MARCHING TO THE TUNE OF VICTORY

Decked out in new uniforms, FHSU band a sight to see - and hear

There’s a lot of excitement in the air when the university band comes marching into the parking lot at Lewis Field Stadium on Saturdays in the fall. And the fun starts long before the band takes the field for the football games.

This year has been especially exciting for the 80 members of the Fort Hays State University Tiger Marching Band as they are sporting new apparel for the first time in decades.

Gone are the heavy, wool, militarystyle uniforms that brought out a sweat just putting them on. Now, the students are donning outfits made of lightweight, breathable material. A large black emblem of the school mascot – Victor E. Tiger – covers the front of their gray jackets. The three drum majors wear gold-fronted jackets.

Sporting new duds is just one aspect that has the band fired-up in 2021. It didn’t get to play at games last season after the football season was called off because of the pandemic, and students have been looking forward to this season ever since.

The new uniforms were funded by the philanthropy of alumni through generous donations to the FHSU Foundation.

“Our alumni feel a devotion to Fort Hays State and what it meant them during the time they spent here,” said Dr. Peter Lillpopp, assistant professor of music and director of bands. “Our graduates are very supportive of our band, and we are very thankful for that.”

Students from any academic major can participate in the band, and they are given stipends for their participation.

Those who show interest in participating are contacted during the summer and come to campus for a preseason camp the week before the start of classes in the fall. That time is special, especially for first-time members.

“I think it’s fascinating to see every year how the band is different with a different collection of students,” Lillpopp said. “The energy of high school and college students is palpable, and guiding that energy is a special thing.”

In addition to football games, the band performs at various functions around campus.

Lillpopp calls the FHSU band a “teaching marching band.”

Students learn the software for writing drills and arranging music. The group’s leadership team this year developed a mission statement that allows it to focus on realizing its vision for the band.

“Leadership skills are really important in every career now,” Lillpopp said. “As they apply leadership techniques to their section of the band, they are learning concepts they can apply to their own careers someday.”

The band practices as a group twice a week, in addition to some sectional practices – and students are encouraged to participate in other campus organizations.

“The schedule for the band at a Division I school is pretty intense, but we let our students know that marching band is not going to take over their lives here at Fort Hays State,” he said. “Our graduates may have multiple careers in their lifetime, and marching band is probably not going to be one of them.”

Nonetheless, Lillpopp expects their best performances.

“I try to instill in the students that we are the icon of the university, just like the Tiger logo,” he said. “One thing I really enjoy about Fort Hays State is that we have a great handle on our traditions. It’s a pretty heavy responsibility to carry on this tradition.”

It’s a role the band takes seriously. “This helps build school spirit, and that’s big for us,” said Meleny Jacome- Banuelos, a drum major. “We have to bring that spirit to the game.”

Lillpopp said that entertaining fans is the band’s primary goal.

“With a rural area like Hays, I tell students there’s nothing we can do that will replicate what a 450-member band from larger schools do, and that’s OK,” he said. “We can do some things better than big bands. We capitalize on the things we do well.”

One of those is the band’s march from Tomanek Hall, spreading spirit throughout as it weaves its way through the stadium parking lot.

Tailgaters all across the lot start laying down their grilling utensils, dropping their corn hole bags, and rounding up their children as soon as they hear the band.

Fans crowd around an area just outside the north limestone stadium wall where the band stops and plays several tunes.

“I love it. We always start listening for when the band comes into the tailgate area,” said FHSU alum Deana Rupp, longtime Tiger fan and tailgater from Hays. “We want to get over there by where they are playing, because it really gets people hyped up for the game.”

The feeling is mutual.

“It’s a really nice tailgate they put on here,” Lillpopp said. “It gets the band excited; it’s such a great atmosphere.”

The band performs at halftime and plays several lively tunes during the game, always trying to get the crowd into the game.

“A big part of our job during a sporting event is to be an energy provider for the crowd,” drum major Patrick Northrup said. “If the team isn’t doing so well and the band gets going, then the crowd gets going, too. The sports teams really respond to that.”

Chris Brown, the Tigers’ head football coach, will attest to that wholeheartedly.

“The energy the band brings to every single game is amazing,” Brown said. “From my vantage point on the sidelines, I can see that the band gets the student section going. The horns are loud, the drums are loud, and the rest of the crowd gets really loud. Then our team feeds off that as well.”

Brown said he even enjoys watching the band practice at the stadium every Monday during the football season.

“We have meetings on Mondays, and I’ll be going back and forth from the indoor facility to Lewis Field and stop and watch the band,” he said. “It’s interesting. The band has a similar team concept that our football team does. They all have to be on the same page to get what they want to get accomplished. I am so impressed with the band’s organization, the way they all keep in step and in tune with each other. It’s a pretty awesome thing to see – and hear.”