Posted October 12
The marching season hits its climax in the third week of October - often punctuated by the annual trip to the DakotaDome in Vermillion Here's a look back at some of the things we've encountered as Roadies during the third week of October
2000 Brandon Our only trip to the Big Sioux Review was highlighted by the Roadies having to squeeze our equipment into a tiny parking area and we nearly couldn't get our pre-historic atv know as the Cushman between all the vehicles in time to get staged.
2001 Vermillion then Brookings The band had the use of the practice field in Vermillion prior to the show. The field is pocked with gopher holes, and band parents are posted at them to prevent injuries. At least two parents are whacked by flag poles during the practice. And Roosevelt tried to delay getting to Brookings so they could perform after LHS so the band slowed way down on I-29 and parked the buses on a side street until they knew RHS was at the Brookings site.
2002 Brookings then Vermillion The Brookings competition was held in the morning that year it was chilly and the 50 people in the stands were all from LHS. The band headed south quickly to Vermillion where the fabric "scrims" needed repair and one poor trombone was tripped up as they were taken hastily from the field.
2003 Vermillion The final show of the spectacular Zorro season. It was nearly 80 degrees in the Dome and construction was underway on the roof as the bands performed. So the kids roasted and contractors noise on the roof was unbelievable.
2004 Omaha - One sick pit kid made an exit just moments prior to the show and the band performed on easily the nastiest field in years and it was a timed event where the Roadies beat the drumline off the field for the second straight week.
2005 Vermillion After completing everything and packing up, one Roadie has to have their vehicle jump started to leave the USD parking lot.
2006 Madison - With a performance time temp of 35 degrees and a breeze out of the north over 10 mph, the sound was not on par with other performances that season. The brass instruments sounded flat that evening, and complaints of frozen fingers from the pit players were common.
The Roadies had one of their more challenging evenings ... stalled an atv leaving the practice site marimbas coming unhooked during the 8-block trek to the stadium, as well as falling gourdos, triangles, and a crotale bar. Then, we jumped the gun taking the ladders on the field when we thought O'Gorman was done (turns out they were not), and on the return trip a tie down strap on our flatbed snapped leaving a trail of sparks down I-29 for miles. And we even got to help by carrying around an ill tuba player, one of two that were taken ill prior to the show (they ate at the same fast food place we hear).
2007 Vermillion : After a delay getting the buses together on I-229 (and a quick attachment of the trailer lights on bus 1) the trip went smoothly to Vermillion, and was punctuated by a white bus flattening a sign in the parking lot. It was a gorgeous fall day on campus, despite the band and volunteers nearly eaten alive by the Asian beetles and little black gnats during warm ups. The height of the Dome doors forced the power pole props to be assembled outside and tipped slightly to be brought in. However, two poles collided and one top piece had to be repaired Yankton performed. The top piece was taped and reattached just prior to taking the field. We were a little rough on junior Roadies Dan K's foot run over by the flatbed on the way out, and another's leg run into in the endzone. When all was said and done at Lincoln, everything was unloaded and the parking lot was nearly empty there sat 2 mellaphones (or baritone), 2 bass drums and 2 snares and the majority of the practice stands for the drum line. Enough said.
