NGU band turns purple for a week: an NCAA experience
Caroline McNeely, Staff Writer
North Greenville students were caught wearing purple for Furman over spring break. But they had a pretty good reason.
Over spring break, 21 of our very own NGU band students played at the NCAA championship for Furman University’s games.
Furman’s own band had commitments to play at a St. Patrick’s Day parade in Ireland, which made them unavailable to play for their team’s championship games.
Gary Rhoden, director of athletic bands and coordinator of music education at NGU, received a call from Furman’s Associate Athletic Director, Drew Ingraham, offering the opportunity for NGU’s band to play at the championship.
After rallying the right number of students to be available to travel and getting approved by NGU President, Gene Fant, the band had to wait as Furman’s basketball team had more Southern Conference (SoCon) games to play.
The NGU band students waited and watched if they would be traveling to the championship at their very own watch party. The students found out that they would, in fact, be going to play at an NCAA championship game, but then the question became, “where?”
Christopher Marbut, junior NGU band student, said, “Furman was doing good in January when we found out about the potential of the trip, but they still had a long way to go in their season. Fast forward to the SoCon and we had a watch party in the lobby [of the Fine Arts building] and lost our minds when we won.”
The location of the championship was announced on Selection Sunday, not long after Furman won their SoCon game. The NGU band team went to Furman, decked out in Furman colors, played some and watched the big broadcast of Selection Sunday.
There were eight possible locations they could have been sent to: Albany, New York, Columbus, Ohio, Denver, Colorado, Greensboro, North Carolina, Birmingham, Alabama, Orlando, Florida, Sacramento, California and Des Moines, Iowa.
Out of 8 possible locations all across the country, Furman was sent to play the NCAA championship in Orlando, Florida at the Amway Center. The Furman basketball team, coaches, cheerleaders, few Furman band members, and NGU band students gathered to fly out on a private plane the Tuesday of NGU spring break.
Thursday was the first NCAA game and NGU band students’ opportunity to play in the Amway Center. “I mean, what an experience. You just see these kids walk into the Amway Center, which is where the Orlando Magic play, and it’s this huge arena.” Rhoden said and joked, “It’s got a few more seats than what we have in Hayes Gym here on campus.”
The Furman basketball team had a close game that Thursday that resulted in a buzzer-beating win with two seconds left on the clock. If Furman would have lost, the trip to Orlando would have been cut short for NGU band students.
Emily Bright, freshman, NGU band student, said, “The whole trip was absolutely amazing, but what I would consider the best part of the trip is definitely being able to be at the winning basketball game and watching Furman fight to win the game. We always have a blast in band at games, whether it’s playing our tunes, screaming chants or just spending time together. We always know how to make it fun, and being there to experience that winning shot together was something we will all remember forever.”
With a day off on Friday between games, Rhoden was approved by NGU president, Gene Fant, and Provost, Nathan Finn, to take the students to Walt Disney World. NGU students were able to enjoy Hollywood Studios in between the already magical opportunity to play at NCAA championship games.
Many of the students were able to make amazing memories over the few days of being there. Bright said, “Many new memories were made on this trip, but my absolute most memorable one was definitely getting to explore downtown Orlando with my friends. One afternoon, we even walked 20 minutes just to go swimming. It was so nice to have the time away from school to really talk to each other and focus on having fun and making memories.”
After their Disney adventures on Friday, the band played for Furman’s game on Saturday. Coach Bob Richey, Furman’s head basketball coach, came up to the NGU band students and thanked them for being a part of the special experience for all of them.
Putting up a good fight, Furman lost the Saturday game. The Furman team, NGU band students and coaches got on the plane to head back to South Carolina late Saturday night after a unique NCAA experience.
Many of the 21 NGU band students had different “firsts” on the trip, but being able to showcase the talent of NGU’s very own band at NCAA championship games was a first for all of them. Not only that, it will be a first that they will always remember as a part of their college career at North Greenville University.
