Saturday 2 October 2022
Kelly Cup, Parades, Open Barracks, Football and More!
General Leave for those not taking an overnight:
Upperclass: after the game until 0100/1AM
Freshmen: after the game until 2400/12AM
Note: these times may change based on the Commandant’s and Regimental Commander’s assessment of how loud the cadet families cheered during the game!
Key Events:
0730/7:30AM: Pre-Sold Parent’s Day T-Shirt and Totebag pickup and sales – Second Floor of Mark Clark Hall (until 1PM – will break for Parade)
0800/8:00AM: Band Rooms (only) open for Parents
0830/8:30AM: Regimental Pipe Band parades through the Barracks
0830/8:30AM: Barracks Open – All Barracks
0845/8:45AM: Kelly Cup Finals – Padgett-Thomas Barracks Quad
0945/8:45AM: Rifle Legion Performance – Padgett-Thomas Quad
0955/9:55AM: Freshmen Promotion Ceremony (Company Areas)
1015/10:15AM: Barracks closed to visitors
1100/11:00AM: Dress Parade
1145/11:45AM: Lunch
1300/1:00PM: Formation and March to the Stadium
1400/2:00PM: Kickoff – Go Dog’s! Beat Furman! Click here to get your tickets
This is not a leisurely day to spend with your cadet, but a day packed full of activities designed to show you some of the time-honored traditions of The Citadel. Without prior planning, you could find you running from one end of campus to the other. It is important to come to an agreement of what your family will do that day – especially in the morning. If you feel like you may miss something this year, you can always make it a priority for next year. Sunday will be a slower pace.
If you arrive early to get a good parking place, you can stop by the Starbucks or Chick-Fil-A for a cup of coffee and food. They will open at 0700 (7:00AM).
If you ordered T-Shirts and Toebags you can pick them up on the second floor of Mark Clark Hall starting at 7:30AM. We will have extras if you would like to purchase one or more. The shirts are $25 and totes $20. Please bring exact change – an ATM is located on the first floor of Mark Clark Hall.
We open the barracks at 8AM for the Band families since members of the Band have very little time to spend with them due to other duties that morning. So the first event for everyone else on Saturday morning is Open Barracks at 0830. This is a great time for your Cadet to show you their room – hopefully how clean it is – and share some of their stories. Also listen for the bagpipes as they make their way through each battalion.
Before you leave, make an agreement on where you will meet your Cadet after parade and to call you if they get delayed!
0845 (8:45AM): Make you way to Padgett-Thomas Barracks (the one with the clock tower) in time to watch the impressive Kelly Cup finals. The Kelly Cup is awarded to the best drilled Freshman squad. Each company enters their best and over the days prior to Saturday that number is whittled down to the best four squads in the Corps. If you have time, plan on watching as they have put in a lot of work to get where they are. Also please remain quiet while they are being graded. It is important that they hear their leader’s commands.
0945 (9:45AM): The Citadel Rifle Legion will perform on the Second Battalion Quad. This is an impressive group of cadets who serve as our ambassadors at events throughout the southeast.
0955 (9:55AM): For parents of Freshmen, DO NOT BE LATE for the Freshmen Promotion Ceremony in the respective Company Areas. During this ceremony your Cadet Recruit will drop the “Recruit” from their rank and receive their company letters which they will now wear with great pride on their collars (vice shirt pockets).
After the Promotion Ceremony (~1015), the barracks will close to allow the cadets to prepare for parade. As you find your place to watch the parade, remember the companies line up on the Parade Field from left to right left starting with the Band then alphabetically across the Parade Field.
1100 (11AM): The Dress Parade. There are several highlights to this parade which include the Freshmen Cadets joining the Corps and a Jeep Review of the Corps by General Walters, the Regimental Commander and the Regimental Commander’s parents who represent all parents! We will also award the Regimental Commanders Bowl to the company earning top marks in during the Cadre Training Period, the Kelly Cup to the best drilled freshman squad, and the Cadre Leadership Award to top cadre squad sergeant. The Parade should be complete by 1145.
The next part is tricky because your cadets will have to drop off their rifles then meet you for lunch. With kickoff at 2PM, they will have to be back in the barracks to form up to march over to the stadium around 1PM.
IT IS IMPORTANT THAT YOU COORDINATE WHERE YOU WILL MEET AFTER PARADE BEFORE YOU DEPART THE BARRACKS!
Pre-Ordered Lunches: we will have lists with your name at the entrance to each location
1) The Citael Family Association BBQ. – Buyer Auditorium which is located on the second floor of Mark Clark Hall.
2) Coward Hall
3) Deas Hall: Box lunches
4) CAA BBQ Lunch at the HAC
If you didn’t register in time, you can always get a bite at the Canteen (remember Chik-Fil-A), inside the Football Stadium during the game or have a small tailgate at your car.
Couple of lessons learned with the lunches:
1) You only have an hour between the end of parade and your cadet having to be back in formation. Band has less time. So, impress upon your cadets not to delay in dropping off their rifles and meeting you at the prearranged location you agreed to before parade. Every year I see parents waiting outside the barracks while their cadets have decided to take a nap without telling them! Impress upon them that texting is a great way to keep you informed.
2) Plan ahead and select a place to eat. The Canteen/Chick-Fil-A is a great place to eat, but each year the line goes down to the Chapel. When it got close to 1PM, most decided to wait and grab a bite at the stadium after spending an hour in line.
3) Don’t think of lunch as a relaxing time to spend with your cadet. It is a time to get something to eat and move on to the Stadium for the football game.
The Football Game!
At approximately 1315/1:15PM the Regimental Band will lead the Corps to the Stadium. They stop by the HAC enroute to help people get in the mood to cheer on the “Dogs”. The remainder of the Corps will march down Hagood Avenue around 1330/1:30PM to prepare for their march onto the field. After you see your Cadet in formation on Hagood Avenue, we recommend you head into the stadium to watch the Corps enter the stadium and render honor to our nation and guests.
1400 (2PM): Kickoff of The Citadel/Furman football game! This is a key game for the ‘Dogs as they continue their quest for another Southern Conference Championship! If you haven’t gotten your ticket, click on this link to find a ticket that works best for you and your family.
Something to look forward to is the Summerall Guards halftime performance. Notice how quiet it gets.
After the game. Cadets are allowed to leave after the game and an overnight if authorized. During the game the Commandant and Regimental Commander may provide a recommendation to the President on whether to modify when Cadets need to return to campus. Any changes will be announced over the stadium PA system at the end of the game (So Cheer Hard!).
Friday’s events CLICK HERE
Sunday’s events CLICK HERE
Return to the Summary Page CLICK HERE
Have a GREAT Day!