Death Valley has gone an entire year without seeing the script “Tigers,” but the return of the Tiger Band and its traditions is fast approaching. Despite the challenges brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic, Tiger Band was able to maintain one of the largest presences in college football during the 2020 football season.
Director of Bands, Dr. Mark Spede said, “…given the circumstances, we fared better than almost any college band that I’m aware of.” Spede credits that success to his involvement in the International Performing Arts Aerosol Study saying, “We [Tiger Band] were able to go the entire season without any spread of COVID-19 in rehearsal.”
Additionally, Tiger Band was able to utilize “The Hill” during home games. “That was 11,000 square feet of space that we could use to spread out and be socially distanced. Even though we could not have the entire band at each game, no one had to miss more than 2 games, and many only one,” said Spede.
Tiger Band is set to return to a normal operating schedule right out of the gate with a full band trip to Charlotte for the game against Georgia. The band may be masked on the bus, but that will not hinder them from making it to Charlotte in time for one of the biggest games in college football this season. Spede noted the absence of travel as one of the things he missed the most during the 2020 football season. “It was so strange to not be in Charlotte for the ACC Championship game and the CFP game against Ohio State, or at Notre Dame which we were really looking forward to.”
Tiger Band will present their first pregame and halftime performance in over a year on Sept. 11 during the SC State game. “September 11 will be special; it is the 20th anniversary of that dark day, and we will be paying music tribute to the memories and especially first responders,” said Spede.
Whether you have missed the parades, the pregame run-on, the halftime shows, or the postgame drum performances, Tiger Band will be back in full swing and “Shakin’ the Southland” with Tiger Rag on a continuous loop soon.
