I've never heard any of the "powers-that-be" give a straight answer about where march-in will actually occur when Kyle is finished. There will be no hard-surface around the periphery of the field, as far as I know.... the stands will be much closer to the actual playing surface... and the entire surface area inside the stadium will be natural grass (right?). So, where will the Corps march? Will the Cav be allowed into the stadium? Will the PMC wagon, caissson, etc be too heavy for whatever surface is there?

I'm becoming increasingly afraid that we were sold a bill of goods when, in the run-up to the sale of the seat options, the statements were made (in print) that "march-in" would continue. "March-in" means exactly that... the Corps marches IN TO THE STADIUM. Not a "march-to", or "march-around". If the AthDept and the TMF have ... let's see, how shall I put this.... broadened their definition of "march-in" to mean not actually marching into the stadium, then they'll never get another dime from me.

Hopefully someone on this forum can alleviate my fears. I hope I'm wrong.

That's a good question and a legitimate concern.

Personally, I would like to see the Corps do this similar to the way the service academies do. They march into the stadium and form up on the field then pass in review the same way the Corps has been doing for reviews at Kyle for the past decade or so.

IIRC, at USAFA, the march in takes place closer to the game start time so the Cadet Group forms up on the field for the National Anthem. After the National Anthem they pass in review and break to the stands. At each game one of the Cadet Groups marches in while the other three groups go directly to the stands. It rotates because each group is about 1,100 cadets. The difficulty in that is that it would potentially impede the teams' warm up if the entire Corps (FTAB included) were on the field.

I really think that could work well for the Corps. A march in closer to game time that puts the Corps front and center on the field would give the Corps better visibility. With the Corps being the size it is today, it could either go all-in or do a rotation similar to USAFA with half of the Corps marching in for each game on an alternating schedule and the FTAB marching straight into the stands.

RTT - the Athletics department would never go for that. They wouldn't want us tearing up the field, or getting in the way.

Also, that close to kick off would mean many cadets would have a hard time making it back to the dorms to put up sam browns and sabers, get water, etc, and making it back before kickoff.

There was a rumor, back when the MSC renovation was being voted on, that someone wanted the Corps to march through the MSC like a european train station, or something strange. I don't recall the details, but I hope the eventual plan wouldn't be for the Corps to just march through the MSC area and that be it.

The AthDept wanting to protect the turf is exactly what has me worried. Unless there are some hard surfaces planned for the stadium interior, I'm afraid that we've seen our last march-in that includes horse hoofs and wagons.

But, on page 13 of the may 15, 2013 edition of 12th Man Magazine, in the article entitled "FAQ Frequently Asked Questions concerning the Kyle Field Redevelopment" there appears this Q&A:

Q: Will the Corps still be able to march in following the redevelopment?

A: Yes, the honored tradition of Corps march-in will continue in the redeveloped Kyle Field.

Not just SOME of the Corps.... not a "march-to", or "march-around".

We'll see.

quote:

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"Worst case scenario is that we wouldn't be able to go into Kyle Field," Reeves said. "We are looking at using the MSC and Simpson Drill Field to do our reviews, and then we'll proceed directly to Kyle Field."

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http://www.thebatt.com/corps-leadership-plans-for-change-to-pregame-tradition-1.2812814#.U2AJAFcVft4

87, that article didn't have anything to do with Kyle renovation. The situation was whether or not SEC rules about no-pass-outs would affect march-ins, which it did not.

The SEC rules don't have anything to do with whether or not we'll have march-ins at Kyle after the renovations. As near as I can determine by talking to older former cadets, the Corps has been marching in to Kyle since... forever. The oldest ex-cadet I talked to is Class of '41. Simpson has been used for other reviews, etc but there's always been march-ins pre-game at Kyle, as near as I can determine.

The trade off to a later march in would be a much later step-off. On any given game day there are very few cadets who actually carry Sam Brownes, so I wouldn't see that being a substantial issue. The only other reasons most cadets would go back to the dorms when I was in the Corps were to get their game tickets, rest up before the game, meet up with guests, or simply skip the game.

Some of those things wouldn't be an issue with a later step off time, and cadets would easily adapt to the others. Cadets can bring their tickets with them and guests can join them in the stands. Cadets who don't want to attend the game can still leave. If there were an alternating schedule for march ins, I think a lot of cadets would be glad to suck it up for a march in knowing they get the next march in off. As for the field, cadets marching in for a game is going to do far less damage to the field than the actual football game will.

All said, I think the overall benefit to the Corps would be greater than the inconveniences a few cadets might experience.

musicman55, the article shows that they have been thinking about a change to March In since 2012.

Don't you find that a little odd that a plan was developed for a SEC rule that should easily be waived due to the military history of A&M?

87, they were only thinking about a "change" in the sense of a contingency plan in case the SEC no-pass-out rule was found to apply to the Corps. For whatever reason.... and I choose to believe what the article says which is the Corps march-in isn't violating the no-pass-out rule because they don't use their tickets to access the stadium for march-in. Once they re-enter the stadium.... using their individual tickets.... then the cadets are subject to the rule just as everyone else in the stadium is.

As for the date.... 2012.... note that the contingency plan was developed AFTER we were admitted to the SEC and had to start thinking about SEC game day rules (like moving the FTAB further down the sideline). There was no indication in the article that there was thinking regarding changing march-in before we switched leagues.

To allay your concerns, the Corps WILL STILL march-in to Kyle Field next year and every year after renovations are complete. Yes, there is no track; yes, the stands will be closer; yes, the field is lower than in the past; but we'll work through all of that, and the Corps WILL march-in to Kyle Field just as we have in the past. And to be clear, Parsons Mounted Cavalry WILL STILL be a part of the Corps march-in.

There are going to be 3 tunnels at the south end of Kyle Field, and the only reason there are 3 tunnels vs just 1 is simple: Corps in, Corps out. Period.

March-in will be conducted just as it has in recent past, so do not expect that the Corps will form up on the field like they do at West Point or Annapolis. No time to do so. We will still march in ~1 1/2 hrs prior to kick-off, and will not be allowed on the field, as both teams are already on the field at that time. March-in will still be conducted just the way we have in the recent past - even if we don't have a track.

I hope this clears things up for you and allays your concerns about march-in. I have been directly involved in discussions with the 12th Man Foundation about the Corps march-in and the placement of the cannon relative to the newly renovated Kyle Field, and trust me when I say that the Corps has been a big part of the plans that were made for Kyle Field in the future.

Thanks for your support of our Corps! Gig 'em!

Thanks for the reassurance BGR.... I feel better now. It's nice to know that the march-in tradition was important enough to have the redeveloped stadium include the 2 additional sallyports in the south end for ease of ingress/egress for the Corps.

^ Nice post to clearly answer the question. Thanks.

Thank you, General.

Thanks, General R.

Just wish they had kept the old North End Zone tunnel back when the Zone went in. Lots of memories of coming through that one....

Couldn't agree more, Canyon Ag. I miss those days marching through that north end zone tunnel - especially when the drums starting playing that famous drumbeat. I swear the stands seemed to sway when the drums started playing in that tunnel as we marched out onto the field. Very good memories.

Good job, SF. I will have Musicman55 do pushups for scaring everyone. Back in the day we would have done much more.........LOL

quote:

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I miss those days marching through that north end zone tunnel - especially when the drums starting playing that famous drumbeat.

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Too bad non-BQs never got that experience. It is a big part of my memories of being in the FTAB.

I wish some enterprising media geek could find a way to simulate the sounds of the band going through the tunnel at game day.

quote:

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There are going to be 3 tunnels at the south end of Kyle Field, and the only reason there are 3 tunnels vs just 1 is simple: Corps in, Corps out. Period.

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Maybe marching in/out through those tunnels will be the great memory for the next generations of cadets.

A little birdie told me PMC won't march in because it will be all grass, all the way around. Corps will find a way but PMC is done. Please, someone, refute this. And without a NE tunnel, where do the fish take the milkmen?

"And to be clear, Parsons Mounted Cavalry WILL STILL be a part of the Corps march-in."

Tell your little birdie to stop spreading rumors.

If there is to be a no track at new Kyle surely the west Kyle March-In "reviewing stand" will shrink considerably.

Perhaps only three or four dignitaries instead of a 15-20 person norm.

Bad assumption to make. As I said, the march-in will not change - that includes the reviewing stand. The same reviewing stand will be used this year as in year's past.

And just for the record, the reviewing stand accommodates as many as 85 people - not just 15-20.

I hope this puts an end to the issue of march-in next year. But to be certain, show up at Kyle Field 1 1/2 hours prior to kickoff this season to see for yourself. I hope you do - there aren't many others who are there to see our Corps march-in before each game. The cadets could certainly use your support.

[This message has been edited by Commandant79 (edited 5/17/2014 7:29p).]

79...
Have always arrive early for March In.

Cold, rain, hot sun or not bop is first through Kyle's gate (2 hrs before gametime)...for last 29 years.

If there is to be no track and the sideline positioned closer to stadium seating will not the width of the Reviewing Stand need to be narrowed. Or, perhaps cadet unit files could be reduced to three ?
Three files might not look too good but cadets would not be marching out on the playing field.

[This message has been edited by bebopag1 (edited 5/18/2014 10:21a).]

Thanks for your support of the march-in. Greatly appreciated!

Tailgating, air-conditioning, and oversight of booze on campus has really affected march-in and its pageantry on Kyle Field.
I am really REALLY pleased to hear it will continue as in the past!!

...and complacency - did I mention complacency??

If March-In were to continue west down Joe Routt, then skirt Kyle west while goin' south, to enter Kyle from the new SW tunnel (thus traversing inside Kyle east, north and back south past the reviewing stand) the Corps could avoid Houston Street and way too often avoid the pre-game mix of some verbally-lewd intoxicated hip-hop non-reg party crowds.

Pre-game boozed students imitating sips...BAD BULL !

(Verification say you? Go make a pre-game video of Houston St., with sound !)

[This message has been edited by bebopag1 (edited 5/19/2014 12:38p).]

That will never happen, Bebop. All you have to do is look at the plans for the renovated Kyle Field, complete with the plazas and the fan zones, and you'll see that we would never be able to march in as you describe.

Not much I can do about tailgaters and fans along the route, although I must admit I have not seen egregious behavior like you describe from fans along the route the Corps marches. Way too many police around for fans to get too out of hand, and to be honest, we appreciate the fact that literally thousands turn out to watch the Corps march by along Joe Route and Houston Streets. Thats a LOT more than are inside the stadium.

Again, as I've said before - at least twice on this thread - march-ins will continue as they have in the past. Period.