Wednesday, January 19, 2005
AU Band to March in Inaugural Parade
AUBURN – The Auburn University Marching Band has been selected to participate in the 55th Presidential Inaugural Parade following the inauguration ceremony of President George W. Bush on Jan. 20.
About 320 band members will participate in the parade, which Marching Band Director Rick Good describes as a “once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.”
“The students’ reaction has been awesome,” Good said. “They are really excited to be participating. I told them in 20 years they can look back and say they were part of history.”
This will be the third time the AU band has participated in a presidential inaugural parade. The last time was in 1989. Coincidentally, Good said that same year the AU football team won the Southeastern Conference championship and played in the Sugar Bowl. It also happened to be the inauguration of the senior George Bush.
The AU band was the only one from Alabama invited to participate in the parade. The only other group from Alabama invited to participate is the Mobile Azalea Trail.
“I think winning the Sudler Trophy last year really helped because we had to list all our awards and accomplishments on the application,” Good said referring to the national award that is considered the “Heisman trophy of marching bands.”
In addition to the application, Good said he had to ask legislators from Alabama to write letters on the band’s behalf.
Selected from hundreds of applicants, the band had to submit a picture, a two-minute video clip and a recording to the inaugural committee as part of the application process. Three separate committees then reviewed the materials before the inaugural committee extended the invitation on Dec. 10. Link
Always good to see our band getting some well-deserved recognition.
Ping-Pong Chronicles 2.5
You might not believe it by looking at them, but these Asian girls are killer ping-pong players. Luckily I spent all that time in the broun basement freshmen year losing to Ian and Derek so I was able to hold them off (once they could get across that we were actually playing).
*EDIT* Ok, so I lost to just about everyone back then :)
