4 FEATURE
A BAND BUILT ON TRADITION
The Marching Jayhawks continue to impress by carrying on decades-old routines
By Kathleen Gier editor@kansan.com
The melodies rise above the people in the crowd as they walk past the Campanile down the hill to Memorial Stadium. The music continues during the first half, livening up timeouts. The crowd is thrilled by the halftime routines with themes such as Sunday morning cartoons and a Blood, Sweat and Tears medley. The sounds still echo the tune of "Home on the Range" after most of the crowd has left the game. The music is coming from the University of Kansas Marching Jayhawks.
"During that first game, coming down the hill, running onto the field from the tunnels and finding your place on the field; you realize 52,000 people are watching," says Josh Maddux, Overland Park freshman. "It was breathtaking."
The Marching Jayhawks have been running onto the field in this same way since 1971. The program is filled not only with rich tradition, but continued spirit.
Teresa Mulinazzi Kempf, a 1991 graduate who played clarinet for three years in the marching band, lives in DeSoto and has held season tickets to football games
since her graduation. She says that she still enjoys watching the pregame routine.
"It still sends chills down my spine when they walk down the hill before the game; everyone is watching you and it is very impressive," Kepf says. "I love to see some of the same things we did like running from the stands onto the field. It is cool because we did that 20 years ago."
Lee "Fritz" Whitman, a 1982 graduate who played tuba for six years in the marching band, started a tradition his freshman year — a song that is still sung today as part of the pregame routine, "Hog Calling."
"It was always led by the tubas and one game we were singing barbershop quartet songs to kill time before the run-in and I just said, 'Hey guys, follow me on this one,'" Whitman says. "It is a song I learned at a Boy Scout camp in Nebraska and it was a funny little song but everyone had a good time and enjoyed it."
Whitman was sure the tradition would die out after he graduated, but is entertained that it is still a part of the pregame. Now the band gathers in a huddle under the bleachers before its run-in. The sousaphones are in a middle circle while the other instruments circle around. There are
four verses and between verses a senior leads with an inspirational speech. The song finishes as the band says, "What kind of day is it? It's a great day to be a Jayhawk!
"The fun part is singing the song and getting the whole band together — it is amazing," Whitman says. "It is funny to see it still going on because it is just a silly campfire song."
"Part of what is special about KU band is the traditions that have evolved over 100 years," Foster says. "That in itself is impressive."
Traditions like this stay strong in all parts of the band — Director of Athletic Bands David Clemmer took over his position in 2002 from Robert Foster, who started directing the band in 1971.
During the past 100 years, the band has only had five directors, three of which have served for more than 30 years.
"Stability will build traditions," Foster says. "You simply cannot build a program around a revolving door."
And band members put in around 10 to 12 hours a week to keep these traditions alive.
"The kids work really hard," Clemmer says. "They understand that there is a standard of excellence and they have to uphold that."
The band practices in a parking lot across from the Dole Institute of Politics from 3:45 p.m. until 5:45 p.m.every Monday, Wednesday and Friday during the football season. They also have a Saturday morning pregame practice.
Hannah Wagner, Ames, Iowa, junior, is a drum major for the band this year. As a drum major she puts in even more time setting up practices and looks over everyone's parts in the songs to see how the marching should coordinate with the music.
"I have no job during the season because it really is a full-time commitment, but it is definitely worth it in the end." Wagner says. "We are all working toward the same goal and that is to represent the University on game day."
"Our attitude is important because at a practice if we not excited and not working hard, then they see that," says Brian Fassold, Olathe senior and drum major.
Beyond the extra time commitment, the drum majors also have leadership responsibilities. They often act as role models to the freshmen and sophomores in the band.
At their rehearsals every week, all 285
Director of Athletic Bands David Clemmer demonstrates the Pyware 3D software, which he uses to design formations for the marching band, such as the one pictured in the right photo. "Back in the day, a drill was written by hand. It would take a couple hours to do a page." Clemmer said. "Now (with Pyware), as quick as I can think it, I can make it."
Left photo by Ryan Waggoner/KANSAN Right photo by Mike Gunnoe/KANSAN
THE WAVE OCTOBER 30,2009
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN