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Band members put in long hours to support team, fans

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BY LISA MUNGER / Lincoln Journal Star

Sunday, Sep 30, 2007 - 12:19:45 am CDT

Saturday morning, with the harvest moon still visible over the western wall of Memorial Stadium, members of the Cornhusker Marching Band emerged from winding pathways of campus to begin their pre-game rehearsal.

“Straight legs! Straight legs out there, like a 1932 German war movie,” the drum major said, his voice booming over the stadium speakers.

In the wake of two disappointing games, University of Nebraska-Lincoln’s marching band members started rehearsal the usual six hours prior to kickoff. This week, the goal was to help the roar return to the Sea of Red.

Story Photo
The Nebraska band is a swirl of color and motion during its halftime show. (Ted Kirk)

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Cornhusker Marching Band

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Band members may be the ultimate super fans. For one hour of academic credit per semester, they spend more than seven hours a week rehearsing, and they devote entire Saturdays to supporting Husker fans and players. 

Many days stretch into nights. 

Sometimes band members don’t leave the Westbrook Music Building on campus until after midnight on game days — they sweep up the building before they head home.

Ashley Effken, a trumpet player and senior entomology major from Friend, said nothing can prepare someone for being a member of the marching band.

“The first time I came on the field with 85,000 screaming fans, I was scared out of my mind,” she said. “I don’t think I played a note. I knew no one would notice that, so I just concentrated on where I was supposed to be on the field.”

For senior music-education student and band drum major Joe Manglitz, the opportunity to be in the band was the deciding factor in his choice to go to UNL.

“I was accepted at the United States Air Force Academy,” said Manglitz, an alumnus of Lincoln High School. “I came to UNL because of the band. I knew nothing could match that opportunity.”

Band Director Anthony M. Falcone is clear from the beginning.

“I tell the students we are 100 percent advocates for the team, no matter what the opponent, or what the score,” Falcone said.  “If we lose, the sun still comes up tomorrow.” 

Band members must audition for their sought-after spots every year. Two-hundred and eighty-eight students make the cut.

On Saturday, before a cleat hit the turf for kickoff, “the pride of all Nebraska”took the field. A drum major stood sentinel at the 50-yard-line, left arm in salute, shako atop his head, plume blowing in the wind. 

Soon the salute turned to a fist pumping in the air to lead the band, lined up in perfect formation behind him, in the clarion call,“Go Big Red.”

As the Huskers began play, band members took their places in the East Stadium, drum majors wrapping careful feet around ladders elevating them above the crowd.

Even as Iowa State prepared to make its first score of the game, two saxophone players crossed instruments in a likeness of the signature crossbones sign for the Blackshirts defense.

At the end of the first quarter, the prospects for a Husker rout against Iowa State looked grim. 

“You’ve gotta keep playing,” drum major Brian Krienke of Pierce said of the potential for more of last week’s boos. “It’s our job. We try to cover any boos and keep the band going almost continuously.”

By the time the drum line, hidden behind aviator sunglasses, led the band in the James Bond theme song in the fourth quarter, it seemed the game would be won.

On cue, fans began streaming out of the stands.

Finally, after the win was secured, the team gathered at the East Stadium to join the band in a final version of “Hail Varsity.”

While all the players may not have known every word to the fight song, their thank you message was still conveyed to the band.    

“It’s Nebraska,” said drum major Krienke. “I can’t think of anywhere else I’d rather be on a Saturday.”

Reach Lisa Munger at 473-2646 or lmunger@journalstar.com.


