Announcer: THE FOLLOWING PROGRAM IS A SPECIAL PRESENTATION OF THE BIG TEN NETWORK, PRODUCED IN ASSOCIATION WITH MICHIGAN STATE UNIVERSITY.
JIM PECK: I'M JIM PECK.
WELCOME TO "MSU TODAY.”
HERE'S WHAT'S COMING RIGHT NOW.
STUDENT: PULL IT IN.
A LOT OF THE WAY WE DEVELOP THROUGHOUT THE SEASON IS WHAT HAPPENS RIGHT NOW.
WOMAN: IF YOU GO ALONG CIRCLE DRIVE, THERE ARE PLACES WHERE THERE ARE GROUPING OF FOUR OR FIVE BUILDINGS THAT WOULD TRANSPORT YOU BACK TO ANYWHERE BETWEEN 1890 AND 1910.
STUDENT: GOT A PHONE CALL, AND ONE THING LED TO ANOTHER, AND WE'RE STANDING NEXT TO JAY LENO THE NEXT DAY.
MAN: THIS IS A COOL CONCEPT.
THESE GUYS GET TO WORK ON RACECARS INSTEAD OF LOOKING AT BOOKS.
JAY LENO: EXACTLY.
JIM PECK: WHEN FALL IS IN THE AIR, THERE'S NOTHING LIKE FOOTBALL.
AND DURING FOOTBALL SEASON, THERE'S NOTHING LIKE THE MSU MARCHING BAND.
AND EVERY YEAR, IT STARTS THE SAME -- THE FRESHMEN ARRIVE, AND VETERANS HELP SHOW THE WAY.
♫ MSU, WE LOVE THY SHADOWS WHEN TWILIGHT SILENCE FALLS ♫ ♫ FLUSHING DEEP AND SOFTLY PALING O'ER IVY COVERED HALLS ♫ ♫ BENEATH THE PINES WE'LL GATHER TO GIVE OUR FAITH SO TRUE ♫ ♫ SING OUR LOVE FOR ALMA MATER AND THY PRAISES, MSU ♫ [ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ]
[ FIRST WEEK ]
STUDENT#1: IT'S KIND OF JUST THROW 'EM INTO THE WATER AND SEE HOW THEY DO.
STUDENT #2: AND IT'S MENTORING, IT'S MODELING, IT'S LEADING BY EXAMPLE.
[ INDISTINCT CONVERSATIONS ]
STUDENT #3: WHAT IF YOU DON'T HAVE A LOCAL ADDRESS? I'M JUST A LITTLE HOMELESS -- NOT COMPLETELY, BUT
STUDENT #1: WHERE ARE YOU GOING TO STAY?
STUDENT #3: I DON'T KNOW.
STUDENT #2: SEE, WE THOUGHT PEOPLE WERE GOING TO BE RESPONSIBLE THIS YEAR.
STUDENT #4: THIS IS PRESEASON. IT'S THE TIME WHERE THE BAND GETS READY FOR THE FALL.
MAN #1: LUNCH IS AT SHAW.
STUDENT #5: SHAW FOR MEALS.
STUDENT #6: SHAW IS WHERE WE EAT TODAY?
MAN #1: IT'S NOT BRODY, WHAT THAT SCHEDULE SAYS.
IT'S AT SHAW.
STUDENT #6: EVERYTHING'S NEW.
THEY'RE NERVOUS.
THEY'RE CRAZY EXCITED.
IT'S JUST ALL THESE EMOTIONS AT ONCE.
STUDENT #5: UNIFORMS ARE TONIGHT AT 10:00.
STUDENT #6: THEY GET CHECKED IN IN THE MORNING.
THEY MOVE INTO THE DORMS THAT DAY, AND THEN THEY COME AND WORK FOR THE REST OF THE WEEK.
MAN #1: YOU MOVING IN THIS MORNING?
STUDENT #8: UH, YEAH.
MAN #1: OKAY, THEN.
GOOD LUCK.
I'LL SEE YOU -- BE THERE BY 1:30.
STUDENT #8: OKAY.
[ 1:30 P.M. ]
[ DRUMBEATS ]
MAN: LEFT, RIGHT, RUN.
DRESS, CENTER, DRESS.
