From Wildcat Land to Ireland

K-State's Pride of Wildcat Land marching band prepares for the performance of a lifetime

CColby Johnston knows there isn't too much different about leading one of the best college marching bands in the world onto the field in a different country — in theory.

It'll be the same hash marks, the same music they've memorized over countless performances across several seasons of marching performances and college football game days.

Still, the head drum major of Kansas State University's marching band knows he and his fellow bandmates have the opportunity of a lifetime this week, when he and 110 other Pride of Wildcat Land members fly to Ireland and perform as part of the Aer Lingus College Football Classic.

"It's different from a bowl trip, just in terms of the amount of preparation," said Johnston, a senior in mechanical and nuclear engineering. "But it's the same work and effort we've always put in, and we're ready to put on our best performance, just like we do every game day."

Out of 430-plus members of the Pride of Wildcat Land marching band this season, 106 students have the opportunity of a lifetime to travel to and perform in Ireland as part of the Aer Lingus College Football Classic. | Download this photo.

Different travels, same Journey

Preparations for the trip began more than a year ago and as soon as K-State Football was announced as the "home" team for the Aer Lingus matchup, said Frank Tracz, director of K-State Bands.

Students applied for passports, staff coordinated earlier move-in times for the residence halls, and the Pride hosted a pre-camp series of rehearsals for those traveling to Ireland.

Earlier this month, traveling members of K-State's marching band went to Liberty, Missouri, for a joint rehearsal with Iowa State's delegation.

Members of the Kansas State and Iowa State marching bands combined earlier this month for a joint rehearsal in Liberty, Missouri. Photo courtesy Scott Sewell. Download this photo.

The two bands are combining to perform a halftime show themed to the music of 1980s rock band Journey — set to a lot of the same sheet music the Pride has previously rehearsed but with a new combined drill.

"We've long been great friends and rivals with their band, and we most recently did a joint halftime show with their band a few years ago for a Fort Riley Day," Tracz said. "We're going after each other the first, second, third and fourth quarters.

"But at halftime, we'll be the Big 12, and we'll represent everything great about our conference."

Marching band has plans A to Z

Traveling overseas is hard. Traveling as a band, though — that takes it up a level, Tracz said, even as a smaller, 111-person subsection of the overall band, which numbers more than 430 members this year.

For all the difficulties in arranging travel and accommodations for a handful of away games in the states each season, the band is at least in control of its buses, schedule and itinerary, the director said.

With the 106 students and five staffers of the Pride flying to Ireland split into groups flying through four different cities, that won't necessarily be the case this week.

Head football coach Chris Klieman hands a signed helmet to band director Frank Tracz at the band's annual pre-semester camp in recognition of his upcoming retirement after 33 years at the helm of the bands. Photo courtesy K-State Athletics. Download this photo.

"Here, we're somewhat at the mercy of other peoples' hands," Tracz said. "You have to get all the people to the right places, of course, but with the band, you also throw in instruments to that mix."

But as always, the band is ready for anything that comes its way, and Tracz said staff such as bands program coordinator Courtney Grecu have been instrumental in planning and arranging for the trip.

"We have plans A, B, C, D, E, F and G ready," Tracz said. "Nothing is insurmountable for this band."

Frank Tracz listens during a rehearsal for the band's trip to Ireland, which he said will be the "cherry on top of a sundae of a career" as he prepares for his 33rd and final season as K-State bands director. Download this photo.

On the world stage

The Ireland trip actually marks the second time the Pride of K-State will perform internationally, but the first alongside the football team.

The Pride last traveled overseas in May 1980, when it was invited to perform at the finals soccer match of the FA Cup in London's Wembley Stadium. More than 100,000 people watched that game live at the stadium, with an estimated 600 million tuning in worldwide.

Instructor and instrument technician Josh Cook, right, checks and labels instruments as the K-State marching band prepares to ship items to Ireland. Download this photo.

While Saturday's college football game likely won't approach those numbers, the internationally-televised clash between two Associated Press top-25 teams in week zero still represents one of this year's marquee matchups in all of college football.

"We're up there running with the big dogs," Tracz said. "We are a big dog, and we have to march, play and act that way in this opportunity. We have to represent K-State on an international stage."

The eyes of the world will be on this game, the band and K-State, Johnston said.

That gives the band a chance to prove to the world what everyone in Manhattan and the Big 12 already know — K-State is the place to be to get an outstanding education and to march with one the best bands in the world.

"This isn't just another show," Johnston said. "We're putting our hearts and souls into practicing. We get this chance of a lifetime as students to showcase our band and represent not only K-State, but the Big 12 and the U.S. as a whole.

"Not everyone gets this opportunity, but we're going to do the university proud, and we're ready to leave it all on the field."

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