Cadet chosen to highlight the colors at the Georgia Tech game

Cadet William Edinger will receive the flags at Saturday’s football game at Georgia Tech.

Edinger, a senior in Air Force ROTC majoring in human nutrition, foods, and exercise in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, will travel with the team to Atlanta.

The Virginia Tech Corps of Cadets and the Virginia Tech football team continue their proud partnership to highlight the colors during the pre-game ceremony at every football game.

Three football players, chosen because of their performance in the last game or at practice, carry the American flag, the state flag, and the team’s spirit flag and lead the team onto the field. They deliver the flags to cadets at the south end of the field. 

The cadets, also selected based on their performance in the corps, render honor to the flags and carry them off the field. At home games three first-year cadets are selected, and one or two upper-class cadets travel with the team and receive the flags at away games. 

Edinger is the executive officer for Alpha Company, one of 14 units within the corps. His primary job for the past eight weeks has been to oversee the development of his company’s first-year cadets and mentor the 11 upper-class cadets who served as their training cadre.

“Each week he sits down with the cadre on top of his very busy schedule to write plans and help them develop themselves as well as the freshmen of Alpha Company,” said Cadet Liam Murphy, who commands Alpha Company. Murphy is a senior in Naval ROTC majoring in mining engineering in the College of Engineering. 

In addition to his corps duties, Edinger also has a leadership role in Air Force ROTC, maintains 17 credit hours of classes, and works two jobs.

“He is an outstanding cadet and role model,” Murphy said.