Noah.Dreams
08-29-2005, 04:38 PM
43. THE FLORIDA A&M BAND
As the famed Rattler Shuffle begins and the baritone voice of Joe Bullard booms over the microphone, it becomes instantly apparent: This is no ordinary band.
"We cover the whole field," he exclaims.
Sure, they are called the Marching 100. But at 350 strong, the Florida A&M University band is bigger --- and by many accounts, better --- than any collegiate outfit in the nation.
Its acclaim extends well beyond theborders of histoically lack coleges ad universities. The Marching 100 was recently showcased at the Super Bowl in Jacksonville. It has played all over the world, from Paris to New York City, high-stepping its way into the fabric of sports lore while gaining widespread affection.
Halftime shows are as much a part of black college football as the games themselves. The movie "Drumline" aptly depicts the colorful rivalries that seep into the ceremonies.
Musical outfits from HBCUs like Clark Atlanta, Southern, Jackson State and Grambling State, for instance, are never short on drama and showmanship.
The bands help make the "Classics" special. The two largest --- the Bayou Classic and the Florida Classic --- are a dynamic part of HBCU football in the Southeast.
That, each of the schools can agree on. Finding a consensus about which has the best band isn't as simple. Julian White, director of the Marching 100, certainly has his opinion.
"What makes the Marching 100 unique is the high level of musicality," White says. "We devote a great deal of time to the music. That has to come first."
It's followed by 90-degree knee lifts and 45-degree instrument swings. It's led by nine drum majors, all over 6 feet tall. When the dancing begins, the music continues. The band's reputation is escalated, then, by its artistry. Take, for instance, the jet the band formed on the field during Honda's Battle of the Bands at the Georgia Dome.
"We landed for refueling," White said. "The jet was on its way to the Super Bowl."
--- Rana L. Cash
44-48. PREGAME MEALS
The AJC's Tony Barnhart lists five delicacies one must eat to be a true Southern college football fan:
> Barbecued chicken by Ben English. For 14 years, English has been preparing the meal for the annual Bulldog pep rally at Jacksonville's Metropolitan Park before the Georgia-Florida game. He and his staff of 30 feed about 2,500 fans, which means he starts cooking at 2:30 a.m. for a 3:30 p.m. kickoff. The chicken from Ben's massve grill literall falls of the boe. "It'sa lot of work, but we have a blast," said English, who owns a restaurant in Jacksonville and caters on the side. "And since it's before the game, everybody's in a good mood."
> Ice cream at Mississippi State. No offense, Ben and Jerry, but you're going to have to go some to beat the ice cream served at the Herzer Dairy Science Building on the campus of Mississippi State. In Starkville, they take their ice cream and cheese seriously. Mississippi State has one of the best academic programs in the nation in the area of Food Science, Nutrition and Health promotion.
> Lemonade at Toomer's Drugs, Auburn. At the intersection of Magnolia and College streets in Auburn rests Toomer's Drugs, a landmark for over 150 years. Toomer's Corner is best known because the students "roll" it with toilet paper after a big Auburn win --- or if Alabama is placed on probation. But go to Toomer's Drugs for the lemonade, fresh and tart. The staff at Toomer's starts squeezing the lemons at least a week before a big home game.
> Ribs at Calhoun's, Knoxville. Calhoun's sits right on the Tennessee River, just down the street from Neyland Stadium. If you can get in on a Friday night before a home game, just remember to take your appetite with you. Don't ask for no sushi here, bubba.
> Varsity Chili Dog. No game at Georgia or Georgia Tech is complete without this Southern delicacy. When the person at the counter asks "Waddayahave?" don't hesitate. Quickly tell him you want "a heavyweight with a bag of rags and a PC." Translation: That's a chili dog with extra chili and mustard with potato chips and chocolate milk (plain chocolate). If you're in a hurry, just say you want to Walk The Dog and they'll put it in a box to go. If you're still hungry after that, get a fried pie.
Editor's note: Because Dreamland ribs are distinctly in a class by themselves, they are honored in a previous part of this section.
49. BILLY CANNON
In 1959, Ole Miss and LSU were among the top hree teams in the ation. Th two bestplayers i college football were Billy Cannon of LSU and Charlie Flowers of Ole Miss. Both teams were undefeated when they played on Halloween night in Baton Rouge at LSU's famed Tiger Stadium. Needless to say, there was a full house.
