How many of you are among the thousands of football fans who think, “deejay music is fine…but give me more marching band!”?
Just like the players on the field, the “players” in the south section of the stadium feed off of that tremendous energy fans bring. And that has helped inspire more students to take part in an integral part of the game day experience.
UM News Service tells us that the popularity of the University of Montana Grizzly Marching Band is reflected in its growth to 148 students this year – the largest membership since Dr. Kevin Griggs took over as director. The band typically averaged about 130 members each year during his tenure, but dipped to the low 120s during the most severe years of the COVID-19 pandemic.
FROM PREGAME TO HALFTIME TO POST-GAME
At every Griz home football game, as the players come sprinting out of the tunnel at Washington-Grizzly Stadium, some 26,000 fans join the Grizzly Marching Band’s spirited rendition of the Grizzly Fight Song. Dr. Griggs will tell you, “We are playing constantly. We are always trying to fill the stadium with music. It gives the crowd some additional energy, seeing these UM students. They’re excited to be there. The students in the band, of course, love contributing to what game day is.”
Kevin credits the growth in part to the band’s reputation for bringing a uniquely energetic atmosphere. Students want to be a part doing what they can to to support the team and create a home field advantage that is beyond anything most other school can offer.
THIS ONE TIME AT BAND CAMP…
Every band member arrives on campus a week before school starts for Marching Band Camp. Then for the rest of the football season, practices are held three times a week for an hour and a half each, plus sectional practices. They also arrive early at every home game for morning dress rehearsal and a “Griz Walk” performance, then stay late for post-game concerts…