At football games, they are “the wall” of sound, pumping up the energy and spirit of the nearly 60,000-person crowd of fans who attend. They are as crucial to school spirit as the team’s beloved mascot.
On a dark and frigid Monday night, when the fanatic football fans are gone, the Oregon Marching Band plays at Autzen Stadium. For three hours, three days a week, more than 200 dedicated marching band members practice rain or shine, day and night, all for their love of the group.
The massive group of musicians, made up of mostly non-music majors, embodies school spirit and turns it into music and entertainment, not just at football games, but at other sports events and ceremonies too.
Since early September, the marching band has been practicing for each show they put on. Though the hours are long, many members say it’s worth it.
“I’ve always wanted to be in marching band and I always loved music. This is a great way to keep music in my life,” junior saxophone player Bess Oliver said. “And I feel great connections, mostly with my section.”
Oliver said that in her experience, it’s hard to get to know all the members in the band. She said that it’s easiest to get to know the people in her instrument section, but the whole group works well together.
At the end of each practice, section leaders bring their section together for a meeting and a pep talk. On the huge Autzen field, groups of wind players, brass players and percussionists huddle together, join their hands in the middle and cheer for one another.
“We keep each other motivated,” Oliver said about her marching band peers.
Other members said that marching band is worth it because of the experience of playing at games.
Clarinet player Courtney Potmesil, a freshman, said that although she has enjoyed playing and traveling to other venues, she enjoys playing at football games at Autzen Stadium the most.
“It’s just insane,” she said. “I was just in awe at (the first game).”
The work it takes to put together a show, though, is the most difficult aspect of marching band, Potmesil said.
Band members must attend mandatory practices in almost all weather conditions, including pouring rain or freezing cold.
“The rain is the worst,” freshman saxophone player Ellie Dellard said. “We have to dry (our instruments) in their cases at home, after.”
Putting together a piece is also often an arduous and long process.
Dr. Eric Wiltshire, the director of athletic bands, said it takes about three to four hours of rehearsal time to put together one minute of show. For each halftime show, they put together about seven minutes of music.
Wiltshire recognizes that the marching band wears out many students as the term continues.
“The constant new material becomes stressful,” he said. “The hardest (is) fighting the fatigue as the season goes on.”
Wiltshire, who taught marching band in high schools, middle schools and at the University of Dayton before coming to Oregon, puts a fair share of work and energy into the marching band.
In his office, with no floor in sight underneath the mounds of music and papers, he laughs.
“This is a busy month for marching band. I hope to only work a bit on Christmas,” Wiltshire said.
Although the term can wear on the students, Wiltshire believes they stay motivated for each other and for the game.
“We love our crowded Autzen Stadium,” he said.
Though the term is coming closer to an end, the marching band still has to gear up for the ultimate performance: the bowl game.  The undefeated Ducks are projected to go to either the Rose Bowl in Los Angeles or the BCS National Championship Game in Glendale, Ariz.
For Wiltshire, a bowl game is the ultimate opportunity to represent the marching band and the school.
“We’re working hard to represent the University well on the national stage (it) propelled us to,” he said.
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