KENNESAW, Ga. |
Aug 31, 2023
This fall is a season of transitions at Fifth Third Financial institution Stadium.
As Kennesaw State’s soccer crew strikes from one convention and classification to a different and makes modifications for the long run, Marching Owls director Brandon Meeks plans to do the identical for KSU’s marching band.
“The Marching Owls are at a pivotal level within the historical past of this system,” Meeks stated. “We’re beginning the ninth season this 12 months, and we’re in a tradition of transition, and it is good as a result of soccer is doing the identical factor proper now. We’re all transitioning for a 12 months, and we’ll all be prepared subsequent 12 months once we transfer into a brand new convention.”
The Marching Owls have an all-time excessive 280 musicians representing each main on campus. In his second 12 months as director, Meeks stated he desires to boost this system to make sure optimum crowd engagement. That begins with the early moments of recreation day—and the band’s march from its facility on Busbee Drive to the stadium.
“Our parade to the stadium will probably be extra of a efficiency than simply an occasion,” he stated. “We’ll cease and play at completely different tailgating spots alongside the way in which. We’ll go into the stadium later than we often do, as a result of while you see the band coming into the stadium, we wish you to comprehend it’s recreation time. We’re prepared, and our college students are prepared.”
As soon as contained in the stadium, the band will play “Georgia on My Thoughts,” which strikes from its conventional spot between the third and fourth quarters. Meeks stated alumni and college students love the music sufficient to need to hear it at video games, however that it belonged in one other second. After that, they’ll play “The Star-Spangled Banner” after which take their seats behind the guests’ bench, one other alternative to make their presence felt. He stated the band will experiment with varied brief songs related to the sport motion—if it really works, they’ll hold it in this system. If not, they’ll attempt one thing else in one other recreation.
“We now have to unrelentingly assist our soccer crew,” he stated. “I need to create a real residence discipline benefit and meaning being loud and proud.”
Past that, Meeks stated KSU soccer followers must attend the video games to see what the Marching Owls have in retailer. He did supply the trace that the Marching Owls search to construct momentum as KSU joins Convention USA beginning with the 2024-25 tutorial 12 months. The boys’s basketball crew’s look within the 2023 NCAA Event began that momentum of crowd engagement, because the strains of the Owls’ struggle chant (“You don’t need to go to struggle/With the Owls, with the Owls”) nonetheless ring in hundreds of ears.
“The great factor about Kennesaw State is we have now a chance right here to ascertain some traditions,” Meeks stated. “The Marching Owls are right here to be a logo for KSU, and we need to interact the gang and create a very wonderful recreation day expertise.”
– Dave Shelles
Images by Matthew Yung and Judith Pishnery
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A pacesetter in progressive instructing and studying, Kennesaw State College affords undergraduate, graduate and doctoral levels to its greater than 43,000 college students. Kennesaw State is a member of the College System of Georgia with 11 tutorial faculties. The college’s vibrant campus tradition, various inhabitants, robust international ties and entrepreneurial spirit draw college students from all through the nation and the world. Kennesaw State is a Carnegie-designated doctoral analysis establishment (R2), inserting it amongst an elite group of solely 7 % of U.S. faculties and universities with an R1 or R2 standing. For extra info, go to kennesaw.edu.