Cannon Crew – Page 3 – EWU Army ROTC

EWU ROTC Supports Football Team’s Quarterfinal Playoff Victory Over UC-Davis

12/08/2018 by jstafford3

The Eastern Washington University (EWU) Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC) Cadets were out once again supporting the home football team during its quarterfinal game against University of California-Davis (UC-Davis) today at Roos Field. The two Big Sky Conference foes had played just a month earlier at Roos Field with Eastern winning by a score of 59-20. This game would prove to me much different. One of the differences was the weather which was much colder than the last time these two teams met. Throughout the day the temperatures remained below freezing with a thin layer of frost covering everything around the stadium. Despite the cold conditions the EWU ROTC Cannon Crew was ready to support the home team with our historic World War II era howitzer:

After a quick first touchdown by EWU the first half began to be controlled by UC-Davis by going up 14-7 before EWU made it a 14-14 tie game capped by an incredible defensive stand at the goal line just before halftime.

Cadet Polello fires the EWU ROTC howitzer after a home team touchdown.

Cadet Smart fires the EWU ROTC howitzer after a home team touchdown.

In the second half the sun went down making the temperatures even colder. However, our Cannon Crew was ready with a small fire to keep warm around:

The more the temperatures dropped though the more the game seemed heat up as Eastern and UC-Davis traded touchdowns.

Cadet Beier fires the historic EWU ROTC howitzer after a second half touchdown.

After UC-Davis went up by a score of 29-28 after a successful two point conversion with 1:13 left in the fourth quarter, prospects for the home team were not looking good. However, the resilient Eagles football team fought back to score a touchdown to win the game with :26 seconds left on the clock by a score of 34-29.

Cadet Beier fires the historic EWU ROTC howitzer after the final home team touchdown to win the game.

Congratulations to the EWU football team for an incredible win. The football team will be in action next weekend in the FCS Semifinals against the University of Maine. Since EWU is the higher ranked seed in the playoffs, they will host the playoff game at Roos Field in what will be the first ever meeting between the two teams. The EWU Color Guard and Cannon Crew teams will both be at the game supporting the football team. We look forward to welcoming Maine to Roos Field with the sound of our howitzer.

Go Cannon Crew! Go Fighting Eags!

EWU ROTC Supports Football Team’s Second Round Playoff Victory

12/02/2018 by jstafford3

It was a beautiful, but cold day yesterday at Roos Field as the Eastern Washington University (EWU) football team hosted a second round football playoff game against Nicholls State University.

Our EWU Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC) Color Guard supported the home team by presenting the colors just before the 2PM kickoff.

Our EWU ROTC Cannon Crew was also on hand to fire our historic pack howitzer after every home team touchdown. Unfortunately the Cannon Crew did not have much to do in the first half as EWU was down 14-3 and Nichols State was getting ready to kick a field goal as time was about to run out before halftime to go up 17-3. Incredibly the kicked was blocked and ran back for an EWU touchdown causing our cannon crew to do a quick crew drill to fire the cannon after the extremely exciting, but unexpected touchdown.

During the second half the sun lowered and with it the temperatures became even colder at Roos Field which is also known as “The Inferno” due to its signature red field. Our EWU ROTC Cadets were ready to heat up the Inferno with some more Cannon Crew action.

During the second half the colder it got, the hotter the EWU football team became as they want on a streak of 39 unanswered points keeping our Cadets very busy.

The Cannon Crew would continue to bring the heat to the home crowd at the Inferno by lighting up the sky and bringing our signature loud boom after each home team touchdown.

Congratulations to the EWU football team for its exciting 42-21 victory over Nicholls State. Our EWU ROTC Cadets look forward to supporting the football team next weekend as it takes on University California-Davis at Roos Field in the third round of the FCS playoffs. Let’s bring more heat to the Inferno next week.

Go Eags!

EWU vs Cal Davis Football Game

11/10/2018 by jstafford3

EWU ROTC supports the home football game with Color Guard and Cannon Crew support.

1000: Assigned Cadre, Color Guard, and Cannon Crew arrive at Cadet Hall

1015: Color Guard Rehearses

1030: Move Jeep with equipment and cannon to Roos Field

1100: Set up site for Cannon Crew

1145: Color Guard presents colors

1200: Cannon Crew Ready for Kickoff

1600: Tear down and clean up complete after the game

EWU vs Idaho Football Game

10/27/2018 by jstafford3

EWU ROTC supports the home football game with Color Guard and Cannon Crew support.

1000: Assigned Cadre, Color Guard, and Cannon Crew arrive at Cadet Hall

1015: Color Guard Rehearses

1030: Move Jeep with equipment and cannon to Roos Field

1100: Set up site for Cannon Crew

1145: Color Guard presents colors

1200: Cannon Crew Ready for Kickoff

1600: Tear down and clean up complete after the game

List of EWU Homecoming Activities Supported by the ROTC Program

10/25/2018 by jstafford3

The fall colors are in full bloom all around the Eastern Washington University (EWU) campus which means it is homecoming week:

The 2018 Homecoming & Parent and Family Weekend parade is 6 p.m., Friday, Oct. 26, in downtown Cheney. The EWU ROTC color guard and classic Jeep “Lil Eag’” with our historic towed packed howizter will lead the parade that starts the festivities of Eag-Nite (which also includes the bonfire-pep rally and street party).

Captain Nicholas Carbaugh pictured with our classic Jeep “Lil Eag'”.

The Color Guard and Lil Eag’ will stage at 4:30 p.m. in parking lot P-15 in front of Hargreaves Hall, next to the fence bordering the University President’s house. Anyone wanting to get pictures with our Jeep and cannon are encouraged to show up during this staging period for photos. We would love to see any alumni, friends, and family of the EWU ROTC program during this time. The Color Guard with Lil Eag’ will lead the parade from P-15, followed by President Cullinan and her husband, EWU Alumni Association Board members, and our 50-year reunion guests, down C Street. The remaining parade entrants will follow from their staging point in P-17. The parade will then turn right onto 1^st Street. The parade ends at the Surplus parking lot (H Street), where the bonfire-pep rally will be held.

Our historic World War II era pack howitzer fires after a touchdown during an EWU home football game earlier this year.

On Saturday, homecoming activities continue with the EWU football team playing the University of Idaho. Prior to the 12:05 PM kickoff our EWU ROTC Color Guard will present our nation’s colors during the National Anthem. During the game our Cannon Crew team will hopefully have a busy day firing our historic pack howitzer after many EWU touchdowns.

We look forward to seeing everyone this weekend. Go Eags!

EWU Cannon Crew Supports EWU Football Win Over Southern Utah

10/07/2018 by jstafford3

It was another busy Saturday on October 6, 2018 as the EWU ROTC “Fighting Eagle” Cadets supported the home football team in their game against Southern Utah University. The ROTC Cadets supported the game by executing both Color Guard and Cannon Crew duties. Captain Nicholas Carbaugh was the Cadre member in charge of game day preparations which included driving our crowd favorite Jeep, “Lil Eag” up to Roos Field with our historic historic M1A1 Pack Howitzer in tow:

The cannon first entered service during World War II with the 10th Mountain Division where it saw action against enemy forces during division operations in Italy. The cannon after World War II has become a key part of EWU home football games as it is fired after every touchdown by the home team.

The cannon crew had another busy day as it fired the howitzer after 7 home team touchdowns, with Eastern Washington University winning the game over Southern Utah University by a score of 55-17.

The EWU Color Guard and cannon crew will next be in action in at Roos Field on October 27th when EWU plays host to the University of Idaho.

Go Eags!