University of Florida - Tower / Seminole Yearbook (Gainesville, FL)

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THE PRIDE OF THE SUNSHINE Anticipation for something other than the football team exists among the fans before any Florida home gridiron contest. The collective excitement of the 73,000 Florida Field spectators can only be described as electric. Suddenly, Dave Strickler ' s voice shakes the From the Biggest Boom in Dixie, here comes the University of Florida Fightin ' Gator Band! Out of nowhere, over 250 orange and blue clad members invade the field to present their famous pre-game performance. Gator spirit rises to a peak as the band plays and Blue , Swanee , and We ' re Men of Florida . Such fine by the Pride of the Sunshine, the direction of Dr. Gerald Poe, are only created by the right amount of work and fun. Before the beginning of the Fall Term, the Marching Gators can be found working on musical precision as well as precise field movements. intonation, articulation, and contrast are variables that a musical Gator must consider in order to play songs like Duke Ellington ' s It Don ' t Mean a Thing , John Klohr ' s The Billboard March , and even The Time Warp from The Rocky Horror Show. The Gator bandsman also works on marching techniques so that the band can be presented as a unit in sight as well as sound. The Gator Band not only performs as a unit, but behaves as a unit as well. The bands chants 000 . . . ahh in unison when greeted with impressive sights like the Houston Astrodome. However, anything unpopular is met with a large reptilian hiss. Another band phenomenon is the curious practice of originated by the trombone During band practice, it is not for a few musicians to be attacked by several band members doing the crab-walk. The trumpet section warms up with the band before a game. Guard Captain Linda Moorhouse performs at Gator Growl. Drum Major Chris Henderson conducts the Pride of the Sunshine. The Houston Astrodome is not the only place that the band has seen during its travels with the football team. The Superdome and Bourbon Street of New Orleans fame also holds many great memories for the Gator Band members. The band program makes sure that the Pride of the Sunshine is represented during out-of-state games. As a result, the football players as well as the fans feel right at home outside of Keeping a crowd entertained during halftime is a challenge that requires a large amount of work. However, the social aspect of the band, the out-of- town trips, and the positive reaction of the fans makes the Marching Gator worthwhile. Like the in the stands, the Gator Band can also be described in one word — J. Rowland S. Rowland S. Rowland 18 Band

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W. McNeill Although being Albert takes up much of Cary ' s time, he still finds time to be involved in many other activities. He is a senior, majoring in marketing. He belongs to the UF Vocal Jazz Troupe which puts on at least one big concert a year as well as having a recording session. Cary is also a member of a professional business fraternity, two honorary fraternities, and is a big brother to a sorority. Cary has many good memories of being Albert. One of his favorite stunts was at a basketball game. While the band played the theme from The Greatest American Hero, he flew around the court, ending with a crash into the backboard post and falling; like the main character in the television show. The audience loved it. As Albert, Cary also started two new things this year. The first was riding the alligator out at the beginning of each home game. The second was stealing a cheerleader from the opposing team and having her mascot rescue her after two or three minutes. Against, Georgia, however, Cary didn ' t tell the mascot what he was doing, so Albert had the cheerleader for a while until the Bulldog came to rescue her. Albert making his getaway with an Auburn cheerleader. Cary Reich is a true Gator fan. Albert surveys the field during the Homecoming football game. Albert 17

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S. Lindauer Band! Atten ' hut! How did your audition go? Pretty good. That bad, huh? Left face! Who ' s that pretty new clarinet player? I don ' t know, but I ' ll bet she ' s spoken for. One never knows, though. Right face! Where do we practice tomorrow? Norman Field? It might be at the stadium. The Sewer Field, more likely. Mark time — mark! Where ' d the new director used to teach? He taught the University of Oregon Marching Ducks! Marching Ducks? Yeah, you know — quack, quack. Band! Halt! Gatorette Martha Faulk performs her umbrella routine to the tune of Here ' s That Rainy Day . The Gator Getters sway to the band ' s traditional performance of We Are the Boys from Florida . Percussionists Randy Shopoff, Paul Roehrig, and Steve Brown keep the beat at halftime. S. Lindauer Lindauer Band 19