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University Daily Kansan, October 26, 1984
HOMECOMING
Marching band wants explosive sound
Larry Weaver/KANSAN
Carrying a heavy load is one thing, but playing at the same time is another. KU's tuba players carry some of the heavier equipment when they march on the field during halftime, but the extra weight does not hinder their performance.
By ERIKA BLACKSHER Staff Reporter
When almost 250 students filled with adrenaline take hold of $250,000 worth of equipment, the results could be explosive.
That's just what the KU Marching Band hopes for, explosive good sound.
"The quality of sound is excellent." Tom Stidham, assistant director of bands, said recently. "KU has a very musical marching band."
The special homecoming performance and the regular routines, however, require hours of practice to produce those high quality sounds.
MARCHING IN THE heat, drizzle or sleet; waking up on the day after a performance from carrying a heavy instrument; and running through it one more time even after 10 run-throughs are all part of being in the band. But according to many of the band members, it's worth it.
Amelia Aldrich, Wichita senior, who has played with the band for six years, plays the sousaphone — a 65-pound instrument that is similar to a tuba. Aldrich, who is referred to as "Rocky" by fellow sousaphone players, said that she took a weight training class to prepare her for carrying the heaviest instrument in the band.
But the performance is worth the trouble, she said.
"It hurts, especially when you have to stand with it for long periods of time," she said. "I'm sore after the game, but it's good exercise."
"IT'S A FEELING of accomplishment. It's hard to explain unless you're really down there in the field and all the people are up in the stands cheering," she said. "It's just a really good feeling."
The KU Marching Band, one of 11 KU bands, performs exclusively for the football team. The band rehearses four days a week for one and a half hours. On home day days, the band starts practicing at the stadium at 8:30 a.m.
Norman Weeks, a Lenexa freshman who watched the band several times before performing with the band, said he observed the commitment the band members had toward putting on a good show.
“As the week goes along they get more serious about the show,” he said. “Wednesday it didn't really seem like they cared what was going to happen, and were willing to put in some hard work and they really made it look good.”
JENNIFER WATERS, A St. Louis senior who has played with the band
for three years and now substitutes as a saxophone player when needed, said many benefits came from playing for the band.
Band members have a chance to sharpen their performance and leadership skills and make new friends, she said.
"It can be tiresome," she said.
"You wonder, 'I could have gone home this weekend, or there's this excellent party I could have gone to.' I know I could go to the party and be able to get up this morning, too."
"But I think if you can make it through it one year, it will not only motivate you for band, but it will motivate you as a person because you know that you can withstand just about anything."
Robert Foster, director of bands, said band members worked hard because they were dedicated to being one of the best bands around.
"No one is required to be there," he said, "they want to be there, and there is a commitment to excellence."
Joe Wilkins IU/KANSAN
Ron McCurdy, instructor of bands, directs the Marching Jayhawks at a practice. This recent session was inside because the field the band usually practices on was too muddy. McCurdy occasionally directs the band and helped put together the homecoming game half time show.
Pre-game tailgating a tradition for many
By JOHN EGAN Staff Reporter
Before the Jayhawk football squad sets foot on the gridiron tomorrow and before the band marches down Campanile Hill, hundreds of fans will converge on the field for a surrounding Memorial Stadium.
At least two hours before Kansas plays Oklahoma in tomorrow's homecoming game, fans will unload their cars, vans and station wagons of barbecue grills, picnic tables, beer, soda pop and food, food, food as part of the tailgate party tradition.
BENEATH VIVIDLY COLORED trees, these fans — mostly alumni — will munch on potato chips, slap together ham sandwiches, grill hamburgers, crunch on grill-likeickn, and fruit guava. The dazzling darker hue and guzzle beer or sip wine to unwind before the game.
The makeshift parties range from the simplistic, involving a few intimate friends, to the complex, involving the guest list may include 50 faces.
While some tailgaters fire up barbecue grills and set up picnic tables with tablecloths and floral centerpieces, others will spread blankets on the leafy ground and eat roast beef on white bread.
Roy and Shirley Gross of Lawrence started tailgating this year with their two daughters. At the KU-lowa State game on Oct. 6, they ate fast-fried food chicken as they sat in folding chairs next to their car parked on a grassy area.
"We've tailgated every game this year," Ron Gross said. "It's a lot of fun. It kind of relaxes you for the game. This way, we come early, get a parking space and relax."
"WE JUST THOUGHT it would be fun, something different." Shirley Gross said. "It kind of lets you beat the traffic, too."
Barbara Grove of Salina, Jayhawk earnings adorning her lobes, said she and her family had worked hard about three games each season.
"Every game that the weather's nice, we do this." Groves said as she stood near a row of trees and people ground here. You may not know
their names, but you know their faces."
HERA DAUGHTER, ANDY YOXell, from Liberal, a 1976 graduate, said. "You just develop a people and make it comfortable, makes it comfortable."
As Yaxon played with her 2-year-old daughter, Ashlee, who was clad in crimson and blue, the family prepared their meal of ham and beef sandwiches, potato chips and baked beans.
"We're starting her out with the KU tradition right," Ashlee's grandmother said.
Ed and Anita Goss, fans from Wichita, said that they and family members had tailgated since 1978. The children enrolled at the University
"After you've put so many children through KU, you just get into the habit of it." Anita Goss setting, the setting, I is gorgeous.
"We enjoy it," her husband said.
FOR RAY MERRICK of Stilwell and about eight of his fellow tailigaters, the pre-game festivities allow them "to come back to the alma mater and relive the fall days."
He and a group of friends began tailgating about 10 years ago, he said.
"We do this every time we come over," Merrick said, standing next to a van and mobile restaurant. "You get in the mood of the whole thing."
Since 1977, the Russell family of Topeka has gathered near the stadium to eat, drink and be merry before football games. In the beginning, they parked near Hoch Auditorium. Now they have a choice parking spot directly east of the stadium. About six people joined them at the Iowa State game.
The Russells have shown their enthusiasm for tailoring by having a Lawrence craftsman construct a large trunk to use for their pre-game parties. The trunk, decorated with a Jayhawk on the front, has compartments for storing food and an area to set dishes or plates on.
While the group ate chili dogs, vegetable salad and pasta salad. Peggy Russell said, "Tailgating just adds color to the whole game."
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