The Rock Stars of Collegiate Game Day: The Marching Bands

Last week, the Grammy’s had a big surprise. This is not a reference to the "Chris Brown and Rihanna incident" or the fact they put together an entire new act to replace both performers at what literally was the last possible minute. No, as wonderful as all that drama was, the biggest surprise was a group of guest artists that usually belong to a different realm. However, for a moment, they took their supporting role on the gridiron and made it center stage. If you paid attention closely, Gweneth Paltrow’s introduction of the internationally renown band Radiohead included the words “along with the USC Trojan Marching Band” (band pictured right in uniform with the Drum Major). Though this topic may seem rather tangential to a blog that claims its roots to be in college sports, there is a decisive point, a clear argument if you will, that finds me almost “out of bounds.” Allow me this one penalty in order to show a world that separates the collegiate from the professional league.

Not to ignore my loyalties for a moment, I will fully admit to you I was glued to the TV screen that Sunday night. As a member of the Trojan Marching Band whose instrumental specialty was not needed for this occasion, I still considered it an honor to watch my friends, those who have impacted my life, receive the opportunity of a lifetime and finally get the attention that they deserve. The rock stars of the USC game day experience became literal ones, if only for a moment. And that is, ladies and gentleman, the problem. It was only for a moment that the extent of their musicianship was fully displayed for the entire world – music fans, sports enthusiasts, those who were bored and accidentally stumbled upon the Grammy’s, all were able to witness a group of dedicated musicians that are use to playing "second fiddle" to their athletic counterparts finally receiving the glory of being the main attraction.Truth be told, though most marching band members will commit themselves to a life of service for their university and its athletes, most will not get a moment in the sun beyond rallies, beyond half time. Even at Universities such as my own USC or others such as Ohio State, Michigan, Notre Dame and even Grambling State where the marching band is integral to tradition, most people forget to this thank these musician-athletes.

Why? People take the atmosphere for granted. Football, and even basketball games, are no longer games–they are events. They are media money makers, heart attack inducers, spend-part-of-your-life-savings-to-see-your-alma-mater-in-the-“Big-One” phenomena. Good bye are the days when it was only about the school colors and the score. When the game is over, it will not matter what the score says because either way, there will still be a “my team is better than your team” debriefing between the best friends/bitter rivals and the score may never come up. The players and coaches? They come and go. The tradition? It is the deciding factor. Just ask USC Hall of Famer Rodney Pete . When deciding play for USC all the way back in the 80's he said "My dad told me 'Coaches can be gone next year, at SC, they'd always have that band." When it comes to college sports, forget the score; Hand over the tradition. Especially if you are a Notre Dame football fan.

As much of a low blow as that last statement seemed (Especially considering my roots), there truly is a point to it. Why, despite the utter lack of success the Notre Dame football team has had to endure recently, do people keep coming back for more? The answer is simple: Tradition. Whether it be the media, Irishmen, Trojans, or Rodney Pete's father, they can all tell you the back bone of it all: The Marching Bands. They are the keepers of the fight song. The protectors of the Alma Mater. The cause of the facial tick of an opposing fan. They are, in a sense, the torch bearers of a school's proudest and longest traditions. And after the 2008 season was put into the books and the highlight reel complied, you know what the most talked about part of the game? Half time. That’s right. The bands were more evenly matched than the teams themselves. Afterward, there were never seen so many blogs and articles that appeared that commented more, or argued more, about the half time shows from each school. What saved the entire experience were the marching bands. Suddenly you could not longer take the atmosphere for granted. Literally, the game collapsed, but rhetorically the event did not.

This very reason is why most people have trouble with the professional realm. Though some can claim loyalty to a certain city, and therefore a certain team, its traditions still appear surface level, manufactured almost. The Super Bowl may be “The Great American Holiday” but it can never replace “The Grand Daddy of them All.” Cheerleaders are picked for the sex appeal alone and the half time shows have included everything from Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band to Justin Timberlake “accidentally” undressing Janet Jackson. It’s all about today’s rating and nothing about tomorrow’s longevity. This is an iTunes culture – we live our lives to soundtracks and have produced a generation where music, however classical or modern, is cherished more than ever, but we have no real musical tradition for the professional leagues.To qualify this statement, I will stop and give credit to the Los Angeles Lakers for trying to bring musical tradition into the NBA. They have a live, small band at every home game. Their director and most of their members hail from another organization just right down the street from the Staples Center. You guessed it: They are from the USC Marching Band.

I urge you, the next time you head over to South Bend, Indiana for a Notre Dame football game or Durham, North Carolina for a Duke basketball game pause for a moment and take in the atmosphere. Traditions not only can be seen, but they can felt and, most importantly, heard. Listen to students sing the fight songs and watch everyone stand as a school song begins. Hop over to Ohio State and watch the “I” in the “Script Ohio” be dotted by the senior tuba player during the "Best Damn Band in the Land's" pre-game show. Go down south to see Grambling State groove to the music they are flawlessly playing at the same time. Find your way back to the West Coast and watch UCLA fans cringe when USC starts up “Tribute to Troy” for the 83rd time in the first quarter. And if you ever see any of these hardworking students who live for their fellow Trojans/Bruins/Buckeyes/Blue Devils/Tigers’ success, thank them and instead of treating them like the rocks stars of game day, just treat them like rock stars (2009 Grammy performance pictured left). After last Sunday, some of them are anyway .