As the Samford University marching band prepares to take the field, senior drum major Emily Acosta isn't thinking about the music, the formations or the thousands of eyes watching from the stands.
Instead, she's focused on the people around her.
"The moments right before I whistle everyone up and we move onto the field, everyone is spreading 'you got this!' or 'let's go!' or other fantastic words of encouragement," Acosta said. "My mind is filled with immense pride that I get to be a part of this group."
That feeling of connection is a recurring theme among members of the marching band this season, from first-year students performing their first halftime show at Samford to seniors preparing for their final season in uniform.
Freshman Luke De Lyser is one of the newest members of the organization, and the road game at the University of North Alabama marked a milestone. Having no prior marching band experience, he performedin his first halftime show.
"I was nervous leading up to the show, but once we took the field, I remembered the preparation we put in at band camp and that took over," De Lyser said. "It was rewarding that our hard work had come together."
Freshman Leland O'Neil faced a different challenge: adjusting to college life while leaving behind the high school band program he loved.
"When camp first started, I struggled and really missed my beloved high school program," O'Neil said. "But I started to feel at home after talking with some of the veterans and Patrick Young, director of bands."
That willingness to help newcomers feel welcomed is something the band's veteran members work intentionally to foster. Senior Lydia Carpenter, a student leader and head uniform chair, remembers feeling shy and disconnected when she first joined the band.
"My freshman year, I was a different person," Carpenter said. "I felt I did not have a voice or a connection to the upperclassmen."
Now in her final season, she views helping younger students as one of the most important parts of her role.
"I love being able to help the new members," she said. "It's fun to see them working hard and caring about the band’s image.”
Senior trombonist Meredith Brackstone has watched that culture grow over the course of her college career.
"When I was a freshman, I met people who became incredible friends," Brackstone said. "Part of our goal as upperclassmen is to embrace the freshmen, welcoming them as if they were family."
The sense of family extends far beyond rehearsals and performances.
De Lyser credits the band's "family" tradition during band camp with helping him build friendships during his first weeks on campus.
"This was a wonderful experience because it allowed me to meet and build relationships with people who I might not have naturally met otherwise," he said. "I felt like I was truly connected with my band family."
O'Neil points to the band's trip to UNA as the moment he realized he belonged.
"Once we were in the stands, goofing off and cracking jokes, I truly felt like I belonged," he said. "The long bus ride helped me connect with my fellow band members."
The friendships help sustain the work required to perform each Saturday. Fans may only see a few minutes on the field, but Acosta says the performance is built on countless hours of preparation.
"Marching band is more than music. There's a surprising amount of physical and mental components that go into it as well," she said. "It takes quite a while to get every component of our craft ready to perform for an audience."
This year's show also marks an exciting development for the program with the return of a full auxiliary team, including a color guard performing alongside the majorettes.
"This is the first year since I've been at Samford that we have had a color guard in addition to our lovely majorettes, and it is so special to see that part of our programming coming back," Acosta said.
Veteran members say the growth is noticeable throughout the organization.
"This season, the band has grown, and it has become a more connected group," Carpenter said. "We have more people who are excited to be in the band, which makes a difference."
"We do our best to push ourselves to learn, grow and develop as musicians, students and leaders," Brackstone added.
When fans watch this year's show, Acosta hopes they leave feeling joy.
"We have a super fun and funky show this year with songs that everyone knows. We have a blast performing it, so we hope everyone has an equally great time watching it."