MAN #2: IT'S THAT BUILDING OF THIS YEAR'S TEAM, AND IT'S A FAMILY MENTALITY.
UHH! [ LAUGHTER ]
STUDENT #9: WE'RE "BONDING.”
STUDENT #10: OH, MY KIDNEY'S IN MY MOUTH!
BILL OEMING, TROMBONE: WE'RE USUALLY HERE FROM BETWEEN 8:00 AND 9:00 IN THE MORNING TILL ABOUT, I DON'T KNOW, 8:00 OR 9:00 AT NIGHT.
MAN #2: WE'RE GONNA WALK THIS WAY.
RACHEL LINSMEIER, DRUM MAJOR: IT'S PRETTY INTENSE, AND IT'S HARD PHYSICALLY.
STUDENT #9: DROP AND GIVE ME HALF! OHHHH.
[ EVERYONE LAYS ON FIELD, GROANS ]
RACHEL LINSMEIER: SO WE RUN TWICE A DAY.
STUDENT #9: KEEP IT UP! KEEP GOING, MAN.
RACHEL LINSMEIER: WE'RE MARCHING ALL DAY, HIGH-STEP.
STUDENT #9: STAND UP STRAIGHT.
HOLD THAT GUT IN.
PULL IT IN.
BILL OEMING: A LOT OF THE WAY WE DEVELOP THROUGHOUT THE SEASON IS WHAT HAPPENS RIGHT NOW.
RACHEL LINSMEIER: FRIDAY, THE DRUM LINE ARRIVES.
[ DRUMBEATS ]
THEY'VE BEEN WORKING 9:00 TO 9:00 EVERY DAY.
STUDENT #11: UM... [ STUDENT UNSURE OF WHERE TO PUT A DRUM ]
RACHEL LINSMEIER: THEY DO THEIR OWN THING FOR A LOT OF THE TIME, JUST TO GET READY WITH ALL THEIR BUSINESS THEY DO.
[ DRUMMING ] [ SPEAKING INDISTINCTLY ]
RACHEL LINSMEIER: RIGHT NOW, WE'RE TRAINING THE FRESHMEN.
MAN #3: THE BACK OF THE HEEL TOUCHES ON THE BEAT.
MAN #4: A NICE TALL NECK.
STAND UP.
REACH TALL.
RACHEL LINSMEIER: GET THE FRESHMEN READY FOR WHEN THE VETERANS COME.
THE VETERANS COME IN THIS AFTERNOON.
MAN #4: THERE'S NOT MUCH TO SEE YET.
IT'S JUST SORT OF FUNDAMENTALS.
RACHEL LINSMEIER: WE'RE JUST BASICALLY GETTING ALL OUR FUNDAMENTALS DOWN BEFORE WE START LEARNING THE REAL STUFF.
IAN MCNABB, DRUM MAJOR: EVERYBODY STRETCHES.
ALL: NO RUNNING.
[ APPLAUSE ]
IAN MCNABB: THEY LIKE IT! THEY LIKE IT! DISCO SPARTY!
ALL: WHOA!
IAN MCNABB: IT'S KIND OF A WARM-UP FOR THE LEGS.
WE STRETCH, BUT THEN IT'S ALSO OUR OWN LITTLE HYPE THING.
WE GET EXCITED ABOUT SPARTY.
WE GET EXCITED ABOUT WEIRD STUFF, ACTUALLY.
[ LAUGHTER ]
IAN MCNABB: ALL RIGHT, THAT BETTER BE ON TV.
BILL OEMING: ACTUALLY, PROBABLY THE REASON I EVEN STAYED IN BAND AFTER HIGH SCHOOL AND INTO COLLEGE WAS BECAUSE I WANTED TO MAKE THE BAND HERE.
MAN: AND ONE.
BILL OEMING: IT'S A LOT OF HARD WORK.
I MEAN, EVEN TO GET INTO THE BAND, IF YOU'RE NEW, YOU HAVE TO GO THROUGH TWO ROUNDS OF AUDITIONING.
[ TRUMPET PLAYS MELODY ] [ AUDITIONS ]
STUDENT #12: WHEE-OO! PLACED IN -- RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE OF THE BAND LAST YEAR, SO HOPEFULLY IN THESE AUDITIONS I DO A BIT BETTER.
