Now that's what I'm talking about!

I have been a big fan of marching bands since I was a kid. I marched in high school, and was fortunate enough to march in Purdue University's All American Marching Band for 2 seasons. I appreciate the The Ohio State University band's precision, Ohio University's Marching 110 is just as funky as the bands throughout the South, and Stanford is just a hoot to watch, but I've got to tell you, University of Tennessee's Pride of the Southland Band is the epitome marching bands.

My parents and I visited Commonwealth Stadium on the University of Kentucky campus last Saturday to see Perrin march, and watch the Vols take on the UK Wildcats (finally found someone they can beat). The Pride marched their Circle Drill, and I was blown away. The announcer starts in with how this is "the most difficult circle drill ever," and the partisan crowd starts into laughing and mocking him, but by the time the band inverts this curvey pinwheel (about 1:50 into the video clip), the crowd was into it. Click on the picture to watch the circle drill portion of the halftime show.

Vandy not so dandy to Vols

Last weekend we all trekked to Knoxville for the Vanderbilt game. Madeline came along and got to spend the weekend with here sis'. I can't tell you how great it is to see those two together. We were hoping the girls would get the afternoon together, but we got a later start than we had planned (if it could go wrong, it did), and didn't get to Perrin's dorm until about 7:30. The girls did Waffle House with Perrin's roommate, while Robin and I went to the MicroTel and crashed.

Game day was a crisp, but sunny. We found a spot overlooking the band's Salute to the Hill. Man, three hundred plus musicians can really crank it up to eleven. The band lines up around the corner. Then the two block formations each split down the center, letting the majorettes and the cheerleaders through. After a rousing rendition of Rocky Top (one of many, many, many, ...) the band marches off and disappears into Neyland Stadium.

I watched pregame from the upper deck behind the endzone. Pregame is a lot of fun, so much tradition and pageantry.

Sadly, the Vols lost, eliminating them from any bowl game invitation. Too bad, that would have been fun. Bowl game or no, I'm still looking forward to seeing the UK game. I hear that the UK cheerleaders may be the best in the nation, and the Pride of the Southland is putting their Circle Drill on the field. Rumor has it, we might even win the football game.

Circle Drill Reprise

I got the good news last night. The Pride of the Southland will be performing their circle drill at the UK game in a couple weeks - and I have tickets. I'll probably show up video camera in hand. Watch this space for a highlight reel.

Perrin on TV

I'm sitting on the sofa, watching the UT-Notre Dame game last Saturday, hoping that just maybe NBC will show a bit of the real halftime show (the marching bands, not the endless analyst's prattle). The first half ends. A reporter stops ND's Coach Weis for a chat. The Pride of the Southland band is lining up on the sidelines for their show. Wait! What's that? Here come the Flag Corps walking down the sideline. I edge closer... and... THERE SHE IS! For about a half-second, Perrin is on national TV. It's not what I had hoped for, and alas, I didn't have the VCR running. UT may have lost the game, but according to my sources within the ND band (a kilt-wearing member of the Irish Guard, no less), the Pride won halftime. Too bad that won't get the Vols into a bowl game.