COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- Ohio State is traveling to the Cotton Bowl to take on Texas Friday and The Best Damn Band In The Land is going, too.
The 12-team College Football Playoff is new this year and it’s bringing new challenges to OSU Marching Band leaders and members.
“It’s so exciting to be, you know, a part of what they are doing,” Jordan Bechtol, a trumpeter in the band, said. “They’re obviously playing their best football right now and really putting together a magical postseason which is really cool for us to be a part of, to be there cheering them on."
Ohio State band members take a class every day for two hours during the fall semester and that is when they rehearse. That class doesn’t carry over into the spring semester, so finding time to practice for bowl games is a challenge.
“The marching band class no longer exists so these students are really on volunteer time and we’re asking them to come in for special rehearsals here in the evening after their normal classes,” band director Dr. Christopher Hoch said.
Bechtol and sousaphone player Brody Hyre said they moved their schedules around to make sure they can be at rehearsals.
“You just kind of make it work because band is important enough that you kind of fit your schedule around it,” Hyre said.
“Obviously we’re hoping we’re going to get used to it over the coming years as an organization because we’re hoping the Buckeyes will be in a lot of national championships. For right now, we just practice when we can,” Bechtol said.
There is a possibility of one more game if the Buckeyes win on Friday.
“We are going to support our team and our Buckeyes no matter what, and if we are fortunate enough to win this upcoming game, we will be there in force in Atlanta cheering them on in the national championship game,” Hoch said.
“This one feels a little different, you know, because we can still win the Natty and that would be an amazing experience for my last year and a lot of the seniors this year,” Hyre said Hyre.
The Ohio State Marching Band will travel to Dallas on Thursday, and they will have pregame and halftime performances during the Cotton Bowl.
