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| ROTC Annual Turkey Bowl Game Came With a Twist This YearBy Jamal Barbari Every year, the ROTC family at Bowie State University gets together for some friendly competition, excellent food and company before everyone heads off to thanksgiving break. The Turkey Bowl, as it is known by the members of ROTC, is the day where the cadets get to challenge the cadre in a game of football, the day that both the cadets and cadre look forward too. Unfortunately, due to inclement weather, the game was cancelled outside for safety reasons but instead was carried on by ultimate football in the gym. The cadre however did not participate but instead they watched and refereed the multiple games that the cadets played against each other. The competition between the cadets in the gym was intense and you would be surprised at the amount of sweat one can conjure up in such a short game of ultimate football. Then again, the James Gym is no joke when it comes to heat because that place is a sauna. Anyway, the games of ultimate football were exciting and everyone was having a good time, talking smack, making fun, cracking jokes, it was a great way to start off the break. After the games the cadets had a little time to get washed up and clean for lunch which was what they were all looking forward to. There was food, drinks and desserts all in one big area just waiting to be consumed and ravaged by the cadets, cadre, family, friends and guests. There was more than enough to go around and the selection of items was better than a Chinese menu. From home cooked ham and turkey to fried chicken and meatballs, macaroni and cheese, mashed potatoes, green beans, potato salad, macaroni salad, dinner rolls and so much more, including pineapple upside down cake, chocolate cake, apple and sweet potato pie. The ROTC family and friends all had smiles on their faces at the end of the day. All the hard work, training, and 6:30 a.m. physical training sessions three times a week pay off and they were all happy to be able to spend time with each other before they headed home for break. It seems as if we're going to have to wait for the true competition next year. This year the weather has only postponed the game and brought greater pressure to the cadets and cadre on whose going to win next year. Hopefully, the weather next year won't save the cadre members from a beat down. But it will be anyone's game next year. |
Speaking little English, Ji-Wu Jia came to the United States with his wife and son in 1989 from Beijing, China, a society that is much more open to the world now than years ago. Home to the 2008 Olympics, Beijing is also where Jia received a bachelor’s degree in computer programming from Beijing College of Economics.
Dr. Tamara Brown is an assistant professor of history at Bowie State University and a former cultural historian with the Smithsonian Institution. 
Donna Broadway launched her writing career at Bowie State when she first became a contributor to The Spectrum newspaper, where she rose through the ranks to become Deputy Managing Editor during her senior year. 
