UM ROTC Gives Fans Chance to Fire Cannon at Football Games

The Ole Miss Army ROTC cadets do so much for the Oxford and Ole Miss communities, including fundraisers, Grove cleanup, chair-back installations, and the Egg Bowl Run. All of these activities and events support the 150 cadets financially by paying for banquets, plaques, sabers and uniforms.

With a steadily growing program, the ROTC is introducing their newest fundraiser for the 2014 Ole Miss football season. They will be selling raffle tickets to give you, the fan, a chance to fire the cannon at home football games!
“We wanted to make it a tradition to get fans involved and be part of it. Anytime you can get fans involved is always great and shows true school spirit,” MSG Matt Hayes said. “And the proceeds are going to a great cause.”
Here is how it works:
Raffle tickets for a chance to fire the game cannon will be sold before each home game starting on Thursdays. Army ROTC is located in Barnard Hall, directly behind the Student Union. Tickets will be sold Thursdays, Fridays, and up until two hours before game time on Saturdays.
On Saturdays, ROTC cadets will have the cannon and sell tickets in the Grove as well. The cadets will pick four to five tickets two hours before each game. At the game, the winners will be brought to the field, shown how to shoot the cannon and issued eye wear, ear plugs and gloves for safety.
The cannon is fired at the beginning and end of each game, so ROTC can guarantee that two fans will be able to fire the cannon no matter if Ole Miss scores or not. If Ole Miss doesn’t score a field goal, safety or touchdown, then it’s a gamble for the remaining raffle winners.
Tickets will be $5 each and will carry over to the next game. All proceeds from ticket sales will directly support the ROTC program. However, it is important to note that if the winner is intoxicated, they will not be able to shoot and ROTC will move on to the next winner.
Fans interested in more information about ROTC, their programs, and the raffle, can contact MSG Hayes at cmhayes@olemis.edu. According to MSG Hayes, ROTC prefers checks for payment, but cash is perfectly acceptable.
– Written by Kate Wallace, assistant editor of HottyToddy.com, kate.wallace@hottytoddy.com