Hawkeye Marching Band back in the halftime lineup after outcry

IOWA CITY — A petition led by Hawkeye fans urging the Cheez-It Citrus Bowl to “let the bands play” has declared victory after event organizers this week announced both the Hawkeye Marching Band and the Pride of the Southland Band will perform on the field before the News Year’s game and at halftime.

That’s a reversal from plans to keep the University of Iowa and University of Tennessee bands off the field at halftime, instead committing that time to headliner Gavin DeGraw, a Grammy-nominated singer-songwriter.

“We are thankful to the Citrus Bowl and Gavin DeGraw for working together to help showcase our bands, which are not only an important part of the game day experience, but also our universities' cultures and traditions,” Hawkeye Marching Band Director Eric Bush told The Gazette.

The 78th Citrus Bowl pitting the No. 17-ranked Hawkeyes against the No. 21-ranked Volunteers is scheduled for Jan. 1 at Camping World Stadium in Orlando, where the Hawkeyes lost a close matchup two years ago in the bowl to the Kentucky Wildcats.

Bowl game appearances are integral to the Hawkeye Marching Band and the Hawkeye football experience, with the band annually penciling in postgame trips — assuming the team does well enough to make the Big Ten Championship and a bowl appearance.

The band has traveled not only to Orlando but San Diego, Tampa, New York City and Pasadena for bowls over the years — making its first bowl game appearance at the Rose Bowl in 1957, which also marked the band’s first nationally-televised performance.

“Marching bands are a part of the college football game day culture and these hundreds of performers dedicate thousands of hours toward entertaining fans,” according to the Change.org petition that amassed nearly 10,000 signatures of supporters wanting halftime appearances for the bands. “They work nights, weekends, and practice on their own time, just for the opportunity to play in front of their fans.

“A bowl game should be the culmination of that work and dedication, but the organizers of the Cheez-Its Citrus Bowl have ripped that away from these performers. Once a culture of paid promotion takes over one halftime, others will be sure to follow.”

Fans continued the barrage of criticism on the Citrus Bowl’s social media channels, posting on unrelated promotional items comments like, “You know what else goes great with luxury suites and premium seating — premium entertainment by the MARCHING BAND!!!”

In announcing its reversal — that marching band performances now will follow the live performances, including from DeGraw — bowl organizers said they “appreciate the creativity and goodwill of the university band leaders to make this possible.”

“We have a special day planned for the Vols, the Hawkeyes and the coast-to-coast audience who gather around their televisions for this New Year's tradition,” according to the Citrus Bowl social media post, which as of Tuesday afternoon had received over 700 comments — most of which were supportive, but some of which made more requests.

“It would be absolutely amazing if the network would actually show this part of the halftime show instead of some talking heads,” one person wrote.

Other ‘snubbing’

In addition to the Citrus Bowl, other games are “snubbing deserving marching band programs,” according to the Change.org petition — which mentioned the Pop Tarts Bowl and the Frisco Bowl, both of which have been flooded on social media with comments urging organizers to “let the bands play.”

The Cyclone Marching Band is traveling to Memphis, where Iowa State for a second time will take on Memphis on Dec. 29 in the AutoZone Liberty Bowl, promoting the Memphis funk band Bar-Kays as its halftime show.

The ISU band will perform in the pregame show, “similar to when we participated in the 2017 Liberty Bowl,” according to ISU Assistant Athletics Director and spokesman Matthew Shoultz. Iowa State fans haven’t raised similar concerns online and through petitions for their marching band to take the field both before the game and at half.

Metallica finalists

And while both bands are focused on their upcoming bowl trips, both also this week announced they’re among five Division I colleges named as finalists for Metallica’s Marching Band Competition.

“Hawkeye Nation! It’s official,” according to a Hawkeye Marching Band post on Monday. “We are one of five Division 1 schools in the running for the top prize, worth $75,000. Our show will be judged by Metallica later this month, with the winner announced the week of January 1.”

The public is invited to vote in the contest — which will award prizes in five categories: Division I college; Division 2 and 3 colleges; and small, medium and large high schools.

The UI and ISU bands are competing against three other finalists in the D1 category: Auburn University, University of Texas Austin and Fresno State University.

The finalists were chosen by professional judges and Metallica will pick the final winners in each category — although fan favorites can win $10,000 for getting the most votes. Bands, to compete, had to submit “exciting, unique, and impressive performances of Metallica’s music.”

“The bands with the best performances will win musical equipment for their school program, furnished by Metallica and our sponsors,” according to contest rules.

The Hawkeye submission was performed Sept. 30 in Kinnick Stadium and includes several Metallica songs including “Sad But True” and “Master of Puppets” — marching to form the word “Metallica” and a guitar, among other things.

The Cyclone Marching Band performed its entry Sept. 23 to “Hit the lights,” “One,” “Enter Sandman” and “Master of Puppets,” ending with a flock of “bats” — people dressed in costumes — circling the band, which marched to form a skull and crossbones.

Winners will be announced the week of Jan. 1.

Comments: (319) 339-3158; vanessa.miller@thegazette.com