Gordy Larson started a discussion on the Class Forum concerning pep
rallies with the following.
Guys,
As we all know, Bob Doughty is in the process of
writing a book about the distinguished class of 1965, and he asked me
to put together a couple of paragraphs about pep rallies both in the
mess hall (I still have trouble thinking of it as a dining facility)
and after hours. It conjured up a few fond memories, and I
thought I'd toss them out and see if anyone here can add to them.
The big rally I'm sure most of us recall was the one
where we ended up stacking tables to the ceiling and engaging in one
big food fight. Given the magnitude, I assume it was a Navy week rally,
but I can't say for sure. I don't think any one individual was
punished, but we were all docked for the damages out of our next
pay. I seem to recall that it was some piddling amount like 10
cents, but Bob says he looked it up and we were docked $12.04. I
remember thinking that it was cheap entertainment. Can anyone
help me out on this one?
Among other things, I recall a pep rally before one
of the Penn State games, where one of the law professors (don't recall
his name), who was a Penn State grad gave the rally speech. Penn
State was heavily favored as usual, but he said that we'd carry the day
because of the discipline and the spirit of the Corps. He claimed
that even though we were outnumbered in the stands, the Penn State fans
would all be drunk by the third quarter, rendering themselves
ineffective. Rip Engles was the Penn State coach back then, and
it's said that he hated to come into Michie to play Army. He
would play tapes during the practices leading up to the Army game to
get his players ready for the cadet spirit. If memory serves, we beat
Penn State 3 years in a row, and the margin of victory was a field goal
each time.
I also recall that we used to rally in front of
Westy's house, and he would come out to address the rally. His
speeches were always in the format of a 5 paragraph field order.
The two weeks leading up to the Navy game were
usually one big pep rally after another. There was always the
traditional threat of attempting to steal Navy's goat and defending
against a similar attempt by Navy to kidnap one of our mules. I
always figured we had an advantage there because a mule is a lot
tougher to steal. I recall one year that someone painted Beat
Navy on one of the moth balled ships anchored in the Hudson, but I
don't recall any of the other pranks, other than seeing the Father of
our Country covered with TP every year.
Any additional thoughts or clarifications?
Gordy
Dave Gabel
Recalls
Gordy, I don't think the "great mess-hall rally" was
for Navy. I think the team had been suffering some difficulties, and
the Corps was pretty dispirited. Then, before a game in which we could
reasonably expect to have more difficulty, came that rally. I remember
a loud bang in the vicinity of the door, and then a call to rally. I
remember our waiter getting a worried look on his face, and then
gathering everything on the table into the tablecloth and hustling to
the kitchen, I remember being up on a stack of tables. I remember
that we got docked in our pay. But I don't believe it was for Navy,
although I don't remember what game it was for.
Perhaps some of our players might remember.
Chuck Nichols
provides his 2 cents
I was on guard duty that night and I remember the
cannon they used at games being rolled up to the main door to the mess
and being fired into the mess to start what became a riot from my
perspective. I was standing at the door when the cannon went off
and I think that's why I have lost hearing in one ear. If memory
serves me correctly Rocco McGurk was the leader of the rabble.
What do you remember about
pep rallies while we were cadets. I'm sure all of you remember
the night the football cannon was wheeled to the front door of
Washington Hall and fired as soon as the doors were opened.
Here are a couple of pictures
from that night. What do you remember of that rally?
Here is an
accounting
of that night in 1963 done by Randy Kunkel, Dick Eckert, then MAJ
Joe Rodgers, and an unnamed grad (thanks to Rick Charles for digging it
up) from the USMA Bicentenniel page.
What other pep rallies stand out in your mind? Send the details
(and pictures if you have them) to Chuck Nichols at
cnichols6@verizon.net.