Although there'd been no rain in Baton Rouge for 10 days, the field was a water-sogged, slippery mess. Ole Miss people believe LSU coach Paul Dietzel watered the field day and night because he thought it would slow down the Ole Miss offense. Instead, it was the LSU offense that suffered. The Tigers were unable to cross the 50 ... except once. And that once was all that mattered.
Ole Miss dominated on offense and defense, jumping out to a 3-0 lead on a 27-yard field goal. The wet field made it difficult for both offenses.
Ole Miss began to punt on second and third downs, hold LSU in its territory for three plays, then force the Tigers to punt. The Ole Miss strategy was to cause a fumble deep in LSU territory.
With 10:59 left and Ole Miss ahead 3-0, the Rebels punted on third down. Billy Cannon, standing on his 11-yard line, did not intend to field it. The ball bounced in the mud, and to Billy's surprise, landed in his midsection. The race was on.
Eight players touched or tried to tackle No. 20 on his 89-yard jaunt down the sideline in front of the Ole Miss bench. When it became apparent that unless Billy fell down he'd score, coach John Vaught, dressed in a gray sharkskin suit, went down on both knees. When he recovered from the shock, he stood with round, muddy stains on both knees.
Tiger Stadium may be the noisiest arena in America. When Billy Cannon scored, the roar was truly deafening. Final score: 7-3, LSU.
This game is unique in football history because the best player in college football made the biggest play in the game of the year. Although my team came up short, that hot, noisy Saturday night in Tiger Stadium was college football at its best.
--- University of Mississippi chancellor Robert Khaya led the nation in coring as he Rebels'placekicke in 1958 and '59.
50. AUBURN-ALABAMA
Auburn's David Langner became an unlikely hero when he returned two blocked punts for touchdowns to clinch a 17-16 victory over Alabama in 1972. The 5-foot-9, 165-pound defensive back reflects on his ensuing legacy from the "Punt, Bama, Punt" game:
"You couldn't imagine that just from that one play that happened 33 years ago, people still remember and talk to me about it every day. It was four minutes and some change left in the game. We had just kicked a field goal and the score was 16-10. Alabama gets the ball, they punt and Bill Newton blocks it. I pick it up and run it in for the score, about 25 yards. People tell you they remember things like that, but when you're in the game, you're just caught up in the game. The second one was within 2 or 3 yards of the first.
"It was about that team, not so much about that game. That play is what fans remember most about that team, but that play was just a part of it. For me, the greatest gift you can ever be given is the gift to be remembered. That's what I got out of my Auburn stint. Anybody that plays sports knows somewhat about that feeling. You have to be from Alabama to understand it. The rivalry is so big. I live in Tuscaloosa, so I get a lot of ribbing the other way."
--- Rana L. Cash
UGA VI
Breed: Pure-bred English bulldog
Born: July 22, 1998, in Savannah
Favorite snack: Not allowed any
Diet: Hills Prescription Diet Ultra (feedings at 6:30 a.m. and 6:30 p.m.)
Dislikes: Yellow Jackets, Tigers, Gators
Weight: 60 pounds
Exercise: Enjoys family walks
Health: A tad overweight
Did you know? Uga and Casey, Georgia President Michael Adams' dog, exchange Christmas cards and gifts
---
SMOKEY IX
Breed: Blue tick coon hound
Born: Sept. 4, 2003, in Goose Creek, S.C.
Favorite snack: Meaty Bonz treats
Diet: Adult dry food mixed with a little bit of Hill's canned puppy food warmed with water and stirred into gravy
Dislikes: Being put in his pen
Weight: Pushing 70 pounds
Exercise: Treeing critters
Health: Perfect
Did you know? Smokey VII was forced to take an early retirement after lightly biting the tuba player in back-to-back games during the 1994 season
---
MIKE V
Breed: Royal bengal tiger
Born: Oct. 19, 1989, in Moulton, Ala.
Favorite snack: Oxtail
Diet: Commercially prepared mix of meat, fish, soy, veggies, vitamins and minerals
Dislikes: Having to go to the vet
Weight: About 400 pounds
Exercise: Swimming
Health: Perfect
Did you know? After a 20-year run, Mike I came down with pneumonia and died in 1957 in the midst of a seven-game Tigers losing streak
Toughest SEC venues
Frank Broyles, a former Arkansas and Georgia Tech head coach, lists the toughest places to play in the SEC: 1. LSU, 2. Auburn, 3. Tennessee, 4. Alabama, 5. Georgia
Toughest SEC venues
Frank Broyles, a former Arkansas and Georgia Tech head coach, lists the toughest places to play in the SEC: 1. LSU, 2. Auburn, 3. Tennessee, 4. Alabama, 5. Georgia
As the famed Rattler Shuffle begins and the baritone voice of Joe Bullard booms over the microphone, it becomes instantly apparent: This is no ordinary band.
