Pep Band
The Pep Band may be the loudest, yet best kept, secret at Augusta State.
While they perform at all home basketball games, and even some away, very few people know how the pep band began, and even fewer know what a commitment it takes to be a member.
“Students have to be dedicated,” says Dr. Richard House, the pep band’s advisor. “They have to give up four-hour blocks of time for at least 13 days, sometimes more.”
To be a member of the band, students must attend a preliminary rehearsal and then commit to attending all home games as well as some away games. Last year, when the women’s team traveled to North Carolina and Missouri to compete in the NCAA playoffs and the Elite 8 national championship, the band was there to cheer them on.
“That was a great reward for us, to be able to travel with the team to the tournament,” Dr. House says. “We heard from several players and women’s basketball coach Greg Wilson that our presence there really helped create spirit.”
The pep band began in the early ‘80s when then-director of athletics Marvin Vanover asked James M. Benedict, professor of mathematics, to revive a defunct band.
“I am an avid basketball fan and a professional musician as well as being a math professor,” says Dr. Benedict, who actually composed the ASU Fight Song. “I was successful in providing a small but enthusiastic pep band for the ’83-’84 season and a somewhat smaller group for the ’84-’85 season. The problem was that the campus musicians pretty much came from fine arts and these students were overworked already by their fine arts duties.”
Dr. Benedict ran a one-man “computer enhanced” pep band for a while but stopped because he felt strongly that students should be involved. The group was alternately active and inactive for several years again before Dr. Joyce Jones, dean of students, requested that Dr. Benedict lead the band again. He did, and through the involvement of several faculty members, including his wife Michelle Benedict, assistant professor of math, the group started up again. The band was on shaky ground, though, when what Dr. Benedict calls a “miracle” happened.
“Richard House was hired as director of the wind ensemble in the fine arts department,” he says. “He believes in the concept of the band, has access to the student musicians, and enjoys basketball. I give him full credit for being able to make the pep band the thriving organization one sees at the basketball games these days.”
Under Dr. House’s leadership, the group even took second place in last year’s Peach Belt Conference – a competition they will compete in again this year. In fact, much of the music the band played for last year’s competition was arranged specially for the band.
“Half of the stuff we play is our own arrangement,” Dr. House says. “Students will write things for us to play. I give full credit to the strength and energy of my student leaders. Without their continued dedication to the band, we would not have had the kind of success we’ve had.”
The pep band is open to any student who is interested and it can also be taken for academic credit. But there is one strict requirement – team spirit.
“I see our role as being there to help the teams,” Dr. House says. “We’re there to create a more energetic atmosphere at the games.”
The Peach Belt Conference will be held at ASU March1-6 and in addition to basketball, competition includes pep bands, dance teams, and cheerleading squads. For more information on the conference, call athletics at 737-1626. For information about the pep band, contact Dr. House in the Department of Fine Arts at 737-1453.
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