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FEATURE
Continued from page 5
Though the traditional marches have not changed for many years, technology certainly has.
"For generations all of this was done by hand, but as computers became more popular, people started to create programs that could create band formations," Foster says. "It is a much more efficient way to do it now."
Clemmer now uses a program called Pyware, which is a graphical interface that divides the field into traditional steps. A traditional step is 22 $ \frac{1}{2} $ inches, which is equal to eight steps every five yards.
"Everyone gets a coordinate guide and as they memorize it, they start to get an idea of what the formation will look like," Clemmer says. "The program is neat, though, because I can easily print out copies to send out or I can show them what the formations will look like."
This change has made it easier for the band to be more creative with its formations.
"When you plot on a chart, which is a form of graph paper with each square being two steps, it is a lot more structured, but with the computer you are able to be a lot more free form," Foster says.
The band uses core-style marching, which is adapted from drum and bugle corps and traditionally only include forwards and backwards movement. But the KU band moves in every direction possible. This is used in the traditional sunflower formation as well as many of the halftime shows.
"It is more about the motion than the pictures themselves," Clemmer says. "It is how they move and flow, more like a kaleidoscope."
The band's end goal, though, is to entertain and add to the game atmosphere.
"We used to change the halftime shows almost every home game because the objective is entertainment; there was a long era where complaints came from concessions people because people would stay and watch the halftime shows," Foster says. "People have to look forward to what is going to happen."
The traditions will continue as the games do, and the spirit of the band will always be there.
"A lot more people care about the game and are not just there because they have to be there," says Daniel Sill, Andover freshman. "They want to be there to cheer on the team; it is the pride of being a Jayhawk."
Jerry Wang/KANSAN
Members of the trumpet section march past the Campanile down the hill toward Memorial Stadium on game day. The Marching Jayhawks have 285 members this year.
SCHEDULES
Freshman running back Toben Oprum tackles Oklahoma defensive end Jeremy Beal after Beal intercepted a pass intended for Kerry Meier during the first quarter. Kansas quarterback Todd Reesing threw three interceptions in the 35-13 loss against Oklahoma.
Jerry Wang/KANSAN
Kansas Jayhawks
Date Opponent Location Time/Score
9/5 Northern Colorado Lawrence W, 49-3
19/12 at UTEP El Paso, Texas W, 34-7
19/19 Duke Lawrence W, 44-16
9/26 Southern Miss Lawrence W, 35-28
10/10 Iowa State Lawrence W, 41-36
10/17 at Colorado Boulder, Colo. L, 34-30
10/24 Oklahoma Lawrence L, 35-13
10/31 at Texas Tech Lubbock, Texas 2:30 p.m.
11/7 at Kansas State Manhattan TBA
11/14 Nebraska Lawrence TBA
11/21 at Texas Austin, Texas TBA
11/28 Missouri Kansas City, Mo. TBA
Texas Tech Raiders
Date Opponent Location Time/Score
09/05 North Dakota Lubbock, Texas W, 38-13
09/12 Rice Lubbock, Texas W, 55-10
09/19 at Texas Austin, Texas L, 34-24
09/26 at Houston Houston, Texas L, 29-28
10/03 New Mexico Lubbock, Texas W, 48-28
10/10 Kansas State Lubbock, Texas W, 66-14
10/17 at Nebraska Lincoln, Neb. W, 31-10
10/24 Texas A&M Lubbock, Texas L, 52-30
10/31 Kansas Lubbock, Texas 2:30 p.m.
11/14 at Oklahoma State Stillwater, Okla. TBA
11/21 Oklahoma Lubbock, Texas TBA
11/28 Baylor Dallas TBA
THE WAVE OCTOBER 30,2009
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN