five minutes before ten
True , there are study hours and recitations ; long hard lessons must be read over and officers must hear recitations ; formations must be attended , drills undergone , and examinations prepared for . This football spirit infected the officers as it did midshipmen . Football was the one topic of conversation , the one purpose in life during this epoch , and those that did n't play shouted vociferous advice , admonition and encouragement from the bleachers . One Friday night in the middle of November , at five minutes before ten , the bugles in Bancroft Hall rang out their customary discordant warnings that all midshipmen were to repair to their rooms immediately . In five minutes the midshipmen were to be in bed and all lights out . And instantly hundreds of midshipmen rushed through the corridors to get to their own rooms ; for they are given the time from nine-thirty , the end of their study period , to ten for visiting . On this Friday night the midshipmen ran to their rooms as usual at the warning signal .