A new pre-game procedure began before last Saturday’s football game against Louisianna State University that will continue for the remainder of the season.
Sid Salter, chief communications officer, said via e-mail the ROTC will not participate in the presentation of the colors and the National Anthem this season.
 Salter said in recent years, eight of the nine sports played here at MSU have not used a color guard. He said new venues were built with a large, well lit, prominent flag pole displaying the American flag.
“At Dudy Noble, in ‘The Hump,’ at the smaller sport’s venues, when it’s time for the National Anthem, if that’s part of the pre-game, they focus the attention of the crowd on the venue flag,” Salter said. “They play the National Anthem, then they play ball. What happened in football is the same thing. This year we’re going to do the same thing inside the stadium.”
According to Salter, this decision was made to improve the pre-game flow of activites and incorporate the new pre-game national anthem by the Famous Maroon Band.
“As was visible prior to the LSU game, the band’s new pre-game and national anthem routine includes a ‘USA’ spell-out and use of the song ‘Grand Old Flag’ prior to playing the National Anthem.”
 Salter said the university views this new routine as an appropriate display of patriotism and a better fan experience.
“MSU’s ROTC remains a high-profile part of our game day activities, particularly in leading the post-touchdown celebrations in the end zone. MSU has earned national recognition as a military-friendly campus and that remains a significant part of our university values,” Salter said via e-mail. “The new routine was extremely well received during the LSU game and we have no plans to vary from that pre-game routine for the rest of the season.”
    Blake Harrell, senior business administration major, said he noticed the change before last week’s game, as well as the absence of the “fly over” that would have corresponded to the presentation of the flag.