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Rob wrote on September 30, 2007 11:33 am:
" Thanks to all the band members for all you do. You guys and gals are ggggreat! I agree with Brian K. "
Eric Bigham wrote on September 30, 2007 11:33 am:
" Go Band!!! "
* wrote on September 30, 2007 3:04 pm:
" Don't forget Athletic Trainers have long hours too! Couple hours before practice and a couple of hours after, plus staffed areas all day everyday! "
aj wrote on September 30, 2007 4:46 pm:
" Now if they could just march and play at the same time! I'm a big fan of the band - they always sound great, but this stand and play type of show is boring. Dr. Falcone, please better and more interesting drill please! "
Chip wrote on September 30, 2007 4:48 pm:
" The story was about the band. "
Omaha Dave wrote on September 30, 2007 5:59 pm:
" As a five year band parent we call them concerts and we have to scrounge our tickets. Not only do they play at the game, various pep band groups play all over town in between morning rehearsal and pre-game warmup at Westbrook and they replay the half time show while fans are filing out. At the end of the season they play a concert of all their shows at the Lied Center with the wind and noise at the stadium you don't really appreciated how good they are until you hear them in a concert setting. They are the pride of all Nebraska. "
chris wrote on September 30, 2007 6:50 pm:
" yes. but you see that is the job of the athletic trainers. the band people also go to school. maybe you could be happy for someone for just once in your life. cool it. "
Carol wrote on September 30, 2007 9:47 pm:
" All the time that the band members put in, it would be nice if during the halftime show they actually put them on TV instead of all of the sports commentators. Some people would like to see the band rather then everyone else talking about the other football games. "
* wrote on September 30, 2007 10:47 pm:
" AJ, while the comment is appreciated, sometimes (especially so far this season) there isn't a whole lot of time to learn very complex shows with a lot of movement. The band only had five rehearsals to get this past week's show up and running. I remember a couple shows last year where they would move pretty much the entire show, but this would be two or three weeks after the last home game so they could do that... "
jackie moline wrote on October 1, 2007 10:01 am:
" I loved the article on the band. Band members put in alot of hard work. Early morning practices along with the full time class schedule, is pretty demanding. As a parent of a UNL Flagline member, it is nearly impossible to see them perform in their uniform during half time. We have to purchase tickets to see the game, just to see our child perform. It would be nice to be able to go just during half time to see them perform. It is way to expensive to see them perform. We are lucky enough to see the band at rehersals early in the morning of game day, and to see the performace outside of Westbrook along with the march to the game. I would have loved to see more pictures of the whole band in the paper - the football team gets alot compared the the 2 of the band. Is there more pictures that the band parents can look at? I know more than two were taken. I might even want to purchase one if my daughter was in it for her scrapbook. Our t-shirts that the Flagline parents have say "Game, What Game? We're here for halftime" "
aj wrote on October 1, 2007 11:15 am:
" * explain then how when Dr. Fought was the director they did a new show each week where the band moved and played for nearly the entire show. They also played to each of the four stadiums in each show. In the past few years the shows have become more and more stand and play to the west stadium. This is especially disturbing when you look at the west stands during half time. They all get up and leave! By the way - I am a music educator with 18 years of experience teaching middle and high school band. I know what it takes to plan, teach, and perform a show. I also know the caliber of student in the band and I am confident they can do more than they are currently being asked to do. "
SE wrote on October 1, 2007 12:51 pm:
" Anyone who has ever been a member of a marching band knows it isn't easy to march and play at the same time. If marching forward isn't hard enough, try marching backwards and sideways too. Any marching band deserves way more recognition then ever received. I agree that it would be nice to see the band perform during half time when on TV rather than listen to a bunch of sports announcers giving their opinions. "
Doc wrote on October 1, 2007 2:43 pm:
" As a former college football player, I never got to watch the band perform at halftime. Much of the enjoyment I get out of going to the games now is watching the bands (college and High school). I have admiration for the members and the work that bands must put in before the games. Great story! "
hooray for the band wrote on October 1, 2007 3:46 pm:
" Congrats to the band! I had the pleasure to sit right across from the tuba players last year at a football game. What a neat experience. That group of young people take their job seriously and it was a pure delight to sit so close to them. I had a hard time focusing on the game, because I enjoyed being able to be so close to them and see the enthusiasm that they have. Keep it up! "
The Band Is Cool wrote on October 1, 2007 4:40 pm:
" Like a lot of people I used to make fun of the band, but then I moved away from Lincoln and went to a lot of NFL games. They're great and all, but they don't have nearly the atmosphere of a great college town like Lincoln, and I began to realize that I missed the band. There's something very charming about hearing those tunes I grew up with, and they have a sound that is very unlike anything else around. Thanks to the members of the UNL marching band for helping make the game-day atmosphere so special. You folks do a great job. "
Eric S. wrote on October 2, 2007 8:01 am:
" I love the band. I actually tried out for the Nebraska band, but didn't make it. They are so good. Sometimes I'll just lie at home on the couch with my trumpet and dream of being on the field at halftime. "
DannyB wrote on October 2, 2007 8:39 am:
" I agree, they should show the band during halftime. I think the Rose Bowl has it right, during the BCS Bowl, they don't have a fancy overpriced lip syncher with no talent. They have the bands. And Jackie Molene, I think they sell DVD's of the bands at the end of each year, incase you don't get to see your daughter as much as you like! "
Nina wrote on October 2, 2007 8:48 am:
" The Cornhusker marching and pep band have their own national championship - some years back, they were named best college marching band in the nation, I recall. As a granny tuba player, I can only admire the coreography they do with their tubas, while getting quality sound, too. People may laugh over polka music, but the tuba part can be a fine art if played well. The Czech or German polka heritage some of these kids have in their families has made Nebraska's tuba section the best. I don't care for football, but I'll go to a game if I get the chance, for the highlight of my day - The Cornhusker Marching Band. "
Band man wrote on October 2, 2007 1:03 pm:
" I'm a band director too and a band alumn. I hate it when people say, "Well back in the day we used to . . . " Give the band some props for all of the work they put in. All of you old alumni stop being bitter and comparing it to when you marched. It is really easy to sit back and gripe. Quite frankly, the band members and staff work their tails off and don't need your complaining. The band is a different animal now. Under Bob Fought, the band did well, but it was a different time. Under Ballenger, the band did well, but it was a different time. Under Snider, the band did well, but it was a different time. Times change. We did more charts when I was in band too, but the make up of the kids is different, the expectations on their time is different and many other factors impact getting a show on the field. (Notice the schedule: In 1966 there were only 5 home games and only 1 one week show. In 1977 there were 7 home games and 4 one week shows. In 1980, there were 7 home games but only 2 times did we have one week shows. In 1987, there were 7 home games but only 3 one week shows. This year, counting Missouri, there are 6 consecutive weeks with one week shows. You may have done more charts, but that doesn't mean you were a better band. It means that you were different than they are now. Go Band! "
aj wrote on October 2, 2007 4:56 pm:
" Band Man, I guess we have a difference of opinion. That's o.k. I know the band works hard and puts in long hours (they always sound great), I just think they are capable of more than they have been allowed to show the past couple of years (kind of like the Blackshirts). They are one of the best college bands out there and add an incredible amount of atmosphere to Husker games. I am a band fan and have been known to ask folks around me to sit and be quiet during halftime so I can hear the them. I would simply like to see them use their talent to its fullest. "
wow wrote on October 2, 2007 5:40 pm:
" aj, why don't you teach them then? If you would have seen the complexity of the music this week, you probably wouldn't have been able to move much either. Latin jazz and constantly moving 6 to five step size isn't exactly something we can do in 5 days. If it makes you happy, we're adding more moves for Missouri, go to that game and complain some more. I like our show. Wish you did too. "
Fan of the band wrote on October 2, 2007 6:16 pm:
" I think Band Man makes a good point. I'm sure the band kids are working to their potential and that the band directors expect a lot out of them, but maybe they don't rehearse as much as they used to. I guess I really don't know. I do know that what we accomplished in my high school band is different than what high schools are doing nowadays. Course we used to be able to do concerts in the park on Sundays. "
What's your point? wrote on October 2, 2007 6:26 pm:
" AJ, what do you mean by saying " I just think they are capable of more than they have been allowed to show the past couple of years (kind of like the Blackshirts)."? Been allowed to show? You make it sound like the band teachers are purposely trying to keep them down, have low expectations and sluff off. Do you honestly believe that? I know for a fact that my daughter has a ton of commitments with the band, that they rehearse hard and that she has responsibilties with the rest of her degree program. These kids are traveling to Missouri this weekend and, while they do it because they love it and they don't think of it as a hardship, they do have to give up sleep, study time and work. How much more do they have to do for you to be satisfied. And comparing them to the Blackshirts is just insulting. I really don't get your point. "
Granny H wrote on October 3, 2007 10:58 am:
" Having attended the August 24th performance of the band, I was in awe at the talent these young people exhibited after only days of practice! You are awesome! Go trombones! "
Supporter wrote on October 3, 2007 1:33 pm:
" I've been a supporter of the band program for a long time. I never fail to get goosebumps watching the team march to the stadium, when they play the national anthem or when they fire up hail varsity. Seeing all of those kids in the stand pumping up the crowd kinda chokes me up. It is heartening to see young people doing something so positive. They sure look great at halftime. I really enjoyed the patriotic music. Good work Dr. Falcone and the rest of the directors! "
Jen wrote on November 13, 2007 1:10 pm:
" Wow...as a current member of the Cornhusker Marching Band, I didn't realize all of the criticism people (or in this case...AJ) had on our marching while playing - or in some cases, lack thereof. We had an intense season this year with minimal time to prepare some shows - we did the best we could with the time we had. Our directors did an outstanding job with the schedule we had and keeping us going with an intense and emotionally draining season. Aside from that, though, I have to thank the Journal Star for such an outstanding article. This is not the first article to be written on us this season, but it was definitely better than the one by their Omaha counterpart. We love it when people recognize what we do and show their appreciation. The band parents and fans are amazing - we love them all so much! It is my final season with the Marching Red and Saturday was a very bittersweet day for me - I played every note of pregame with tears streaming down my face. I have made some of the best friends in the world while in that band and the directors have become like second dads to me. I look forward to returning for Alumni Days in the future and cheering on the band in the years to come. "

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