Million Dollar Band prepares for upcoming football season

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. (WBRC) - The Million Dollar Band, the marching band for the University of Alabama, puts a lot of hard work into preparing for the upcoming football season. The band consists of over 400 members that includes brass, woodwinds, percussion, and auxiliary members (Crimsonettes and Colorguard). The weather can play a huge role in how they practice and when it is time to step on the field to perform their pregame and halftime shows.

The Million Dollar Band has band camp in mid-August that lasts for over a week. It consists of learning outdoor drill in the morning, afternoon indoor musical rehearsals, and in the evening hours they combine music and drill together on the field. Heat and humidity can be an issue as they prepare for the upcoming season.

“We try to council them all summer long that this is coming up and you really need to get outside and do something because you don’t want the first day of fall camp to be the first thing you’ve done outside,” explains Dr. Kenneth Ozello, the Director of Bands at Alabama. “We do a lot of breathing exercises. It gives us a chance to get our cardio up to where it needs to be. If you are out and you’ve done this fall camp for ten days your tolerance is a lot of better.”

Temperatures normally climb into the lower 90s in August with a heat index near 100°F. The health of the band is a huge priority for the staff. The band practice outdoors in the morning and late evening hours to avoid the hottest temperatures of the day. They take frequent breaks to cool down and to hydrate.

“We do experience heat related injury or illnesses quite frequently because students underestimate their abilities,” says Dr. Heather Cole, the heat nurse for the Million Dollar Band. “They are doing their job and they want to do it well.” If a member is feeling exhausted or dehydrated, the band has a crew ready to assist. “We use ice towels. We fill a cooler up with ice, water, and towels so in case of heat stroke we can absolutely get their body cooled back to normal temperature,” says Athletic trainer Alison Brower. “We are out there at all times in case they need us from a band aid to a broken foot. We are there to figure out the next steps. Dr. Cole says this is the first year they have implemented mandatory physicals for students to make sure they are medically clear to participate in band.

Heat can impact their health, but it can also impact how they sound on Gameday. “The sound of any acoustic instrument doesn’t have the crispness to it when it is very warm out. It’s kind of a flat sound. The heat doesn’t bother the pitch of the instruments nearly as much as the cold,” says Dr. Ozello.

Late summer can also mean afternoon and evening thunderstorms. If it is raining, they have to protect woodwind instruments - flutes, clarinets, and saxophones. If the pads get wet, they swell and could damage the instrument. If there’s lightning within a 10-mile radius, they have to stop practice and seek shelter.

“When we’re at home, we really pray for no rain,” says Russ Cole, Director of Operations of the Million Dollar Band. “When we’re on the road, you got to plan for all of that stuff.”

Cole says they always have rain jackets and supplies to protect instruments in case rain impacts the band on Gameday or during pregame performances.

Marching band takes a lot of hard work and dedication. Members memorize their music, work on drill, and help bring fans together as they cheer on the Crimson Tide. “College football gets its essence from the spirit in the stadium, and that really comes from the band and the cheerleaders. I kind of think of it as the soundtrack of Alabama football and what we do,” says Dr. Ozzello.

You can cheer on the Million Dollar Band every Saturday at home during football season. You can also check out their pep bands that travel and perform throughout the year at other athletic events and special occasions.

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