The Pride of the Sunshine

CollegeMarchingBandInfoBox
bandname=The University of Florida Fightin' Gator Marching Band

school=University of Florida
location=Gainesville, FL
conference=SEC
founded=1914
director=John M. Watkins, Jr.
Assistant Director=Mr. Chip Birkner
members= approx. 300
uniform= New Uniforms for the 2008-2009 Season

The University of Florida Fightin' Gator Marching Band (also known as The Pride of the Sunshine) is the official marching band for the University of Florida. They play at every home football game inside Ben Hill Griffin Stadium, also known as The Swamp. Florida Gators Band also performs at various events such as pep rallies, parades, and the annual Orange and Blue Spring Scrimage game. A full band usually travels to one away game a year while the others are usually have a small/medium sized pep band. Members of the Gator Band, as well as other University of Florida students, are also encouraged to join other ensembles such as concert band, basketball band, and volleyball band. The twirling dancers for the Marching band are called the Gatorettes. [http://insideuf.ufl.edu/2008/08/01/gatorettes-titles/]

History

The first band at the University of Florida was founded by "Pug" Hamilton in 1914. It had 16 members and was called "The Cadet Band". The first band office was in Anderson Hall (now the Religion Studies Bldg) and the first band room was in the Women's Gymnasium. The first woman in Gator Band was Sophy Mae Mitchell of Sebrin, Florida in 1948. After marching with the banner in her first year in the band, Mitchell was invited back to play the Belle Lyre for the remainder of her college career. She frequently returns to the Alumni Band games as well as over one hundred other Gator Band alumni. In 1972 Gator Band was featured at the opening of Walt Disney World in Orlando, FL. In 1997 Gator Band participated in the Walt Disney World 25th Anniversary Celebration.

Director of Bands

*1st Director: "Pug" Hamilton
*1st Paid: R. Dewitt Brown (1920-1948)
*2nd Paid: Col. Harold B. Bachman (1948-1958)
*3rd Paid: Reid Poole (1958-1961)
*4th Paid: Richard Bowles (1961-1973)
*5th Paid: Frank Wickes (1973-1980)
**Assistant Director: Gary Langford
*6th Paid: David Gregory (1980-1982)
*7th Paid: Gerald Poe (1982-1985)
*8th Paid: Gary Langford (1985-1987)
*9th Paid: Dr. David A. Waybright (1987-Present)
**Associate Director of Bands: Rene Rosas (1995-1998) [http://www.napervilleband.org/staff.html]
**Associate Director of Bands: Matthew Sexton (1998-2006)
**Associate Director of Bands: John M. Watkins, Jr. (2006-Present)
**Assistant Director of Bands: Archie Birkner, IV (2006-Present)

NOTE: Currently, the Director of Bands is NOT the "band director" proper for The Pride of the Sunshine. The Associate Director of Bands, Mr. John M. Watkins, Jr., is the current director of The Pride of the Sunshine.

Commitment

Course Description

MUN1110 and MUN 3110 is a performance course designed to improve individual marching and playing skills, todevelop sight-reading skills, to improve the individual’s grasp of the essential elements of music and to assist thestudent in the personal and professional growth and development necessary for successful post-baccalaureate life.Additionally, this course will provide weekly live performance opportunities for the entire ensemble. It is the focus of this course to make these performances represent the highest level of artistic and aesthetic experience. Further, it is the goal of the Gator Band to provide entertaining halftime shows, and to provide energy and spirit at all events at which the Gator Band performs. Due to the highly visible nature of these performances, participation in all rehearsals and performances is pivotal to the success of the ensemble. Class meets Monday (6:00pm-8pm), Tuesday (4:00pm-6:00pm), Thursday (4:00pm-6:00pm), and Friday (4:00pm-6:00pm, for home games only) every week. Though it does not cost anything to join the band, you must have the appropriate uniform. Uniforms rental is free. The band also rehearses on the morning of a home game.

Tradition

Pregame

As soon as the field is clear the band marches into the Swamp from the entrance tunnel in a pregame block. They take the field opening to the "Gator Chomp," while the Voice of the Gator Band, Gerre Reynolds, announces their entrance.
[http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=8453233877895863460&q=gator+band&hl=en Gator Band Entrance]
From the Fanfare Block the band plays the Fanfare and takes "Orange and Blue" down the field, then forms the block "F." Starting "Men of Florida," they move into their ceremonial set, and in 2006 formed a 100 commemorating 100 years of Gator Football. From there they play the Star Spangled Banner and the University of Florida's Alma Mater.
[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GtgcpXgcOjg UF Pregame to this point]
Finishing the Star Spangled Banner, the band plays "We Are the Boys March" to enter into the Gator Spellout preset. Next they play "Gimmie a 'G"' while they spell out 'Gators.' Then they play "Orange and Blue" and "Suwannee" to take 'Gators' down the field into the UF tunnel from which the team enters.
[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LpRnpelpbuU Second half of UF Pregame]

In the Stands

In the stands, the band plays a large number of school songs. The band plays "Gator Chomp", "Gator Bait", and "Gator Maximus" at various points in the game while the team is on defense, and "Let's Go Gators", "Orange and Blue First Down", and "Go Gators" while the team is on offense, among other various songs. Songs like "You Can Call Me Al" and "Hey, Baby" are crowd favorites.

