The Virginia Military Institute-Easy Does Not Happen Here - No Such Thing as Ordinary - A great place to be from, a hard place to be.....
Jimmy reported to Football on August 5th so Tom and him headed down to Charlottesville on the 3rd brining all of his school and football stuff. We made a few trips to the local Wal-Mart to get the final items he would need, we opened a local bank account and did the essential local to do's as he was heading off to college. We had a great couple of days hanging out and talking football both us for different reasons hoping against hope the season would happen.
We walked onto the post (not campus) on Thursday morning, Jimmy had to have a COVID screening, (which he passed) then we were allowed on to the post. Jimmy introduced me to his position Coach Moore, and I met the head coach Woc and Jimmy loves his strength coach Foreman, he was in full football mode. I took him and 3 of his new teammates out to lunch then suddenly I was the only Dad left and Jimmy was ready to go. A big hug final goodbye, good luck, I love you and he was off to D1 Football.
Tracy and I headed off to VMI on the 13th of August to see Jimmy and the football team practice, watch Jimmy Matriculate into the school, sign the coveted book and see his cell, I mean barricks/ college "dorm room"it did not go as planned, which basically nothing has this ENTIRE year...sorry.
We received a text from Jimmy, as we were boarding the plane giving us the practice schedule for Friday so we could plan our day and know when we could watch him practice. We were super excited because he loves playing football, is good at it and we like watching to the things he loves. We landed 2 hours later in DC our phones starting beeping we got a text from Jimmy saying Football has been cancelled and moved to Spring. It was very disappointing, not unexpected, but still a let down. The coach took a positive stance by saying since 49 of the 101 players are Freshmen and will spend most of the Fall, enduring the Rat Line and other trials, that come with VMI. Come Spring the Freshman will be out of Rat-Line, bigger, stronger, and faster with several additional months to learn the play book the football team will be in great shape. The glass is 1/2 full. Thats a good attitude.
Since Jimmy will be in basic training aka hell week on his birthday we gave him a couple of cards said happy birthday and celebrated his 19th birthday with Masks and social distancing...
Life as a Rat
We learned that VMI is a great place to be from not a great place to be..
Saturday ,August 15th, at exactly 3:00 the Matriculation process began for the Rat Murphy. The protocol, marching, speeches, direction and discipline that was in the air was intense. There are 504 rats in the class of 2021+3 as they are known until they break out of Rat-Line in February. As I heard many of the Cadets ( Keydets) say Basic training for the Military is 2 weeks at VMI it is 6 months, and these kids chose to be here! Jimmy told us that Jesus told him to take the hardest path, Tracy told Jimmy that Jesus was not an accountant as Jimmy had scholarship money at Valpo but no so at VMI.
The morning session consisted of us going through all the regular college into stuff, making sure your fees are paid, that you have an academic advisor, a major and also a class schedule. Then it was off to his room (cell, I mean barracks) to put his stuff away and to pack up all his civilian clothes, except one outfit to travel off Post with. The room is in a barracks and the whole structure looks very similar to a prison block. The session ended around 10:00 and Jimmy was able to change out of his Gym Dyke (uniform) and leave the Post for a few hours ...which we loved. We had breakfast with him, went back to our hotel room where he promptly took a nap, the it was off to lunch and back to the Post. He changed back into his Gym Dyke and we then headed into the serious introduction ceremony.
There were several hundred people in the gym, the Big wigs paraded out promptly at 3:00 gave their speeches consisting of doom and gloom and the promise of bright futures once you prove you're worth...
Then there was more marching in of platoon leaders, flag carriers and the general organization of military formations. Once they were all in the proper place the names of the new Rats were read by platoon, Alpha, Beta Charlies, etc. Jimmy is in the Band Battalion which is fantastic. Once all the manes were read and formation was organized the Bag Pipes began to play as the Rats marched off to their destiny.
We have received one text from Jimmy while he has been doing God know what which said:
"My phone is going bye bye, see you the other side"
Hell Week has begun....
Hang in there Jimmy. You've got this. You'll come out the other side changed. We love you. We are proud of you. Give 'em Hell.
XOXOXO
Mom and Dad
Photos of VMI and Lexington below...cant comment on all but tried to on the significant ones...
Literally, the rat line
Saying goodbye to the neighbor kids
I swear he looked bigger a week after we dropped him for football
Coach Moore
