The Alumni band weekend was a perfect September weekend at Michigan State University.  Someone asked me recently if I ever played in front of people, and I was able to reply that I just played for 78,000. Of course, they were not in attendance to see me or my friends. It was a football game, and we were the half-time and the post-game show.

I shared with my fellow E-flat cornet player friend Bill the saying “you cannot go back.” However, this is the only event we can do on campus that we did when we were in school. It was great to connect with my friends and fellow band members.

We started with a rehearsal on Friday night and then a reception where we looked at the memorabilia from the star of the show this year—Dave Catron. Professor Catron was my marching band director and held the position of director of the Spartan Marching Band (SMB) for many years. It was great to see him and be able to honor the legacy of his time in the program. It was fun to see some of the memorabilia and charts. My fellow-E flat cornet player friend Tom told us how he (as a part of the band communication team) drew cover pictures and other items on the display table. 

The alumni band organizers had Saturday well planned, and registration was a breeze. We all met and watched the SMB run through their rehearsal; they sounded great! We had a run through of our combined program: imagine 575 alumni members joining 300 SMB members on the field. It took a few minutes to get us going into the designated spots.

After the combined rehearsal, we heard from Dave Catron and the Athletic Director and then the University President. It was great to see them all. Of course, one of my friends reminded me that we are all potential doners.

After the morning rehearsal, we enjoyed lunch and visiting prior to lining up for the march to the stadium.

One of the best moments of the weekend comes when we are marching to the stadium from the music building. The 575-member alumni band gets to march and play just like we did when we were students, except without the hot uniform and inspection. Dave Catron was on hand to watch us and cheer us on. The alumni band marches first and a little later the SMB marches separately. This moment is when most think we are back at school with the crowd along both sides of the street and the drum cadence from our playing days. We strike up the fight song and the crowd cheers. They are as excited as we are.

We perform this march to the stadium in good order; before we enter the stadium, we sing the alma mater at the entrance. It takes a while for 575 of us to find our seats. We enjoy the warm fall day and admire the band’s pre-game entrance wondering if we were ever that good.

It is awesome for us to be back on the stadium turf. Entry to the playing field takes several minutes of the second quarter and we get to see some of the action at field level. I also get to catch up with some of my buddies from last year as we get ready to perform. The highlight of our marching is to spell out “CATRON” in honor of the former director of the SMB. If you look closely, I am on the left side of the “A.”

After the half-time performance, we had our traditional apples, played more pep band songs, and played again on the field for the post-game show. We then are left with our memories of another fun day on campus as we march and play on our way back from the stadium to Demo Hall.

Lessons learned:

• Marching with the band was a great experience. Each year marching with the alumni band continues that great feeling. I can go back and experience some of the fun as an undergrad.
• Live and in person at a Big Ten football game is an energizing experience. Win or lose all season, this is the school I graduated from and the weekend at the stadium with 78,000 other fans is terrific.
• Meeting and spending time with friends and over 575 alumni is an experience like no other I have had in retirement. I practice my trumpet so I can continue to play with this awesome group.

Other fun:

Running on campus. My training plan called for a four-mile run and I did it on Sunday morning in and around campus prior to driving home. I had never been to the Lewis Landscape Arboretum (dedicated three years after I graduated). It was great to explore the garden a little while I was running. I also managed to walk along campus after eating breakfast at Brody Hall, where I ate as a freshman and sophomore. They had re-done the building and the experience, but it was still a quiet place to eat on Sunday morning.  I understand it is one of the largest if not the largest non-military cafeteria in the world.

On the way back from Michigan, I decided it would be interesting to visit the Neil Armstrong Museum. I have seen this museum on I-75 going to and from Michigan. It is a fascinating museum and has more than just great Neil Armstrong memorabilia. It did make a great to stop; I am glad I visited on my way back home.

No bike rides on campus, although I did ride as a student.