Great story today in the New York Times about college marching bands in general and Florida and Ohio State specifically. The nice thing about this coverage is that it is showing the trend toward showcasing these bands again… something that has been waning in college athletics for the past 2 decades. Nice to see a paper like the New York Times give the topic such extensive and prominent coverage!
GAINESVILLE, Fla., Jan. 5 — On the sideline of a scruffy practice field late this week, the leader of the Florida Gators gathered his players after a long workout in the heat and the humidity to remind them that they would face more celebrated Ohio State opponents Monday.
A Gators pep band played during a men’s basketball national title run last spring and again recently when the women’s volleyball team made a postseason run.
“And you’re every bit as good as they are,” the band director, Jay Watkins, said as 300 students listened, nodded and drank from water bottles before putting away their trumpets, piccolos, saxophones, batons, flags and drums for the first of two meal breaks in their 12-hour workday.
While the football players of the Gators and the Buckeyes prepared to meet in the Bowl Championship Series title game in Glendale, Ariz., the university bands practiced almost as hard.
Marching Their Way Before Title Game’s Cameras – New York Times
On a related note… who knew that the legendary owner of the New York Yankees was such a fan of marching bands that he donated funds to build the band halls at both Ohio State and Florida?
Check it out!