JOHN MADDEN, BAND DIRECTOR: WELL, FOR MOST PEOPLE, IT'S A PRETTY EXCITING THING.
[ NOTES PLAY ]
THERE'S THE DIFFICULT REALITY IN OUR SYSTEM THAT SOME PEOPLE DON'T MAKE THE BLOCK.
[ MELODY PLAYS ]
STUDENT #13: I WAS REALLY NERVOUS.
ACTUALLY, I WAS AN ALTERNATE MY FIRST YEAR, AND IT WAS TERRIBLE.
[ MELODY PLAYS ]
JOHN MADDEN: ONE OF MY LEAST FAVORITE RESPONSIBILITIES...
[ MELODY PLAYS ]
BY THE SAME TOKEN, IT IS THE REASON THE BAND IS AS GOOD AS IT IS...
[ MELODY PLAYS ] GOOD.
...BECAUSE THERE'S COMPETITION FROM WITHIN TO BE IN THE MOST COVETED SPOTS.
[ INDISTINCT CONVERSATIONS ]
STUDENT #14: OH, I'M STANDING NEXT TO YOU AGAIN!
STUDENT #15: AWW! ARE YOU EXCITED?
STUDENT #14: YEAH, LET ME SHOW YOU.
STUDENT #16: THAT MEANS I GET TO PLAY THE E-FLAT CORNET INSTEAD OF THIS THING.
SO, THERE'S ONLY EIGHT PEOPLE THAT DO THAT, SO THAT'S A PRETTY HIGH HONOR, SO I'M PUMPED.
[ MELODY PLAYS ]
STUDENT #17: OH, MAN, I'M TIRED! [ INDISTINCT CONVERSATIONS ] PRETEND THAT NOBODY'S WATCHING ME.
I'M NOT WIRED UP, NOT ON TV.
STUDENT: BRING IT IN! LET'S GO! OH!
STUDENT #17: THIS IS OBVIOUSLY THE BEGINNING OF THE FRESHMEN DRESS REHEARSAL.
Together: GO! GO! GO! GO!
STUDENT #17: NOW, TONIGHT WE KIND OF BECOME ONE CLASS, AND IT'S A TRADITION THAT'S GONE BACK FOR A LONG TIME AT MICHIGAN STATE.
THIS IS MY THIRD YEAR AS A LEADER IN THIS BAND.
AND I JUST WANT TO TELL YOU GUYS THAT I'M VERY PROUD OF YOU.
JOHN MADDEN: HE MAKES THE FRESHMEN CLASS FEEL LIKE, "MAN, I REALLY FEEL LIKE A PART OF THIS BAND.
I'VE WORKED HARD, I'VE EARNED IT, AND I LOVE THESE GUYS.”
THAT'S THE OVERWHELMING FEELING.
STUDENT #17: THIS IS GOING TO BE A TEST OF WHAT YOU'VE LEARNED DURING PRESEASON.
[ INDISTINCT TALKING ]
STUDENT #18: NO TALKING FROM THIS POINT FORWARD.
[ SILENCE ]
STUDENT #17: FRESHMEN DRESS, IT'S A TEST OF WHAT YOU'VE LEARNED ALL PRESEASON, SO YOU'RE JUST DOING THE SAME THINGS THAT YOU'VE DONE ALL PRESEASON.
MARCHING THE SERIES.
MAN: HERE WE GO.
COME ON, STEP UP.
All: HEY! HEY! HEY! HEY! HEY! HEY!
STUDENT #17: JUST PLAYING THE FIGHT SONG.
[ FIGHT SONG PLAYS ] AND THAT KIND OF STUFF, AND IT'S AN INTENSE ENVIRONMENT.
ALL: UP AND DOWN, SWING, SLASH. THIS IS YOUR SCHOOL!
STUDENT #17: IT'S NOT A NEGATIVE ENVIRONMENT.
STUDENT #18: SO IF YOU BACK UP, THE WHOLE BAND HAS TO BACK UP.
STUDENT: KEEP AT IT, MAN.
GOT A LONG WAYS TO GO.
JOHN MADDEN: COPS ARE THERE FOR SAFETY.
