Marching Giants, A Tradition of Excellence

Countless hours of practice, in the sun, wind, rain, and even sleet, from July to November, brought the Marching Giants to Lucas Oil Stadium on Saturday, November 3, for the 40^th annual ISSMA State Finals.  The competition began on September 29, with 30 bands, from around the state, competing for the top 10 spots in State competition in Class A.  The 10 bands that placed in semi-state were present Saturday vying for the ISSMA State title in High School Marching Band.

After a morning of practice, the Marching Giants meet in the dressing room for the tradition of celebrating with parents and supporters in their accomplishment of qualifying for State finals.  The members then put on their uniforms and met in the band room, for another tradition, their pep talk from band director, David Cole.  Cole explained to the kids they were part of a great legacy as the Marching Giants have been present at many other State Finals, over the last 40 years, and the 2012 members would continue on with the tradition as they competed that evening.  The members loaded their eight buses; but since this was State competition, the tradition of IMPD and IFD escorting the members to Lucas Oil Stadium continued.  For the freshman, this would be their first experience to be part of the excitement of being a Marching Giant competing in State Finals; while the seniors reflected on their last State Final competition reminiscing about past performances.  As the buses drove the route, members experienced the traditon of supporters lining the route with signs of encouragement, waving purple and white pom-poms, and horns honking, it was a great day to be a Marching Giant!

 

Upon arrival, the members disembarked their buses to participate in the tradition of section circles.  They separated into their sections of flutes, clarinets, alto saxophones, low reeds, trumpets, mellos, tubas, low brass, percussion, and color guard for words of encouragement from the section leaders, drum majors, and one another.  After circles, the members entered Lucas Oil Stadium through the down ramp into the underneath of the stadium for physical and music warm-ups.  While the members prepared for their performance, parents, friends, and fans filed into the stadium and settled into section 236 in anticipation of the show.  Finally, the time had arrived for your Ben Davis Marching Giants to take the field and the tradition of the fans shouting out B-E-N D-A-V-I-S started and the crowd acknowledged the Giants presences.

 

The stadium erupts into cheers, screams and clapping as the members begin their decent down the tunnels and onto the Colts home field.  At 7:40 pm, the judge announced to the members they may take the field.  Fences, flags, rifles, instruments, and members are all positioned on the field and the 30,000+ members in the audience became quite as the announcer presents the Ben Davis Marching Giants and their show “A Thin Line Between Love and Hate”.  The four drum majors that start the show began to count the beats and the show starts.  The Marching Giants give the audience an amazing show; so much so, they get a stand ovation during the third movement and at the end of the show.  The students played loud and marched in formation, while the color guard danced and spun flags and rifles.  The fans in the stands are impressed by this State performance.  Cole later tells the students they had their best show.  The students felt they have done well.  The American Dairy Association is a proud sponsor of ISSMA State Finals and the tradition of every member of all the bands received a pint of milk because, “Winners Drink Milk” continued because all 40 bands that performed at State Finals are winners!

Since they were the first band to perform, the Marching Giants are able to enjoy the rest of the evening having dinner provided by the Band Boosters and watching some of the bands as they performed while waiting for awards.  The tradition of full retreat would start the awards ceremony and Ben Davis Marching Giants would be the first school to be called and the members filed out onto the field.  Section 236 erupts into cheers, once again, for the members as the school name is announced.  During awards, the Marching Giants are presented with the 7^th place trophy and cheers, screams, and clapping as loud as thunder could be heard around the stadium.  The Marching Giants finished the ISSMA marching season the 7^th ranked band in the State of Indiana.  Everyone associated with the Marching Giants are proud of the members and their accomplishment.  As one of the box trucks states, “Ben Davis – A Tradition of Excellence” the evening proved this statement true.  The Marching Giants continued many, many traditions that make them “One of the Best Bands in the Land!”

 

If you missed their State performance, don’t fret, the season isn’t over yet, they have one more week of practice and their final competition in Music for All, Bands of America, Grand Nationals competition that takes place over three days at Lucas Oil Stadium.  The Marching Giants perform in preliminaries on Thursday, November 8, at 7:30 pm.  They find out Friday evening, if they move onto semi-finals that take place on Saturday with finals also on Saturday evening also at Lucas Oil Stadium.  See You in the Stands!