About 200 men and women stood in the blazing sun, dripping sweat, fighting gnats and sunburn, and all the while playing dynamic music or spinning flags, rifles and batons.
During the hottest week of the year so far, band members of Georgia Southern University's Southern Pride came together for two practices each day to learn the music and drill of their first marching show. Dr. Matt Fallin, Southern Pride Band Director, was extremely proud of how hard the members worked despite the heat.
“The band typically has a quality of rising to the occasion, and this year has been no different,” Fallin said. “The heat has been bad, but they haven’t complained and I’m pleased with the way they’ve worked hard and put in the effort.”
This year the band will learn two marching shows. The first show is the “Fusion” show which consists of rock and jazz music. The second show will be “Earth, Wind, and Fire.”
Erik Todd, drum major for two years, said everything has gone smoothly so far.
"We haven't had any big problems so far, other than the heat. It's been bad," Todd said.
He said that as of Friday morning they had worked hard on the halftime program, and he expected to perform the whole show by the second football game.
As for the best thing about being part of Southern Pride: "It's like being a big family," Todd said.
This season is also the 25th anniversary for Southern Pride. In honor of the special year, Fallin said the band has two special events that will take place during half time shows of two football games. The first event is set for the Sept. 22 half time show of the Chattanooga game. It is GSU’s Band Director Day.
“There have been several people who’ve majored in music from GSU and are now band directors,” Fallin said. “We’ve invited them to come back with their bands and we will put everyone on the field to play a show together.”
Fallin said he expects anywhere from 200 to 400 people to be on the field that night.
The second event will be during the half time show of the Oct. 6 home game against South Dakota State. It will feature alumni band members to come back and play together on the field.