Football at Norwich while pursuing a commission

banjoppd

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Any input is welcomed:

The rigors of playing football, studying engineering, and pursuing a commission all at Norwich?

Is it possible, maybe drop football senior year.

I have known students who swam at a D 2 school, study physics, and Army ROTC, but I don't know if the time commitment to swimming is the same as football.

I know a Citadel grad who played football all 4 years and he told me only one athlete in his time at Citadel commissioned as an active football player.

Concerned about travel, ROTC requirements, and classes , may just won't work at Norwich.

Service Academies are a different story, somehow they make it all work. I have met many Army-Navy football players. My nephew played at USCGA and they made it all work out.

Should I just advise DS to leave football behind if he attends any of the private military senior colleges.

Anyone know if Norwich will ever develop a spring men's track and field team?

Thanks in Advance
 
No matter how loudly folk make noises to the contrary you can’t play a tier 1 sport like football and be a full part of the Corps. That said make your choice and go with it.
 
There are many cadets at Norwich that play football and commission as an officer in the military. I know a good few seniors that played football all four years, and are commissioning, and they don't just slide by either. There is one guy in the naval battalion that is a mechanical engineering major, has darn near close to a 4.0 GPA (cumulative), and got his first choice as a SWO (nuke).

As for not being a "full" part of the Corps, this is true, but then again, many are not a "full" part of the Corps. Your freshmen year you are actually encouraged to get involved in as many activities as you can to get away from the Corps. This doesn't mean to avoid your responsibilities within the Corps. You'll just have a depressing college experience if you let the Corps rule your life, and this is a part in how many do not graduate from SMCs.

I say, if your DS wants to play football, go for it, especially during freshmen year. He might decide he does not want to pursue football after that and try something else.

However, on the last note, I just want to emphasize that it is possible to do a "tier 1" sport, and still commission as an officer. Many many students do it, and are still successful in their corps, academic, and extra-curricular responsibilities.
 
It is completely possible to do all three things you mention. There is some handwringing at SMCs over what athletes participate/don't participate in but 99% of that fades away by junior or senior year and as I looked at it several of the key leaders at the SMCs (VMI Superintendent and Citadel President) played sports and majored in engineering before progressing on to 4 star level careers. The ROTC programs understand this and they usually make some accommodations for in season athletes to not require them to participate in ROTC led physical training or field training which competes with in season athletic events. Good luck to your DS.
 
It is completely possible to do all three things you mention. There is some handwringing at SMCs over what athletes participate/don't participate in but 99% of that fades away by junior or senior year and as I looked at it several of the key leaders at the SMCs (VMI Superintendent and Citadel President) played sports and majored in engineering before progressing on to 4 star level careers. The ROTC programs understand this and they usually make some accommodations for in season athletes to not require them to participate in ROTC led physical training or field training which competes with in season athletic events. Good luck to your DS.

Not sure of Norwich, but many athletes at The Citadel do earn their commissions. Most athletes also do well academically, as they have a natural community, besides their classmates and coaches, to help and mentor them. As for football, the number of Citadel football players commissioning each year may have more to do with injuries, weight (300 lb linemen would have difficulty passing PFT), and eligibility if they are red shirted for a year. The recently retired President of The Citadel was QB of The Citadel football team, and graduated with an Air Force Commission, became a fighter pilot, rose to 3 Star General and Superintendant of the USFA. Two years ago, the QB of the football team also commissioned into the Air Force. Can be done - requires commitment to a goal - which is also a good indication you will make a good leader.
 
At least a handful of Norwich football players commission every year. The NROTC cadet mentioned previously was actually valedictorian that year. Biochemistry major, 3.98 gpa, 4 year football player (I believe he was an all conference performer his senior year). His graduating class of football players also had three current Marine Corps officers in it. They also won a league championship and played in the NCAA tourney as juniors.

The speaker at this year’s commissioning ceremony is General Mark O’Neil, NU Class of ‘85. He is a former Norwich football captain.

It absolutely can be done, has been done, should be done, and is being done annually.

One piece of advice: college football, at any level, is a significant commitment in and of itself. Going into it already entertaining the idea of quitting is not a good idea.

Norwich Forever!
 
In my Norwich cadet's Rook class alone there were 3 football players, all pursuing commissions. Keep in mind that the football team is not putting in the same hours as a D1 SEC program. My cadet has 3 friends from high school who received scholarships to the Citadel to play football. The football scholarship was their determining factor in choosing the Citadel, not necessarily a desire to become a military officer. Norwich is a D3 school, so most players chose Norwich first and then decided to play football. Also, my commissioning cadet is on the swim team and has never had an issue other than possibly being a little more sore or tired after practice than the other cadets. Taught the kid how to manage priorities and time. The team often studies together and the team camaraderie is a wonderful experience.
 
Good post. Glad to hear your cadet is having a positive experience, and is able to enjoy athletics while pursuing a commission. Further proof that it is absolutely possible!

I will say, the overwhelming majority of football players at Norwich are recruited athletes, so the part about them choosing Norwich first, then deciding to play football isn't totally accurate.

Good points about the Citadel. I've had conversations with coaches at Citadel, and USNA where they told me they do not recruit "military kids". They recruit them as athletes and "convince" them to do military thing. Interesting, especially at Navy.

For informational purposes, probably mostly for the OP, football players at Norwich should expect to spend 3-5 hours a day on football during the season, and another 1-3 a day during the offseason. This includes practices, strength and conditioning, and meetings.
 
Just a follow up...

This morning, 29 student-athletes (not all football, obviously) received commissions across all four branches at Norwich
 
Just a follow up...

This morning, 29 student-athletes (not all football, obviously) received commissions across all four branches at Norwich

Seems to me Norwich being D3 athletics does it right, NCAA competition but kept within reason ...
 
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