Third Quarter

Perhaps the most well known tradition of the Gator Band is the playing of "We are the Boys" at the conclusion of every third quarter. Beginning with a short intro, the band sets the whole crowd into a swaying motion starting with the first words.

End of the Game

One of the newest traditions was started by Florida head coach Urban Meyer in 2005. After every game he walks over with the team and the team, band, and fans sing the Alma Mater and the fight song together and Urban Meyer shakes the director's hand.
[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M_9wGL9Zdys Alma Mater and Orange and Blue]

Alumni Band

The alumni band performs during one of the half times every year and consists of a volunteer group of former members of the Pride of the Sunshine who practice for a short, 3-5 minute addition to the normal half time of the game. The alumni band is most well known by the very large bass drum that is carted onto the field and played by members of the band during the half time show. During some years Albert and Alberta have played the drum during the half time as well.

Kappa Kappa Psi

The Alpha Eta chapter of Kappa Kappa Psi has been providing service to the University of Florida band programs since 1931. The Alpha Eta brothers have issued, cleaned and organized the uniforms and are currently responsible for providing water during rehearsals, setting orange cones for practice, cleaning the field, and distributing Gatorade on Gamedays. Since its installation, the Alpha Eta chapter has crossed over 950 members into the organization, including women in recent years. They are an integral part to Gator Band and consist of some of the finest and most dedicated musicians at the University of Florida.

Tau Beta Sigma

The Beta Xi chapter of Tau Beta Sigma provides service to the Gator Bands, including the Pride of the Sunshine. The Beta Xi sisters currently help the UF marching band by preparing the practice field and selling garment bags to help protect the marching band uniform. Hundreds of dedicated bandswomen have become sisters of the Beta Xi chapter since the chapter was installed in 1958. In the Spring of 2004, the first male sisters were initiated into the chapter. The sisters of Beta Xi have also extended an honorary invitation to dozens of outstanding individuals of the Gator Band, including previous directors and graduate students. In 1999, the chapter initiated Sophie Mae Mitchell, the first woman in the Pride of the Sunshine.

ongs

Cheerio

We are the Men of the Florida Band,
We bring you greetings from all Gator land.
We play a melody,
Maybe even two or three,
We try to please every fan.
We've got a spirit that's lasting and true,
We play our music, especially for you,
Play it Sweet!
Play it Hot!
There ain't nothing we ain't got!
We are the Florida Band,
Yahoo!

Alma Mater

Florida, our Alma Mater,
thy glorious name we praise.
All thy loyal sons and daughters,
a joyous song shall raise.
Where palm and pine are blowing,
where southern seas are flowing,
Shine forth thy noble gothic walls,
thy lovely vine clad halls.
'Neath the Orange and Blue victorious,
our love shall never fail.
There's no other name so glorious,
All hail, Florida, hail!

In the name of Alma Mater,
We take each comrade's hand,
True to thee and to each other,
Throughout our Eden land.
Old School we love so dearly,
May God be ever near thee,
To guide us by the Shining Light
Of Honor, Truth, and Might.
Hear our Alma Mater calling,
Let Courage never fail.
For before her all are falling,
All hail, Florida, hail!

Orange and Blue

Intro: (not currently in use)

On, brave old Florida,
Just keep on marching on your way!
On, brave old Florida,
And we will cheer you on your play!
Rah! Rah! Rah!
And as you march along,
We'll sing our vict'ry song anew!
With all your might
Go on and Fight, Gators, Fight!
For Dixie's rightly proud of you.

Chorus:

So give a cheer for the Orange and Blue,
Waving forever.
Forever Pride of old Florida,
May she droop never!
We'll sing a song for the flag today,
Cheer for the team at play!
On to the goal we'll fight our way for Florida!

Men of Florida

We're Men of Florida,
Men of Florida,
Down by the sea
We sing of Florida,
Sing of Florida,
In harmony
We cheer for Florida,
Cheer for Florida,
So merrily
We're men of Florida,
Mighty Florida,
All hail to thee!
"Men of Florida was written by Henry Filmore for the University of Florida Bands."

We are the Boys

"We are the Boys from ol' Florida,"
"F-L-O-R-I-D-A"
"Where the girls are the fairest,"
"The boys are the squarest,"
"Of any ol' state down our way" Hey!
"We are all strong for ol' Florida"
"Down where the ol' Gators play" Go Gators!
"In all kinds of weather we'll all stick together..."
"For F-L-O-R-I-D-A!"

uwannee

Suwannee,
How I love ya', How I love ya',
My dear old Suwanee.
How I'd love to be,
Among the folks in...
D-I-X-I-Even though my mammy's
Waitin' for me, prayin' for me,
Down by the Suwannee
The folks up north will see me no more,
When I get to the Suwannee shore!

ee Also

*University of Florida
*Florida Gators