RIVALRY RUN, Nov. 2, 2012

Since 2009 the Central Michigan and Western Michigan ROTC Cadets started a tradition called, The Rivalry Run, a 120-mile relay between the two schools prior to the start of the Central/Western football game. This year each Battalion ran a 60-mile leg, meeting halfway between Kalamazoo and Mount Pleasant at Ionia State Park to exchange the game ball. Twenty-four Cadets from CMU’s ROTC Program were selected to participate this year based on skill, GPA, and overall involvement within the ROTC program. The Rivalry Run team met up in Finch at 2:00pm on Friday, November 2, 2012 to begin their race against Western Michigan. The Cadets ran along a predetermined route in teams of two with the game ball and Battalion Colors, swapping out with each other every five miles. Once both schools had reached the exchange point, a few encouraging words were said between the two ROTC programs, and the ball was handed off to CMU for the start of the football game the next day. Overall this event is a great way for Cadets to demonstrate their physical endurance as well as show their pride for Central Michigan University and the Chippewa Battalion.