Fans attending basketball games this season will no longer have to sing the "Good Ole Song" without musical accompaniment, thanks to the creation of the Cavalier HOOps Band, which debuted at last night's men's basketball game.
Athletic Director Craig Littlepage said the new band will fill a void in the entertainment aspect of basketball games and bolster the type of support and enthusiasm that has been lacking this season.
"Everyone is looking forward to how the band is going to contribute to the spirit and support for the team," Littlepage said.
He said the band will go beyond being a group that simply plays quality music -- it will coordinate with the cheerleaders and dance group to "crank up" the atmosphere in University Hall.
First-year College student Tracy Clemons, a tuba player, said the band will bring a welcomed change to basketball games by playing a mix of current and "old school" songs to pump up the crowd.
"We want crowd participation," Clemons said.
The band is comprised of about 60 students, but only between 45 and 50 members will perform at games, Band Director William Pease said. The band started rehearsing together just last Tuesday, exactly a week before its debut performance in yesterday's game. With only four rehearsals under its belt, the band is progressing well, Pease said.
"We're getting better every time," he said. "We're still not where we want to be, but they have exceeded my expectations."
First-year College student Woody Wingfield, a trumpet player, said the pressure of having to prepare so quickly for their first performance helped everyone to focus and prepare for the band's debut.
"It was non-stop rehearsing," Wingfield said. "That gets you in shape pretty fast."
Littlepage said he attended one of the practices and was impressed with the quality and volume of the sound and the ability of all band participants to come together in such a short period of time.
"Basically, this will be something that from my standpoint will only get better," he said.
Pease attributed the band's readiness to perform at yesterday's game under pressing time constraints to the members' enthusiasm and work ethic.
"They're the brightest team I've ever worked with," he said. "They're enthusiastic, energetic, and easy to work with."
The creation of the Cavalier HOOps Band is part of a large-scale plan to ultimately put together a "Virginia Band" program of several hundred members, Littlepage said. The band will be divided into smaller groups of 6 to 12 people that will play at men's and women's basketball games as well as other "Olympic sporting events."
"We have endeavored to put together a plan which has groups that will grow out of a comprehensive band program," Littlepage said.
Despite its recent formation, Wingfield said the band is well prepared.
"The band is ready," Wingfield said. "I think everyone will really get a kick out of it."
Clemons agreed.
"Everyone is really enthusiastic about what we are doing," Clemons said. "We have a bright future."
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