THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
MONDAY, OCTOBER 13.2008
Band of brothers and sisters
KANSAN FILE PHOTO
Band members act wildly in hope of distracting an opponent shooting a free throw. The band performs at every home game, some away games and every postseason game.
Members cherish time with team
BY TRIGG EDWARDS tedwards@kansan.com
Auditioning for anything can cause great commotion, stress and anxiety, but trying out for the pep band is more than that. It is an awkward experience.
From Oct. 7 to Oct. 8, auditions seized the lives of those who were vying for a position on the pep band. Unlike the marching band, the pep band consists of 30 participants and primarily plays at basketball games. Potential members of the pep band must audition in order to join. Any student, regardless of major, is eligible, but another prerequisite to join is that you must have participated in the marching band.
Alexandra Gregory, Crane,
Texas, was one of the freshmen who
tried out for the pep band.
"They just sat there staring at me," Gregory said. "It was kind of awkward. I played 'Fighting Jayhawk,' I'm A Jayhawk' and most of 'Free Bird.' It lasted less than 10 minutes."
For many freshmen, the whirlwind experience of being so directly associated with the University of Kansas basketball team is just one step away.
Being in the pep band can be encompassed by a crescendo of emotions. These emotions and experiences can be known by only those who have been on the pep band. From not knowing anyone at the University, to having an immediate family of band members, from sweating during two-a-day marching band practices, to celebrating the momentous victory, last year's freshmen went through several emotional stages.
Sara Minor, Lawrence sophomore, arrived at Kansas last year without knowing many faces. To meet new people, she decided to join the marching band. This left a good taste on her tongue. After the dates for the pep band audition times were listed, she decided to audition, and it worked out for the best.
"People that I have befriended on the basketball band have become my best friends," Minor said. "I knew the people from marching band. I already had a connection with them, and the traveling solidified our friendship."
During the Big 12 and the NCAA tournaments last year, the pep band shadowed the basketball team, which was eventually bound
for the Final Four. The pep band followed the team to Omaha, Neb., Detroit, Mich., Kansas City, Kan., and last, but certainly not least, San Antonio. Lucky for the band and the basketball team, they traveled in style to each game in a plane chartered by the University.
While stationed at a tournament site, the pep band and the basketball team stayed at the same hotel. But despite flying together and staying in the same place, the members of the pep band and the basketball team weren't allowed to associate. Nathan Hutchcraft, Lenexa sophomore, was a member of the marching band along with the pep band last year.
"We aren't supposed to associate during the season," Hutchcraft said. "They are supposed to get rest."
But they still felt a special connection during the championship. At the end of overtime, every band member was at a loss for words. Some of them broke down in tears.
Taylor Smith, Fulton, Mo., sophomore, was there as a band member when the game expired in overtime.
"It it was awesome, it felt like everything we did had paid off. It paid off when we got to go to all of those places. Going free was awesome and winning made it better," said Smith.
For every home game, the pep band has ritualized their routines to an exact science. The band will play before the home games "The Song of Summer," which is a song composed of classic songs from the Beach Boys to Jerry Lewis. They also will take requests from the audience. During the actual games a routine called "Beat the Clock" is performed. The purpose of "Beat the Clock" is to finish the song when the clock hits zero. They also play the role of a cheerleader.
"I felt like I was more than just a part of the crowd. I felt like we initiated the energy. We made it more enjoyable to watch the game." Smith said.
All interviewed members of last year's Pep Band felt like being in the band wasn't merely about playing music, surviving an audition, watching college basketball and having a role in the crowd volume. It was something greater than that. They were a part of the price of admission.
"You're not just a spectator," Hutchcraft said. "You're involved with an experience for the fans, whether it's hearing the band or eating a hot dog."
KANSAN FILE PHOTO
Student basketball fans camp out in Alten Fieldhouse to keep their group's spot for an upcoming basketball game. Many student take the time in the Fieldhouse to study.
Students salute their seats
BY BARBARA PLATTS bplatts@kansan.com
While taking their shift, students generally use the time to get class work done. Wireless Internet is available for the students to use in the building.
Basketball season is approaching at a fast pace this year. As it gets closer, excitement and desperation are on the rise among KU fans. Excitation for the games to start and desperation to claim the best tickets possible for each game. With such high levels of desperation around campus, many students are making preparations for camping.
Students plan every detail of how it works, from deciding the date camping begins, to when random camp call is taken during the day. Any group that wants to participate in the lottery for the upcoming home game must show
always present to represent their group.
Camping out was successful for Sanger his sophomore year as well, and his group's effort allowed them to sit front-row for the Missouri and Kansas State games.
This tradition is not only practiced by upperclassmen. The prospect of prime seats has many freshman making their arrangements.
Camping was so successful for Sanger his freshman year that he formed and organized a group for his sophomore year.
When a camping group is organized, it's important that an accurate schedule of shifts is given to every member someone is
Many students have enjoyed the benefits that come with spending their basketball season camping at Allen Fieldhouse. Steve Sanger, Oklahoma City junior, has been involved in the process for the last two years.
"I was in a group my freshman year. We got really good seats. They were front-row for the Texas game," Sanger said.
up with all members accounted for the morning after the previous game.
"I have already met tons of random people just by telling them I am setting up a group," said Kylinn Gerstner, Colby freshman. "Everyone wants to be involved."
The Facility and Event services is the group that helps supervise camping each basketball season, but the students do the most work.
"I have been here for six years, and it has been around a lot longer than I have," Casey Cook, the director of Facility and Event Services, said. "They used to do it outside but with the extreme weather they decided to bring students into the Fieldhouse."
Camping out for tickets at Allen Fieldhouse is a strategy to attain the best seats for basketball games. Students will wait for days before each game in order to receive the best seats possible. This is a tradition that has been carried out for a long time at the University of Kansas.
EMILY LIESER
Overland Park sophomore
"I camped for almost every game last year. For me it's more fun to camp than the game itself sometimes."
What do you think?
ERIC DYSON
DO YOU CAMP, AND IS IT WORTH IT?
BY HALLIE MANN
Huntington Beach, Calif., freshman "I'm a student athlete and I get free seats but my floor in McCollum has already started a list for camping and I plan on doing it a few times."
AJANI JACKSON
East Lansing, Mich., senior "I'm into sports but I don't camp because I grew up in a college town and I've been to my share of athletic events."
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