Date: Thu, 28 Aug 1997 09:09:57 -0400

From: Jesse T Sheidlower jester[AT SYMBOL GOES HERE]PANIX.COM

Subject: Re: Rat=Freshman; Football Terms





RAT=FRESHMAN



Perhaps VMI didn't start this. This is from Scholastic Magazine, Oct.

26-31, 1942, pg. 32, col. 2:



If Richmond beats William and Mary, freshmen may abandon their "rat

caps" for the rest of the year.



Then again, perhaps it did:



1863 in Stanard Letters 9: I felt quite lonesome, there being

only a few Rats left as a guard.



[in reference to VMI]



And in what appears to the the 'freshman' sense, OED2 has an example

from 1850 in Louisiana.



Jesse Sheidlower

jester[AT SYMBOL GOES HERE]panix.com