"We cover the whole field," he exclaims.
Sure, they are called the Marching 100. But at 350 strong, the Florida A&M University band is bigger --- and by many accounts, better --- than any collegiate outfit in the nation.
Its acclaim extends well beyond theborders of histoically lack coleges ad universities. The Marching 100 was recently showcased at the Super Bowl in Jacksonville. It has played all over the world, from Paris to New York City, high-stepping its way into the fabric of sports lore while gaining widespread affection.
Halftime shows are as much a part of black college football as the games themselves. The movie "Drumline" aptly depicts the colorful rivalries that seep into the ceremonies.
Musical outfits from HBCUs like Clark Atlanta, Southern, Jackson State and Grambling State, for instance, are never short on drama and showmanship.
The bands help make the "Classics" special. The two largest --- the Bayou Classic and the Florida Classic --- are a dynamic part of HBCU football in the Southeast.
That, each of the schools can agree on. Finding a consensus about which has the best band isn't as simple. Julian White, director of the Marching 100, certainly has his opinion.
"What makes the Marching 100 unique is the high level of musicality," White says. "We devote a great deal of time to the music. That has to come first."
It's followed by 90-degree knee lifts and 45-degree instrument swings. It's led by nine drum majors, all over 6 feet tall. When the dancing begins, the music continues. The band's reputation is escalated, then, by its artistry. Take, for instance, the jet the band formed on the field during Honda's Battle of the Bands at the Georgia Dome.
"We landed for refueling," White said. "The jet was on its way to the Super Bowl."
--- Rana L. Cash
44-48. PREGAME MEALS
The AJC's Tony Barnhart lists five delicacies one must eat to be a true Southern college football fan:
> Barbecued chicken by Ben English. For 14 years, English has been preparing the meal for the annual Bulldog pep rally at Jacksonville's Metropolitan Park before the Georgia-Florida game. He and his staff of 30 feed about 2,500 fans, which means he starts cooking at 2:30 a.m. for a 3:30 p.m. kickoff. The chicken from Ben's massve grill literall falls of the boe. "It'sa lot of work, but we have a blast," said English, who owns a restaurant in Jacksonville and caters on the side. "And since it's before the game, everybody's in a good mood."
> Ice cream at Mississippi State. No offense, Ben and Jerry, but you're going to have to go some to beat the ice cream served at the Herzer Dairy Science Building on the campus of Mississippi State. In Starkville, they take their ice cream and cheese seriously. Mississippi State has one of the best academic programs in the nation in the area of Food Science, Nutrition and Health promotion.
> Lemonade at Toomer's Drugs, Auburn. At the intersection of Magnolia and College streets in Auburn rests Toomer's Drugs, a landmark for over 150 years. Toomer's Corner is best known because the students "roll" it with toilet paper after a big Auburn win --- or if Alabama is placed on probation. But go to Toomer's Drugs for the lemonade, fresh and tart. The staff at Toomer's starts squeezing the lemons at least a week before a big home game.
> Ribs at Calhoun's, Knoxville. Calhoun's sits right on the Tennessee River, just down the street from Neyland Stadium. If you can get in on a Friday night before a home game, just remember to take your appetite with you. Don't ask for no sushi here, bubba.
> Varsity Chili Dog. No game at Georgia or Georgia Tech is complete without this Southern delicacy. When the person at the counter asks "Waddayahave?" don't hesitate. Quickly tell him you want "a heavyweight with a bag of rags and a PC." Translation: That's a chili dog with extra chili and mustard with potato chips and chocolate milk (plain chocolate). If you're in a hurry, just say you want to Walk The Dog and they'll put it in a box to go. If you're still hungry after that, get a fried pie.
Editor's note: Because Dreamland ribs are distinctly in a class by themselves, they are honored in a previous part of this section.
49. BILLY CANNON
In 1959, Ole Miss and LSU were among the top hree teams in the ation. Th two bestplayers i college football were Billy Cannon of LSU and Charlie Flowers of Ole Miss. Both teams were undefeated when they played on Halloween night in Baton Rouge at LSU's famed Tiger Stadium. Needless to say, there was a full house.
Although there'd been no rain in Baton Rouge for 10 days, the field was a water-sogged, slippery mess. Ole Miss people believe LSU coach Paul Dietzel watered the field day and night because he thought it would slow down the Ole Miss offense. Instead, it was the LSU offense that suffered. The Tigers were unable to cross the 50 ... except once. And that once was all that mattered.
