Marching Hawkeyes

Like many other Big 10 bands, this group is the largest student organization on campus. The band is composed of 240 musicians with one drum major, a Golden Girl twirler, and the Iowa Dance Team. To find out more about this band in a formal format, check out the university's official website. If you're looking for an informal approach to getting to know this band, I recommend the section sites. For example the saxophones provide us with a wonderful version of the fight song - disco version. Check it out here under "Media" then "Sounds." After looking at a woodwind section, it's only fair to give the brass their time to shine. Watch a video of the trumpet cheer here. When looking at the band as a whole, numerous traditions are present, like the pregame show:



In addition to the pregame tradition of "The Boom" which begins pregame, other musical selections have become an integral part of the program. "Hey Jude" and the "Hawkeye Victory Polka" are two main pieces, the latter being the most notable. Another name for it is perhaps more common - "In Heaven There Is No Beer." Originally, beginning in 1960, this song was a stands tune. However, it was banned in 2001 when the president of the university deemed the lyrics to promote alcohol abuse. After much protest by the band and their fans, the song was brought back and is now played only for special events and after a Hawkeye victory. The song is still kept on the down-low, as no sheet music is printed and new members are not taught the notes. Students now learn the tune by ear.

Traditional section bonding is also evident. The annual "Sousy Bowl" is a game of contact football played between the sousaphone sections of the University of Iowa and Iowa State University of the Big 12. "Saxamatone Kickball" is another bonding tradition between the sax and baritone sections. No others may participate except for the drum major and Golden Girl who can choose to be on either team.