the way to exams. One guy got a big laugh one day when he literally bombarded Tecumseh with a whole bucket full of pennies. I remember seeing folks from Public Works standing by to pick up all the pennies lying on the ground around Tecumseh during finals. I heard they donated the money to a local charity. Carrying change in your WUBA's wasn't so easy back then, either, because the pants didn't have any front pockets. Really. You had two normal back pockets, but only a little slit of a change pocket in front. The story was that some prior Supe's wife didn't like to see the Mids slouching around the Yard with their hands in their pants pockets. Navy's answer - remove the pockets! That was one of the big jokes during our era: after graduation from Navy we were finally qualified to wear WUBA pants that came with all their pockets!
 
Back
Top