In Clemson, South Carolina, Saturdays are for football. But if you sit and really think about gameday, it’s impossible not to hear a faint, harmonized cheer led by drums, trumpets, tubas and trombones. Like Batman without Robin, what would Clemson football be without the Tiger Band?

Clemson’s Memorial Stadium is renowned for its deafening atmosphere, making it one of the toughest venues for visiting teams — and much of that energy comes from the Tiger Band. With over 350 members, the band is a synchronized force that prides itself on playing all game long.

“Clemson band plays a lot, compared to some other programs, because we play for pretty much every down,” AJ Melendez, junior baritone in Tiger Band, said.

From kickoff to the final whistle, the Tiger Band serves as Dabo Swinney’s 12th man, hyping up the Clemson Tigers and pestering the opposing team.

“When we are on the defensive side of the ball, the whole point of us being there is to be as obnoxious and annoying as possible,” Melendez added.

During the game, the band operates primarily during the few seconds between plays, meaning everyone needs to be ready to start and stop at a moment’s notice — while also being in tune with each other. Being a part of Tiger Band requires complete focus for every down.

“But once the center is crouched down, we can’t play anymore. It’s a penalty — 15 yards unsportsmanlike conduct. We get one warning,” he said.

“You have to stay on your toes. They can just call something out and you get two seconds to know what it is — and it is all hand signals,” John Jenkins, a sophomore drumline member, said.

Along with bringing the energy to Death Valley on every possession, the band marches down the hill for the pregame parade and never fails to put on a spectacular halftime show. The game day festivities last all day for the Tiger Band, which equates to hours of live performances every Saturday.

“A lot of us, and this goes for most brass players, we get a callus on our upper lip from playing for a long time, but once that forms, you can really extend your volume,” Melendez said.

To put on these shows for Clemson fans, the band puts in countless hours of practice every week. Throughout the 2024 football season, the Tiger Band will learn and perform four different marching cadences and four different halftime show renditions, with a special show organized for military appreciation week. The band’s library of songs is constantly changing, too, as new, popular songs are often added to their playlist. This year, the addition of “HOT TO GO!” by Chappell Roan has been a hit.

“When you are in the center of Death Valley, you realize how many people are there cheering on the Tigers, and it’s really special. That’s a lot of why I am in Tiger Band — to experience that.” Jenkins said.

But being a member of Clemson’s prestigious marching band comes with some physical demands, too. On top of wearing a uniform complete with pants, a jacket and a hat, the band is on their feet all day in the Clemson heat.

Regardless of the conditions or location, the Tiger Band comes with energy and a readiness to perform. A smaller portion of the band typically travels to away games, but the noise they bring still impacts the Tigers.

“We are usually put near the goal line, so that’s usually where our biggest impact is — on red zone play,” Melendez said about playing at away games.

As a counterpart to the football team, the band tries to personalize the gameday experience for those who are on the field making plays. A few years ago, when Clemson’s defensive line dressed up as the Avengers for Halloween, Tiger Band took it upon themselves to learn and play “The Avengers” theme song as the players warmed up in their next game. Once the players recognized the song, they were visibly pumped up, and many commented about it online after the game.

And yet, as much as the members of the band love setting the tone in Death Valley, the Tiger Band serves an even bigger purpose for those lucky enough to march. The word family tends to float around, and it’s hard to describe it as anything else.

“You get to meet the people you are in your section with. It really does become a family,” Jenkins said. “These connections that we make in Tiger Band can last a lifetime.”