GAINESVILLE, Fla. — As a member of the UF Air Force ROTC, Meghan Kilpatrick had the honor of serving on the color guard team during the national anthem at Florida football games last season, so she's been on the field for the pre-game festivities. She thought that was quite the unique experience.
Now comes an altogether different one. Meghan Kilpatrick
Her cadet wing commander recently launched a probe looking for a pool of volunteers to play honorary "Mr. Two Bits" at the 2022 season finale against South Carolina, the Veteran's Day weekend game that annually carries the "Saluting Those Who Serve" theme. Kilpatrick couldn't offer her services quickly enough.
"I was really excited about, but I knew I wasn't the only one," she said. "I'm not sure how or why, but they picked me."
Along with three others, the foursome of which figures to be really, really excited come Saturday when the team for the chant beffore the Gators (5-4, 2-3) and Gamecocks (6-4, 3-3) clash, with UF looking to gain bowl eligibility in Coach Billy Napier's first season.
Joining Kilpatrick for their "Two Bits" turn will be ROTC representatives from the other three military branches:
Daniel Tomberg (Army)
Jack McBrayer (Marine Corps)
Maddie Kuennen (Navy)
Kilpatrick is a native Floridian, born in Fernandina Beach, but was raised a military brat with her Army father, bouncing around bases in Hawaii and Georgia. The service lifestyle is all she's ever known, but Kilpatrick didn't make the ROTC commitment until she and her sister attended an Air Force Academy briefing.
"Since then, that's what I've wanted to do," she said. "I will have a career in Air Force."
Currently in the fourth year of a five-year path to a bio-chemistry degree, Kilpatrick will finished at UF in 2024 as a commissioned officer in the Air Force.
And also on the short list of honorary "Two Bits" soldiers.
"When we did the color guard last year, it was posted Instagram for Veterans Day," Kilpatrick said. "That was really cool."
It's a good bet this pre-game festivity will be posted, as well. Probably be even cooler.
