Merchant Marine Has a Football Team?

[Subdeacon Joe]

I didn't think that ir was a big enough school for that. 

 

 

Merchant Marine Mariners v. USCG Bears.  I like the Coast Guard mascot.

[Marshal Mo Hare, SASS #45984]

Quote

About The USMMA Athletics Program

The athletic program offers 27 varsity team and intramural sports. These teams have been successful at levels ranging from NCAA Division III National Champions to Conference Champions.

https://www.usmma.edu

Edited November 15, 2025 by Marshal Mo Hare, SASS #45984

[Forty Rod SASS 3935]

How many people does it take to field a football team?

[Subdeacon Joe]

1 minute ago, Forty Rod SASS 3935 said:

How many people does it take to field a football team?

 

For college teams, probably around 50. Gives you an offensive squad,  a defensive squad, some backups,  some kickers, and some special teams players.

 

Theoretically you can do it with 11.  All players play every down.  But you're out of luck if a player gets injured.  I wouldn't want to try with fewer than 25. 

 

Some universities have over 100.

 

I just didn't know that the Merchant Marine Academy was big enough to field a team. 

[Marshal Mo Hare, SASS #45984]

59 minutes ago, Subdeacon Joe said:

 

For college teams, probably around 50. Gives you an offensive squad,  a defensive squad, some backups,  some kickers, and some special teams players.

 

Theoretically you can do it with 11.  All players play every down.  But you're out of luck if a player gets injured.  I wouldn't want to try with fewer than 25. 

 

Some universities have over 100.

 

I just didn't know that the Merchant Marine Academy was big enough to field a team. 

student body 975. And folks thinking about a life at sea are going to be physically fit I think.

[Subdeacon Joe]

1 hour ago, Marshal Mo Hare, SASS #45984 said:

student body 975. And folks thinking about a life at sea are going to be physically fit I think.

 

And probably interested in sports.   I just didn't know that it was that big a school. I thought maybe a couple of hundred. 

[Marshal Mo Hare, SASS #45984]

KP because USMMA is in Kings Point, NY.

 

 

[Forty Rod SASS 3935]

4 hours ago, Subdeacon Joe said:

 

For college teams, probably around 50. Gives you an offensive squad,  a defensive squad, some backups,  some kickers, and some special teams players.

 

Theoretically you can do it with 11.  All players play every down.  But you're out of luck if a player gets injured.  I wouldn't want to try with fewer than 25. 

 

Some universities have over 100.

 

I just didn't know that the Merchant Marine Academy was big enough to field a team. 

I didn't know they even had an academy.

[Marshal Mo Hare, SASS #45984]

MyUncle John served in the Merchant Marine in WW2 for a year before he gained enough weight to join the Navy.  He retired from the Navy as master chief.

[Marshal Mo Hare, SASS #45984]

What you likely also did not know is that Gradutes have the option of serving as commisioned officers in either the Mercant Marine or any of the five armed forces.

[Subdeacon Joe]

Apparently this is a long standing rivalry,  and called The Secretaries Cup (formerly Secretary's Cup when they were both  under the DOT).

 

Score yesterday:

 

[Marshal Mo Hare, SASS #45984]

More than you ever wanted to know (with perhaps the exception of Alpo) about the Merchant Marine

 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Merchant_Marine

[Colorado Coffinmaker]

 

In years gone by, California had their own Merchant Marine Academy.  Don't know if it's still there.  You could see the campus from one of the Bay Area bridges.  The training ship was named "The Golden Bear."

Edited November 16, 2025 by Colorado Coffinmaker
Delete extra wurd

[Marshal Mo Hare, SASS #45984]

6 minutes ago, Colorado Coffinmaker said:

 

In years gone by, California had their own Merchant Marine Academy.  Don't know if it's still there.  You could see the campus from one of the Bay Area bridges.  The training ship was named "The Golden Bear."

Cal Poly maritime?

 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cal_Poly_Maritime_Academy

[Subdeacon Joe]

8 minutes ago, Colorado Coffinmaker said:

 

In years gone by, California had their own Merchant Marine Academy.  Don't know if it's still there.  You could see the campus from one of the Bay Area bridges.  The training ship was named "The Golden Bear."

 

Cal Poly Maritime Academy,  Vallejo. 

https://maritime.calpoly.edu/

[Colorado Coffinmaker]

 

Yes by golly!!  It's still there!!

[Marshal Mo Hare, SASS #45984]

differences would be USMMA is a paid education, and where the graduate serves

 

 

Edited November 16, 2025 by Marshal Mo Hare, SASS #45984

[Dapper Dave]

On 11/15/2025 at 4:07 PM, Forty Rod SASS 3935 said:

I didn't know they even had an academy.

Ditto. I met some cool Merchant Mariners back in the day, but I had no idea - we should try to get more people in there, as our Merchant fleet is tiny compared to our enemies. 

[Marshal Mo Hare, SASS #45984]

There are many colleges that offer Merchant Marine training but USMMA is the one that can get you into the USNS ships and a commision as a Reserve officer.