Getting tingly just thinking about.. Navy Football!!

Football Rule #1: Don't fumble the ball...

As disappointing and hot as the game was, we had a great time at our son's company tailgate afterwards. It made me happy to see these Mids as real kids just having fun. I feel like I suddenly have 100+ adopted children. So many just randomly came up and asked us if we were Xxxxxxx's parents and chatted with us. They even invited this old guy to play some cornhole with them.
 
Football Rule #1: Don't fumble the ball...

As disappointing and hot as the game was, we had a great time at our son's company tailgate afterwards. It made me happy to see these Mids as real kids just having fun. I feel like I suddenly have 100+ adopted children. So many just randomly came up and asked us if we were Xxxxxxx's parents and chatted with us. They even invited this old guy to play some cornhole with them.

And @brewmeist sent me a picture of my Mid , one of “his kids” ♥️♥️
 
One of the coolest things about the Commissioning Week parade was the honoring of the new color company. The mother of the company commander was escorted onto the parade ground and presented with a bouquet of flowers. The Brigade Commander then escorted her to do the transfer of color-company pennant, from the outgoing to the incoming. She got to present that pennant to her DS. Very moving. And that was one proud mama!
 
I know DS Company was Color Company at some point last year. It's considered an honor.
Considered an honor by parents.
In my experience the average mid is not impressed. I was somewhat insulated and didn't have much of
an opinion but my company professed a desire to stay in the middle of the rankings which is
where we were for all four years.
 
One of the coolest things about the Commissioning Week parade was the honoring of the new color company. The mother of the company commander was escorted onto the parade ground and presented with a bouquet of flowers. The Brigade Commander then escorted her to do the transfer of color-company pennant, from the outgoing to the incoming. She got to present that pennant to her DS. Very moving. And that was one proud mama!
Replaced the much longer held tradition of the colors being transferred by the Color Company Commanders Girfriend/fiancee which then
became significant other.
 
This thread probably has more discussion about color company than the Brigade had. The one good part, is the extra weekend. ‘Back in the day’ when USNA was all male and many got married right after graduation, color girl was almost always a fiancé or girlfriend. With that not being the case on both accounts now (in Many cases) it can be awkward. I have seen sisters, moms fill in. Not sure we have seen a Dad or brother yet? Also with same sex relationships allowed, this can be a totally different thing at any point. Honestly it’s a tradition I think many could see go. We finished 2nd 1/C year for color company. My best friend was Company Commander and I was XO. He didn’t want to win purely for the whole color girl piece. Also, as a Mid in that parade, you can’t see anything and it’s just a hot, long parade.
 
One of the coolest things about the Commissioning Week parade was the honoring of the new color company. The mother of the company commander was escorted onto the parade ground and presented with a bouquet of flowers. The Brigade Commander then escorted her to do the transfer of color-company pennant, from the outgoing to the incoming. She got to present that pennant to her DS. Very moving. And that was one proud mama!
One of our local Mom’s DS was the company commander and got to experience this awesomeness! ❤️
 
I think Mids get psyched out for Color Parade. You always see a record number of people falling out (passing out) when the parade is only maybe 20 minutes longer than a normal parade.

As much as I hated parades as a mid (even after only marching in them sporadically), they serve a legitimate public affairs purpose. Have to show where the tax dollars are going. 8 is overkill though. While parades definitely have their purpose (see above), USNA is also not 8th and I Jr.

On Color Company, most mids don't care too much about it except maybe a tip of the cap. Nobody is sitting there wishing that they were in the color company over the one they're in, though. Like it was discussed on the threads re: company reputations, metrics don't necessarily translate to the company climate. The only real benefit I saw of value was guaranteed parking. Plus, most people know the rankings are to some degree up to chance. One of the metrics is least amount of absences. So if your company has a lot of athletes and/or people going to sick call, then you are not going to get high marks however hard one tries.
 
I only marched Commissioning Week then the spring parade season my 1/C… they suck. I read they have 8 parades this fall season. Mids are not happy 😆
Well, to be fair are Mids ever happy? ;)

8 is a lot in one semester. Huge demands on their time and parades are time sucks for sure.

Selfishly, I’m glad there is one this coming Friday for me and my travel companion to see in person.
 
I haven’t marched in a parade since first semester plebe year. In fact, I don’t even know where my parade uniform is :jump1:
One of MY people!

I did dig out my full dress and march in the final parade before graduation instead of doing more backdrop sailing on
the older version of the Navy 44's with snacks and beers as had been the case in the two other graduation week parades.
 
My flights to BWI today are a bigger train wreck than last week’s offensive game. Rebooked for tomorrow at a city 130 miles farther away. What a mess.
Up at 4 am, at the airport and shuttled to terminal by 6. Flight delayed 3 times and forced potential missed connections. Now rebooked different day, farther away. To add insult to injury they charged me to park for four hours! Can someone get me the Secretary of Transportation’s email?
 
There was a father who was selected by his DD as the color honoree. It was maybe 5 years ago. Personally, I prefer the current system where the CC commander can select anyone. In the past, it could be awkward if the CC commander didn’t have a current GF or sister.

The one thing I find a bit weird with the current system is mothers who try to look like they’re still 21. Be beautiful. Be proud. But remember you’re a mom, not a GF or sister.
 
.
The game was a sleeper today …

News Flash … my Mid is better than your Mid … I probably got this wrong, but I believe our DD’s company #15 was awarded the most distinguished Company during Brigade walk-on …. the stadium announcer said something about company #15 is the “Color Guard” company because of their exceptional “Athleticism” and “Service Awards” … or something like that …. I am not good at details like this …. Maybe someone here on the forum can fill in for me 🥸

Anyway … DW got the following picture of daughter’s Company #15 walking in through the entrance tunnel to the stadium today

View attachment 12843
15th company is the “Color Company” they were awarded back in May (end of 2021-22 school year) with this distinction and I believe is based on points earned during the school year in academics, athleticism and professionalism. The goal is to keep the “Colors” distinction at the end of this school year as well. It’s not easy but 15th upperclassmen are very hands on guiding the plebes, they all work hard and have high expectations.
 
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