35 Years of the Cannon

[fencer24]

In 1987, I was newly assigned to the ROTC Department at UM when a cadet's father (I think it was Dan Ashcraft) donated the cannon to the school. Because I was Air Defense, the PMS who was a Quartermaster pointed out that there were crossed cannons to go with the missile for my branch, so I was to be the advisor for the Boom Crew. It was an interesting exercise, in that we used black powder with toilet paper wadding and shot it over the North End Zone which at the time was just grass, although we did have to shoo the kids away when we were getting ready to fire. I developed safety procedures, since it was loaded down the barrel, to keep any residual sparks from igniting during reloading, and as far as I know, it's still working. I also had to develop procedures to keep the cadets from firing a golf ball out of the cannon to see if they could hit the score board (pre Griz Vision).
We fired it at the end of the National Anthem, at the half and the end of the game as well as every TD and Field Goal, so there was a minimum of 3 shots, and I don't think we ever fired less than 4. In fact, one time I remember, we ran out of powder in the middle of the game. Be interesting to try and calculate how many shots were fired.
Which brings me to the point of this post. After this many years and this many shots, is there a way for UM to X-Ray the cannon to make sure that the metal is not weakening? Hate to have that thing blow up, especially now that the North End Zone has grown like it has.

 

[Proud Griz Man]

:clap: :clap: Thank you fencer for 35 years of safe BOOOOOOMMMMMS !

In 1987, I was newly assigned to the ROTC Department at UM when a cadet's father (I think it was Dan Ashcraft) donated the cannon to the school. Because I was Air Defense, the PMS who was a Quartermaster pointed out that there were crossed cannons to go with the missile for my branch, so I was to be the advisor for the Boom Crew. It was an interesting exercise, in that we used black powder with toilet paper wadding and shot it over the North End Zone which at the time was just grass, although we did have to shoo the kids away when we were getting ready to fire. I developed safety procedures, since it was loaded down the barrel, to keep any residual sparks from igniting during reloading, and as far as I know, it's still working. I also had to develop procedures to keep the cadets from firing a golf ball out of the cannot to see if they could hit the score board (pre Griz Vision).
We fired it at the end of the National Anthem, at the half and the end of the game as well as every TD and Field Goal, so there was a minimum of 3 shots, and I don't think we ever fired less than 4. In fact, one time I remember, we ran out of powder in the middle of the game. Be interesting to try and calculate how many shots were fired.
Which brings me to the point of this post. After this many years and this many shots, is there a way for UM to X-Ray the cannon to make sure that the metal is not weakening? Hate to have that thing blow up, especially now that the North End Zone has grown like it has.

 

[AZGrizFan]

In 1987, I was newly assigned to the ROTC Department at UM when a cadet's father (I think it was Dan Ashcraft) donated the cannon to the school. Because I was Air Defense, the PMS who was a Quartermaster pointed out that there were crossed cannons to go with the missile for my branch, so I was to be the advisor for the Boom Crew. It was an interesting exercise, in that we used black powder with toilet paper wadding and shot it over the North End Zone which at the time was just grass, although we did have to shoo the kids away when we were getting ready to fire. I developed safety procedures, since it was loaded down the barrel, to keep any residual sparks from igniting during reloading, and as far as I know, it's still working. I also had to develop procedures to keep the cadets from firing a golf ball out of the cannon to see if they could hit the score board (pre Griz Vision).
We fired it at the end of the National Anthem, at the half and the end of the game as well as every TD and Field Goal, so there was a minimum of 3 shots, and I don't think we ever fired less than 4. In fact, one time I remember, we ran out of powder in the middle of the game. Be interesting to try and calculate how many shots were fired.
Which brings me to the point of this post. After this many years and this many shots, is there a way for UM to X-Ray the cannon to make sure that the metal is not weakening? Hate to have that thing blow up, especially now that the North End Zone has grown like it has.

Was the game you ran out the 51-0 shellacking of SFA several years ago? Lord knows, I was shitfaced by halftime. A guy in our area passed around homemade root beer schnapps every time the Griz scored, and it was 38-0 at halftime. Trying to figure out why I couldn’t stand up, in my stupor I asked him how he made it and he said “well, I start with everclear”…. :lol: :lol: :lol:

That was a good day.

 

[Yukon]

New cannon 4 years ago.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mcH53Rx2z9E

 

[coose]

When the new cannon (4-5 years ago?) was given to us by Malmstrom, they christened it with a ceremonial shot. The wad hit me square in the chest in the North End Zone. Kinda hurt but was cool. Haslam n Stitt sent card thanking me for taking a hit for the team.

 

[Montanabear777]

In 1987, I was newly assigned to the ROTC Department at UM when a cadet's father (I think it was Dan Ashcraft) donated the cannon to the school. Because I was Air Defense, the PMS who was a Quartermaster pointed out that there were crossed cannons to go with the missile for my branch, so I was to be the advisor for the Boom Crew. It was an interesting exercise, in that we used black powder with toilet paper wadding and shot it over the North End Zone which at the time was just grass, although we did have to shoo the kids away when we were getting ready to fire. I developed safety procedures, since it was loaded down the barrel, to keep any residual sparks from igniting during reloading, and as far as I know, it's still working. I also had to develop procedures to keep the cadets from firing a golf ball out of the cannon to see if they could hit the score board (pre Griz Vision).
We fired it at the end of the National Anthem, at the half and the end of the game as well as every TD and Field Goal, so there was a minimum of 3 shots, and I don't think we ever fired less than 4. In fact, one time I remember, we ran out of powder in the middle of the game. Be interesting to try and calculate how many shots were fired.
Which brings me to the point of this post. After this many years and this many shots, is there a way for UM to X-Ray the cannon to make sure that the metal is not weakening? Hate to have that thing blow up, especially now that the North End Zone has grown like it has.

Was the game you ran out the 51-0 shellacking of SFA several years ago? Lord knows, I was shitfaced by halftime. A guy in our area passed around homemade root beer schnapps every time the Griz scored, and it was 38-0 at halftime. Trying to figure out why I couldn’t stand up, in my stupor I asked him how he made it and he said “well, I start with everclear”…. :lol: :lol: :lol:

That was a good day.

I start with everclear bahahahaha. That is so Western Montana. :thumb:

 

[3-7-77]

Used to be great. Nowadays, with all the fussin' around they do, they MIGHT get the shot off for the extra point. I like the old way, you know, the Alec Baldwin approach. :lol: