University of Kansas - Jayhawker Yearbook (Lawrence, KS)

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L I Y hm? ipstmmfl' he mile ll mf! ll Lindsey Williams, Winfield senior, performs with the Marching Jayhawks. Williams was one of about 250 members of the marching band. photo by jay Thornton Robert Foster, director ofbands, saw things differently, God loves the Jayhawks, said Fos- ter. lt's been pretty cool this week. Q To the members of the marching band, heat was simply a fact of life. You sweat and look gross all year and have to change clothes before going to classes, said Sara Trautman, Qklahoma City junior, Such hard work and dedication was a part of belonging to one of the top l0 marchf ing bands in the nation and one of the top two bands in the Big Eight Conference. lt was also part of belonging to one of the University's Student Life Brandon Curtis, Lawrence freshman, and Gary Leopold, Wichita senior, march in line at the direction of Robert Foster, director of bands. photo by Stephen Pmgry oldest traditions. The marching band cel- ebrated its l00th anniversary this year. Theres no better feeling, said Kevin Comcowich, Topeka senior. lt's a rush. Dan England, Lenexa junior, agreed. Performing in front of 40,000 people is the most exciting thing l've ever done, he said. Foster said that although students got excited about performing, he said he felt

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9 ht U Yyof EXCGIIGFICQ A l me lblrtwraiisttiy U 3 1 ,. as 7 mmol fr LQ L46 if ftfergl it ly LJ q ,Wi JE' ,W U l' ,'L, 'f !i,fj'if Srl J fl U ably QL ron ll A Wu JM Q f:,,ftt,eg le Wfvflf ffl 1 VU f ' ' uf.,-1-L, ',f7Jl,U,, wil lvblo lylyly A f- l,r!., 1 'j iy 'y 1 ,' by Kris be-Iden flier on a bulletin board in Murphy Hall challenged non-band members to Come sweat with us. During Hawk Week, while many students enjoyed their free time before classes Student Life started, more than 250 Marching Jayhawks filed into Memorial Stadium, instruments in hand, to do just that-sweat. By 9 a.m., three of the male band members had taken off their shirts. It was hot.

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more apprehension than excitement before a performance. 1 know a lot of things can go wrong, and 1 wait to see if they happen, Foster said. l've been doing this for a few years too. Foster is the fifth band director in the history of the University marching band. 1-le has directed the band since 1971 and has been directing marching bands for more than 30 years. lt takes continuity to build a tradi- tion of excellence, Poster said. Every time you change, you start over. The marching band received the 1989 Suddler Trophy, an annual award recog- nizing long-term excellence in collegiate marching bands. It was the seventh band ever to receive this award. Q As Robert Foster stood in the middle ofthe marching mass, intercom in hand, every one of the band members was at his command. Band! Foster yelled. Band! they responded. H10-hut! Foster yelled. One, two, they replied. Marching band members practiced in the 90' degree heat during Hawk Week. photo by Stephen Pingry Feet, legs, and instruments moved in perfect sync, perfect parallel lines of students flowed together to the right side ofthe Memo- rial Stadium field, turned in harmony and returned in the opposite direction. Each mem- ber ofthe band moved snappily and in perfect step. lfyou do it right, you only have to do it once, Foster promised. And they did it once. Twice. And again, until they got it right. Though the band practiced many of the same turns and other details of the routine repeatedly, members did not seem to mind. They did not complain. 'lWe have an absolute commitment to quality and excellence, said Foster. What's fun is being good, and that includes self-discipline. Self-discipline is what got the band through six hours of practice every day of Hawk Week. When classes were in session, members attended marching band class six hours each week and may spend up to two hours each week in additional rehearsals. Get your left leg up like it's show time, Foster instructed them. Student Life 10 They did. Band members counted beats and sang to the music to keep their places since the instruments were quiet on this run-through. Foster sang with them, counting the beats with extra emphasis on the Hands. One and two and...Get your left leg up on the 'ands. ' Drum majors and section leaders moved in and out of the lines, working with