Talk:Hawkeye Marching Band

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"During the mid-twentieth century, the band adopted a very militaristic style of marching. Marchers were expected to march with crack precision and the band's director during that time, Frederick C. Ebbs, eliminated any flags or twirlers that the band had used up to that point."

To describe the band's marching style during the Ebbs era as "very militaristic" is inaccurate and borders on pejorative. What military units use the high step? Precision was certainly emphasized, and the style continued through Frank Piersol's and Tom Davis' years. Charles Righter was replaced as director by Fred Ebbs at the instigation of Iowa's head football coach, Forest Eveshevski, who wanted a snappier style similar to that of the Ohio State University band. Ebbs, coming from Massillon, Ohio, a perennial high school football power, provided exactly that. Ebbs was hired away from Iowa by Indiana University; Piersol was then hired by Iowa from Iowa State.

The HMB, under Ebbs, also inaugurated a new style in band uniforms with new ones purchased for the 1959 Rose Bowl appearance. These consisted of a tuxedo-style black jacket with black trousers. This basic outfit served for concerts of the Symphony Band. When used by the HMB, the jacket was covered by an "overlay" of white and gold with black trim (white background on the front side down to the waist; gold background on the back halfway to the knees).