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Marching Bands

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U-M band

U-M band

1897

Just as the Michigan – Ohio State football rivalry has been called the greatest in college sports, the competition between marching bands has been equally spirited.

Both make justifiable claims to being the best in the land. Michigan’s band claims a number of firsts in its long history, including first Big Ten band to play at a Rose Bowl game and first Big Ten band to play at a Superbowl Game. For a time the UM Band was known as the “Transcontinental Band” because it played in both Yankee Stadium and the Rose Bowl in 1950.

OSU Band, 1894

OSU Band, 1894

The Ohio State band can cite an equally impressive list of firsts and humbly bills itself under the acronym TBDBITL (The Best Damn Band In The Land).

If those claims seem a bit outlandish, the judges of the Sudler Trophy, given annually to the college band of particular excellence, confirmed them by awarding Michigan the first trophy in 1982 and Ohio State the third in 1984.

 

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UM BandOSU Band
Year Formed18961878
First Football Game Performance18971899
1st DirectorEugene "Ike" Fisher, 1906Gustave Bruder, 1896
1st Drum MajorGeorge Olsen, 1914Tubby Essington, 1920
1st Marching Formation19141921
1st Female Members19721973
1st Female Drum MajorKaren England, 2001Shelley Graf, 1981
Sudler Trophy19821984
SuperBowl Appearance1973
1st Album Recorded1958
TraditionsDrum major backbend
Block M formation
Goalpost baton toss
High step march (youtube)		Ramp Entrance (youtube)
Script Ohio
Skull Sessions
Drum major backbend
SongsThe Victors
The Yellow and Blue		Carmen Ohio (youtube)

UM Band Website
OSU Band Website