[ CYMBALS CRASH ]
JOHN MADDEN: AND WE'RE USING THE LEAST-BUSIEST ROAD ON CAMPUS.
[ MELODY PLAYS ]
STUDENT: MORE IMPORTANT IS JUST BECOMING PART OF THE BAND AND THE SENSE OF BELONGING THAT YOU REALLY GET, THAT REALLY BEGINS TONIGHT.
[ CHEERING ]
Transcript unavailable at this time.
[THIS VIDEO INCLUDES IMAGES OF THE MARCHING BAND, THE FOOTBALL STADIUM, AND THE MICHIGAN STATE VS. MICHIGAN GAME]
[THIS VIDEO OPENS WITH THE HOST JIM PECK STANDING ON A BRIDGE OVERLOOKING THE RED CEDAR RIVER IN THE WINTER]
JIM PECK: WELCOME TO "MSU TODAY.” I'M JIM PECK OVERLOOKING AN ICED-UP RED CEDAR RIVER. HERE'S WHAT'S COMING. THE BIG GAME...
[IMAGES OF THE STADIUM ON GAME DAY]
WOMAN #1: ONCE YOU'RE IN IT, IT JUST LOOKS MASSIVE.
JIM PECK: ...TATTOO RECOGNITION...
[IMAGES OF THE PEOPLE WORKING WITH THE TATTOO RECOGNITION SOFTWARE]
MAN #1THIS IS WHAT YOU SEE IN THE "CSI" SHOW.
JIM PECK: ...MSU JAZZ...
[IMAGE OF MAN PLAYING SAXOPHONE]
MAN #2: WE'VE BECOME A NATIONAL CENTER FOR JAZZ, YOU KNOW, IN THE MIDWEST.
JIM PECK: ...CAMPUS ARCHITECTURE.
[IMAGES OF BUILDINGS ON CAMPUS]
WOMAN #2: IF YOU GO ALONG CIRCLE DRIVE, THERE ARE PLACES WHERE THERE ARE A GROUPING OF FOUR OR FIVE BUILDINGS THAT WILL TRANSPORT YOU BACK TO ANYWHERE BETWEEN 1890 AND 1910.
JIM PECK: THERE IS NOTHING LIKE A GOOD BIG TEN RIVALRY, AND FOR THE MSU MARCHING BAND, ONE GAME IS ALWAYS A BIG ONE, ALWAYS A HUGE ONE. NOW, DO I REALLY NEED TO TELL YOU WHICH GAME THAT IS?
MAN #3: OUR GAMES WITH THESE GUYS ARE EPIC.
WOMAN #3: BEEN A REALLY LONG FIVE YEARS OF LOSING AND HAVING MICHIGAN BE LUCKY AND US BE UNLUCKY.
WOMAN #4: I'M JUST GONNA BE SO EXCITED.
WOMAN #5: IT'S MY THIRD TIME AT MICHIGAN.
ALL: WIN IT! SPARTANS!
MAN #3: I'M VERY EXCITED. [ LAUGHS ] NEVER BEEN TO THE BIG HOUSE BEFORE.
WOMAN #6: IT'S GONNA BE AWESOME. I'VE NEVER BEEN TO ANN ARBOR BEFORE TO PLAY ON THEIR FIELD OR ANYTHING.
MAN #4: IT'S GAME DAY.
MAN #5: WHOO!
MAN #6: GAME DAY.
MAN #7: GAME DAY!
ALL: GAME DAY.
MAN #7: IT'S THE MOST IMPORTANT DAY OF THE YEAR.
MAN #8: THE ONLY ROAD TRIP WE HAVE THIS YEAR.
WOMAN #7: ROAD TRIP. WHOO! WHOO!
MAN #5: WE JUST DO WHAT WE DO.
ALL[SINGING]: HEY, HO, WE'LL GO ANYWHERE THE WIND IS BLOWING ,MANLY MEN ARE WE, SAILING FOR ADVENTURE ON THE BIG BLUE WET THING. [ LAUGHTER ]
MAN #5: HERE WE ARE.
WOMAN #8: UNLOAD THE BUS. THE INSTRUMENTS -- WE'RE GONNA PULL THEM OFF ON THE LEFT SIDE.
