Owner Viola ’77 brought his team to West Point just a few days before opening night, for a team-building trip. Although the Academy is based around the military, the principles and values of West Point go beyond just the armed forces, a sentiment that Viola looked to instill in the Panthers and bring new players and returning players together to create a cohesive unit.The Panthers players decided to award a Dress Gray jacket to the game’s most valuable player after each win. One of the oldest West Point uniforms and not for everyday use, the Dress Gray is worn by cadets for formal settings including special dinners or in the presence of a prestigious speaker. Dress Gray jackets are also adorned for Army-Navy football games as well.
The Panthers’ trip inspired the team to pass along a Dress Gray jacket to the game’s most valuable player within the locker room. Panthers F Shawn Thornton was given a Dress Gray jacket by a West Point cadet as a gift. Hesitant to take the jacket from the cadet at first, the cadet insisted Thornton take the jacket, which the 37-year old forward brought back with him to his team and ran the idea by them to pass it on after the game. Panthers Chief of Staff Matt Caldwell ’02 joined the team on their October trip to the Military Academy and has seen the team come together first hand through training camp to where they are today. Full Story