<p>I don’t have the numbers yet for the Class of 2009, but in the last four West Point classes – 2005 through 2008, 91%, 87%, 88%, and 88% earned at least one varsity letter in high school. </p>
<p>Even more impressive, 58%, 59%, 60%, and 63% were captains of at least one of their high school teams.</p>
<p>As Ann wrote, they are looking for leaders.</p>
<p>MacArthur summed it up thus,</p>
<p>“On the fields of friendly strife are sown the seeds that on other fields, on other days, will bear the fruits of victory.”</p>
<p>Then there is the comment of WW II Army Chief of Staff George C. Marshall (VMI '01). He is reputed to have said, </p>
<p>“I have a secret and dangerous mission. Get me an Army football player.”</p>
<p>Some VMI grads claim it was a sly dig at the intelligence of Army football players, but USMA chooses to interpret the comment as a tribute to their reliability and valor.</p>