Annual Rodman vs. Echols Capture the Flag Challenge

From Rodman Scholars Program

Starting in Spring 2008, the Rodman Scholars initiated an annual tradition of a capture the flag challenge of the Echols Scholars Program.

[edit] Game Recaps

[edit] Spring 2008

[edit] Intro

On April 15, 2008, two intellectual titans met on the steps of the Rotunda for a battle of wits. The stage for this challenge was neither a debate floor nor a testing facility, but rather an expanse of green grass with two-foot tall sticks at either end. The First Annual Rodman vs. Echols Capture the Flag Challenge was about to begin.

[edit] Shades of Neil Salmons

The Rodman Scholars took advantage of a huge participation differential and the prodigious CTF talents of third year mechanical engineering major Neil Salmons to jump out to an early 2-0 lead. In the first match, Salmons maneuvered behind enemy lines and snatched the flag at full tilt. Although not able to advance the flag to the Rodman side, Salmons made use of the scaffolding in front of Pavilion IX to thwart enemy pursuers and was inches from a breakaway when finally captured roughly 20 yards from the halfway line. Two successive advances by Ian Czekala and Michael Booth got the Rodman Scholars on the scoreboard with the first capture of the event.

The second game was played East-West rather than in the traditional North-South layout employed in the first game. The Rodman Scholars occupied the field adjacent to Brooks Hall, with the Echols Scholars defending the area next to the Chapel. The Echols took advantage of Rodman overconfidence early, capturing roughly 75% of the Rodman team. With Echols Scholars perceiving a certain victory, Neil Salmons again appeared out of nowhere to free the captured Rodman combatants and snatch the flag previously advanced by Luke Wildfire. After the match, Salmons revealed the secret behind his second straight evasion of enemy participants, saying simply "I ran over to the outer sidewalk and pretended to be a jogger."

[edit] The Slow Demise

Losing Salmons (unknown prior engagement) and key contributors Beth Martin (allergic reaction) and Jonathan Yoke (Beta Formal) caused a mismatch between the Rodman team's confidence and abilities. Still playing as the team with far superior numbers, the Rodmans succumbed to quick defeats in the third and fourth matches. With dark encroaching and the pleasant aroma of burgers and hot dogs wafting from 31 West Lawn, the Challenge was declared a draw with an informal agreement to a future tiebreaker. The tiebreaker is tentatively scheduled for Fall 2008, although it is unclear whether the venue will again be Capture the Flag or a less athletic endeavor.