Why Everyone Loves The Pride Of West Virginia's Iconic Pre-Game Show | The Odyssey Online
Start writing a post
Student Life

Why Everyone Loves The Pride Of West Virginia's Iconic Pre-Game Show

1, 2, ready, go!

1374
Why Everyone Loves The Pride Of West Virginia's Iconic Pre-Game Show
Jason Crayton

If you love college marching bands, you have obviously witnessed the greatness that is The Pride of West Virginia -- The Mountaineer Marching Band. This marching band, steeped in love and support from its community, has been around for ages (since 1901, to be exact). The Pride exhibits the epitome of tradition and passion for its community. The most passed-down tradition of The Pride would have to be its pre-game show. The same music and drill have been used for years with very minimal changes to preserve the tradition. It's the one show out of all that gets the fans hyped up and excited for each football game.

As most probably wouldn't know, the WVU Marching Band started out as an 8 member ROTC band directed by Walter Mestrezat. This band was exclusive to only the 8 ROTC members until 11 more people wanted to join and got rejected. So these 11 pledged to the fraternity Kappa Kappa Psi and created the Omicron chapter at WVU, making them a legitimate student organization and fueling their fire to create a new "rebel" band in response to their rejection. This band would go on to play halftime shows at football games until the two-band situation was settled. Eventually, the two became one and created what we now know as the Mountaineer Marching Band.

The pre-game show we know and love today wasn't started until the "modern era" of the band (1950's-1960's). Former director of the band, Budd Udell, is the mastermind behind the band's fight songs "Fight Mountaineers" and "Hail West Virginia," which are still played and loved to this day. These historic and revered fight songs are what start and finish the iconic pre-game show.

"Fight Mountaineers" is one of the two traditional fight songs of WVU athletics. It's the first one you hear when the band takes the field. It's also the one with the most recognizable formation. As the band plays, it sports the "Flying WV" down the field. Tagged onto the end of the song is a feature from an Appalachian song, "Good Old Mountain Dew," which the band calls "Mountain Dew" for short (you can guess what it's referencing there, and it's not the soda). At the end of this song is when the iconic initials of West Virginia University arise on the field.

In the middle of the show, the band plays two of the most iconic tunes ever to grace the WVU Band stage: "Simple Gifts" and "Country Roads."

The beloved circle-song, as "Simple Gifts" is called, is a classical tune originally composed by Joseph Brackett in 1848. It's an old Shaker song and has been used in many different arrangements and settings over the years. The Mountaineer Marching Band has been using an arrangement by Aaron Copland since 1973 when it was used in one of their halftime shows. It was excluded from pregame for one year by director Don Wilcox, but resurfaced by popular fan demand because of how much everyone loved it. The expanding circles have been a pre-game tradition ever since, and is one of the most photographed formations ever for the Mountaineer Marching Band.

"Country Roads" is obviously a fan favorite for many reasons. With it being the self-titled "state song," it is one of the most recognizable tunes that the Pride plays. It was released as a country hit from John Denver in 1971, and the band has been playing it since 1972 thanks to James "Doc" Miltenberger. This arrangement not only includes a majority of the beloved state song, "Country Roads," but it also includes samples from the true state song, "West Virginia Hills." Listen closely to find the melody floating in between the funky rhythms of the rest of the song! This arrangement is also accompanied by traditional "flower drill," which has been altered and changed in small amounts over the years but always incorporated in some way.

Of course, in between these two songs, the Pride plays its own rendition of The National Anthem and WVU's Alma Mater to pay tribute to country and university before kicking the football game off.

Ending the traditional show would not happen without a grand finale, and that's exactly what fans get with the last tune and second fight song, "Hail West Virginia." This song includes the ever-famous West Virginia state formation and the "Let's Go Mountaineers" cheer as that same state formation is inverted. This is truly a crowd favorite and an amazing way to end an iconic show.

At the end of the day, the WVU Marching Band pre-game show boils down to one word: TRADITION. It has held true throughout the years, and each director has held the traditions with pride and astonishment. Each member plays so that the members in the future can stand in their spots and say, "Wow, someone played this tune years ago and we still play it to honor our traditions and our values."

As the Pride of West Virginia's motto goes: every note, every step, every person, every time.

Report this Content
This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.
Featured

15 Mind-Bending Riddles

Hopefully they will make you laugh.

185859
 Ilistrated image of the planet and images of questions
StableDiffusion

I've been super busy lately with school work, studying, etc. Besides the fact that I do nothing but AP chemistry and AP economics, I constantly think of stupid questions that are almost impossible to answer. So, maybe you could answer them for me, and if not then we can both wonder what the answers to these 15 questions could be.

Keep Reading...Show less
Entertainment

Most Epic Aurora Borealis Photos: October 2024

As if May wasn't enough, a truly spectacular Northern Lights show lit up the sky on Oct. 10, 2024

12002
stunning aurora borealis display over a forest of trees and lake
StableDiffusion

From sea to shining sea, the United States was uniquely positioned for an incredible Aurora Borealis display on Thursday, Oct. 10, 2024, going into Friday, Oct. 11.

It was the second time this year after an historic geomagnetic storm in May 2024. Those Northern Lights were visible in Europe and North America, just like this latest rendition.

Keep Reading...Show less
 silhouette of a woman on the beach at sunrise
StableDiffusion

Content warning: This article contains descriptions of suicide/suicidal thoughts.

When you are feeling down, please know that there are many reasons to keep living.

Keep Reading...Show less
Relationships

Power of Love Letters

I don't think I say it enough...

455783
Illistrated image of a letter with 2 red hearts
StableDiffusion

To My Loving Boyfriend,

  • Thank you for all that you do for me
  • Thank you for working through disagreements with me
  • Thank you for always supporting me
  • I appreciate you more than words can express
  • You have helped me grow and become a better person
  • I can't wait to see where life takes us next
  • I promise to cherish every moment with you
  • Thank you for being my best friend and confidante
  • I love you and everything you do

To start off, here's something I don't say nearly enough: thank you. Thank you, thank you, thank you from the bottom of my heart. You do so much for me that I can't even put into words how much I appreciate everything you do - and have done - for me over the course of our relationship so far. While every couple has their fair share of tiffs and disagreements, thank you for getting through all of them with me and making us a better couple at the other end. With any argument, we don't just throw in the towel and say we're done, but we work towards a solution that puts us in a greater place each day. Thank you for always working with me and never giving up on us.

Keep Reading...Show less
Lifestyle

11 Signs You Grew Up In Hauppauge, NY

Because no one ever really leaves.

25289
Map of Hauppauge, New York
Google

Ah, yes, good old Hauppauge. We are that town in the dead center of Long Island that barely anyone knows how to pronounce unless they're from the town itself or live in a nearby area. Hauppauge is home to people of all kinds. We always have new families joining the community but honestly, the majority of the town is filled with people who never leave (high school alumni) and elders who have raised their kids here. Around the town, there are some just some landmarks and places that only the people of Hauppauge will ever understand the importance or even the annoyance of.

Keep Reading...Show less

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Facebook Comments