Published Sunday, November 22, 2009 12:40 AM

Former cadets join Corps in walk on field

By MICHELLE CASADY
michelle.casady@theeagle.com

Those who lined up along Houston Street to watch the Texas A&M Corps of Cadets file into Kyle Field behind the Aggie Band on Saturday saw about 600 more cadets than they were used to.

Weldon Floyd, a 1981 Aggie graduate, was standing in anticipation with his son, Weston, who graduated in 2005.

"It's like time stood still when we walked off the quad. It's been 30 years almost, but we still remembered the jodies [military cadences] and everything," he said.

All former members of the Corps were invited back to the university to march into Kyle Field once again.

Don Crawford, executive director of The Texas Aggie Corps of Cadets Association, said that, based on the high number participating in the first year, he hopes the event will become annual.

"Once we make it around the track, I'm pretty sure it's a tradition," said 1964 graduate Eugene Payne, laughing with his son, Thomas, and others nearby.

The former members all wore matching polo shirts, khaki pants and headgear.

Also present at Kyle Field were more than 200 soldiers and civilians from Fort Hood, who were invited as guests of the Texas A&M Athletic Department.

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