Virginia Tech Corps of Cadets, Hokie football team to highlight the colors at Russell Athletic Bowl
The Virginia Tech Corps of Cadets and the Virginia Tech football team continue to highlight the colors during the pre-game ceremony at every football game.
Cadet Evan Baker of Granger, Ind., a junior majoring in political science in the College of Liberal Arts and Human Sciences who is a member of Army ROTC; Cadet Ian Tillotson of Washington Crossing, Pa., a junior majoring in aerospace engineering in the College of Engineering who is a member of Air Force ROTC and is a recipient of the W. Thomas Rice '34 Emerging Leader Scholarship; Cadet Zachary Bird of Riner, Va., a sophomore majoring in management in the Pamplin College of Business who is a member of Army ROTC and is a recipient of the William R. L. Craft, Jr. Emerging Leader Scholarship; Cadet Ryan Hager of Springfield, Mass., a junior majoring in history in the College of Liberal Arts and Human Sciences who is a member of Air Force ROTC and is a recipient of the R. B. Pamplin Family Emerging Leader Scholarship; Cadet Joanna Cruz of Lorton, Va., a junior majoring in aerospace engineering in the College of Engineering who is a member of Naval ROTC and is a recipient of the R. B. Pamplin Family Emerging Leader Scholarship; and Cadet Catherine Grizzle of Springfield, Va., a junior majoring in political science in the College of Liberal Arts and Human Sciences who is a member of Army ROTC have been selected to represent the Corps of Cadets at the Russell Athletic Bowl in Orlando, Fla.
All six cadets are members of the Virginia Tech Corps of Cadets Color Guard and Hager is serving as the Color Guard Commander this year. On game day, they will present the colors at the Corps of Cadets bowl breakfast as well as march in the 6th annual Russell Athletic Bowl Parade of Bands on Park Avenue in Winter Park, Fla. at 11 a.m.
Three football players are selected, because of their performance in the last game or during practice, to carry the American flag, the state flag, and the team’s spirit flag as they lead the team onto the field. They carry the flags the length of the field and deliver them to cadets at the south end of the field.
The cadets performing this honor are also selected based on their performance during their training. The cadets render honor to the flags and then securely carry them off the field. At home games three freshman cadets are selected and one or two upper-class cadets travel with the team and receive the flags at away games. Members of the Color Guard are selected to receive the flags at the bowl game in recognition of their dedicated efforts throughout the year.
Future cadets will continue to be selected for this honor based on their performance in the cadet regiment. The program is part of the proud partnership the Virginia Tech Corps of Cadets has with the Virginia Tech Athletic Department and the Virginia Tech football team.
