This year we began our alumni band adventure the same way we began our Michigan State University marching band career years ago. We ran together. As students, we needed to have enough breath for the pre-game show. We defined “in shape” arriving on campus as able to play the pre-game fight song after entering the stadium and kick stepping for the event. We ran around campus during band camp, singing the fight song. The alumni band does not perform in the pre-game show. We just show up in our current shape, whatever it may be. However, two of my friends from the band and I ran the Big Ten 10k in Cincinnati. We chose a flat area, the same terrain that the participants in Chicago experience when running the Big Ten 10k. We ran at the same time, just in a different location.

This summer, we played music together, had a fun reunion and began looking forward in earnest to the alumni band weekend. It is good just to sit around and chat with friends. A good steak dinner also helps when celebrating our Big Ten 10k run.

For the fall alumni band, we started with a rehearsal on campus. It feels real when we all get back together. We can still play these instruments. Some of my fellow alumni are, or were, band directors and professional players. Several of my fellow alumni band members are like me, still playing and retired with time to come up for the weekend game.

After the rehearsal we enjoyed the reception for the band members, especially as it allows us to catch up with people we may not have seen in a year or several years. We also meet new people as well.

Saturday begins with us watching the Spartan Marching Band rehearse the show. I always wonder if we were that good. These guys are terrific! We join them and learn our spots in the drill and the music where we march and play, just like the old days.

This year the band is recognizing Tom Izzo, the Michigan State University Hall of Fame basketball coach. He came and gave us a pep talk after our rehearsal.

We had some time after our rehearsal to enjoy the campus and see some of the impressive tailgating that goes on during the home games. I am sure every stadium has traditions for tailgating. My favorite was the “green flamingos” who were setting up when we arrived. They were recognized as the tailgating showpiece of the week. I am glad I stopped by.

The marching parade to and from the stadium is one of our joys. It is one of the things we can do as the alumni band that we did when we were students.

It takes a while for 650 alumni band members to get seated. We arrived about an hour before game time. The pre-game show was wonderful; we all enjoyed watching the current students perform, and some of us were happy not to have to run onto the field and kick step. Near half-time we all snake down the stands and get ready for our portion of the show. It is so much fun on the sidelines. We get to march on the field, just as we did when we were students. The show is remarkably well done, thanks to the directors and band members watching out for us. After the game we go back to the field and perform a post-game concert before lining up and marching back to demonstration hall.

Other Fun:

We ate at the Brody cafeteria. If you had told me, when I was a student that I would come back into this cafeteria, I would have said “no way.” It has been torn down and re-built. It is a good dining experience. We ate there after the game, so we did not have to drive anywhere.

I did my traditional run on campus on Sunday morning after the game. It is good to explore the campus. Generally, no one is out in the morning after a football game. It brings back memories of seeing some of the buildings that I took classes in and remember from my days as a student on campus.

I played disc golf about 3 miles from campus on a relatively new course. It was okay and I may go back, but I will look for another choice as well.

See you on the road. No bike rides on this trip.