JOHN MADDEN, DIRECTOR, MSU MARCHING BAND: WELCOME TO ANN ARBOR. LET'S HAVE A GOOD DAY, OKAY? WE'RE GONNA FOLLOW OUR GUIDE. WE'RE HEADING THAT WAY RIGHT NOW. SEE YOU WHEN WE GET OVER THERE. THERE'S THIS WHOLE THING ABOUT "THIS IS THE YEAR TO BEAT 'EM. I DON'T BUY THAT. I THINK EVERY YEAR IS THE YEAR TO BEAT 'EM.
MAN #5: WHOO! LET'S... GO!
[ WHISTLE BLOWS ]
MADDEN: DRESS CENTER, DRESS!
[ BAND PLAYING WARM-UP EXERCISES ]
MADDEN: THIS IS THE BEST I'VE FELT ABOUT A MICHIGAN GAME IN YEARS. IT'S A COOL DAY, BUT IT'S A LOT MORE FUN WHEN WE WIN.
MAN #9: A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT PROBABLY DON'T WANT TO SEE US. NEVER HAD 100,000 PEOPLE BOO ME BEFORE.
WOMAN #7: 100,000 PEOPLE -- THAT'S A LOT OF PEOPLE.
MAN #9: THE ATMOSPHERE, IT'S GONNA BE HYPE.
[ CHANTING ]
MAN #9: OH, I'M READY FOR THIS. I'VE BEEN WAITING FOR THIS FOREVER.
MAN #10: WE SHOULD HAVE WON THERE IN 2000. WE'RE GONNA WIN THERE THIS YEAR.
WOMAN #7: YOU JUST -- YOU TUNE IT ALL OUT, AND WE'RE THE ONLY ONES THERE.
MAN #10: GOING CRAZY WITH IT.
ALL: GO, STATE!
WOMAN#7: FROM THE OUTSIDE OF THE STADIUM, IT DOESN'T LOOK THAT BIG.
[ CHANTING ]
WOMAN #7: BUT ONCE YOU'RE IN IT, IT JUST LOOKS MASSIVE.
MAN #9: HOPEFULLY THERE WILL BE A LOT OF STATE FANS.
WOMAN #8: WE'RE IN LINE FOR A WIN.
WOMAN #9: YEAH.
WOMAN #8: OUR BAND JACKETS COULD USE A GOOD OLD WASHING.
WOMAN #9: GOOD OLD WASH, YEAH.
GAME ANNOUNCER: GOOD AFTERNOON, FOOTBALL FANS. PRESENTING THE SPARTAN MARCHING BAND.
MAN #9: WHEN WE GO OUT FOR PREGAME AND THEY BOO, I ACTUALLY LIKE IT.
WOMAN #8: IT'S FUN. IT PUMPS YOU UP, AND IT GETS YOU GOING.
[ CHANTING]
ALL: GO, STATE! GO, STATE!
MAN #9: I THINK IT'S GONNA BE A GOOD DAY FOR THE SPARTANS ALL AROUND.
ALL[CHANTING]: LET'S GO, STATE! LET'S GO, STATE!
[ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ]
MAN #11: FINISH THIS WIN!
MAN #12: HUH!
ALL[ CHANTING]: GO, STATE, GO! GO, STATE, GO! GO, STATE, GO!
[ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ]
ALL[CHANTING]: FIGHT, FIGHT! RIGHT, TEAM, FIGHT! VICTORY FOR MSU
[ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ]
MAN #13: IT'S A WIN, BABY, WIN!
WOMAN #9: I CRIED THE WHOLE, LIKE, LAST MINUTE WHEN THE CLOCK WAS COUNTING DOWN. I JUST HAD TEARS, LIKE, STREAMING DOWN MY FACE.
MAN #13: THIS IS THE GREATEST DAY OF MY LIFE!
MAN #14: FOR ME, IT WAS JUST LIKE -- IT WAS JUST MIND-BLOWING. IT WAS AMAZING.
MAN #15: OH, GOD! WHOO! YEAH!
ALL: YEAH!
WOMAN #10: YEAH! WHOO!
WOMAN #10: THERE'S NOTHING LIKE WINNING IN THE BIG HOUSE, BEING A SPARTAN.
MAN #16: IT'S JUST GREAT, YOU KNOW? GREAT DAY TO BE A SPARTAN.
[END]
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