Ole Miss dominated on offense and defense, jumping out to a 3-0 lead on a 27-yard field goal. The wet field made it difficult for both offenses.
Ole Miss began to punt on second and third downs, hold LSU in its territory for three plays, then force the Tigers to punt. The Ole Miss strategy was to cause a fumble deep in LSU territory.
With 10:59 left and Ole Miss ahead 3-0, the Rebels punted on third down. Billy Cannon, standing on his 11-yard line, did not intend to field it. The ball bounced in the mud, and to Billy's surprise, landed in his midsection. The race was on.
Eight players touched or tried to tackle No. 20 on his 89-yard jaunt down the sideline in front of the Ole Miss bench. When it became apparent that unless Billy fell down he'd score, coach John Vaught, dressed in a gray sharkskin suit, went down on both knees. When he recovered from the shock, he stood with round, muddy stains on both knees.
Tiger Stadium may be the noisiest arena in America. When Billy Cannon scored, the roar was truly deafening. Final score: 7-3, LSU.
This game is unique in football history because the best player in college football made the biggest play in the game of the year. Although my team came up short, that hot, noisy Saturday night in Tiger Stadium was college football at its best.
--- University of Mississippi chancellor Robert Khaya led the nation in coring as he Rebels'placekicke in 1958 and '59.
50. AUBURN-ALABAMA
Auburn's David Langner became an unlikely hero when he returned two blocked punts for touchdowns to clinch a 17-16 victory over Alabama in 1972. The 5-foot-9, 165-pound defensive back reflects on his ensuing legacy from the "Punt, Bama, Punt" game:
"You couldn't imagine that just from that one play that happened 33 years ago, people still remember and talk to me about it every day. It was four minutes and some change left in the game. We had just kicked a field goal and the score was 16-10. Alabama gets the ball, they punt and Bill Newton blocks it. I pick it up and run it in for the score, about 25 yards. People tell you they remember things like that, but when you're in the game, you're just caught up in the game. The second one was within 2 or 3 yards of the first.
"It was about that team, not so much about that game. That play is what fans remember most about that team, but that play was just a part of it. For me, the greatest gift you can ever be given is the gift to be remembered. That's what I got out of my Auburn stint. Anybody that plays sports knows somewhat about that feeling. You have to be from Alabama to understand it. The rivalry is so big. I live in Tuscaloosa, so I get a lot of ribbing the other way."
--- Rana L. Cash
UGA VI
Breed: Pure-bred English bulldog
Born: July 22, 1998, in Savannah
Favorite snack: Not allowed any
Diet: Hills Prescription Diet Ultra (feedings at 6:30 a.m. and 6:30 p.m.)
Dislikes: Yellow Jackets, Tigers, Gators
Weight: 60 pounds
Exercise: Enjoys family walks
Health: A tad overweight
Did you know? Uga and Casey, Georgia President Michael Adams' dog, exchange Christmas cards and gifts
---
SMOKEY IX
Breed: Blue tick coon hound
Born: Sept. 4, 2003, in Goose Creek, S.C.
Favorite snack: Meaty Bonz treats
Diet: Adult dry food mixed with a little bit of Hill's canned puppy food warmed with water and stirred into gravy
Dislikes: Being put in his pen
Weight: Pushing 70 pounds
Exercise: Treeing critters
Health: Perfect
Did you know? Smokey VII was forced to take an early retirement after lightly biting the tuba player in back-to-back games during the 1994 season
---
MIKE V
Breed: Royal bengal tiger
Born: Oct. 19, 1989, in Moulton, Ala.
Favorite snack: Oxtail
Diet: Commercially prepared mix of meat, fish, soy, veggies, vitamins and minerals
Dislikes: Having to go to the vet
Weight: About 400 pounds
Exercise: Swimming
Health: Perfect
Did you know? After a 20-year run, Mike I came down with pneumonia and died in 1957 in the midst of a seven-game Tigers losing streak
Toughest SEC venues
Frank Broyles, a former Arkansas and Georgia Tech head coach, lists the toughest places to play in the SEC: 1. LSU, 2. Auburn, 3. Tennessee, 4. Alabama, 5. Georgia
Toughest SEC venues
Frank Broyles, a former Arkansas and Georgia Tech head coach, lists the toughest places to play in the SEC: 1. LSU, 2. Auburn, 3. Tennessee, 4. Alabama, 5. Georgia