Pep Band

When I was in middle school, I started attending high school basketball games. This was probably 1968-70. The “old gym” was the only gym back then, and it probably didn’t hold a huge number of people. But entertainment choices were more limited then, and the stands were usually pretty well packed, even when the team’s record was not that great.

I’m just guessing, but at least 50% of the crowd were students. There also was a concept in those days called cheerleaders. Before it was turned into a sport, cheerleaders actually attended all the games and tried to keep the crowd enthused. Nothing against it being a sport, but seems odd that the original intention was lost completely.

Anyway, in addition to the cheerleaders, at least in 1968-70 (or thereabouts), there was this thing called a pep band. If you’ve ever been to a Syracuse University basketball game at the dome, and it’s not winter break (Dec 20 – Jan 20), you may have seen the student band playing in the student section. It was kind of like that, but only 15 people. And they somehow squeezed between the two sections of bleachers behind the scoring table.

At that time, I was probably playing in the middle school band as a percussionist, so I always watched them with interest. But I always remembered how loud they were, with no amplification. I don’t know all the songs they played, but think of a college football game. That kind of music. One song I do remember was “Oh Wisconsin”. It was just a great atmosphere that the band contributed to.

Maybe my ears were untrained, but I thought they were very good.

Unfortunately, I don’t think it last much beyond 1970. It was probably difficult to get all 15 players to attend every home game. Maybe you could do without one now and again, but it must have been hard. Then to have one of the music teachers also commit as well. So it didn’t last. But even if Wayne didn’t win, you knew that band was good!