Marching Knights
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The Marching Knights are the marching band of the University of Central Florida.
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[edit] Mission statement
“Students working together in a positive, self-reflective manner to produce a comfortable social setting, espirit de corps, a non-critical and educational playing environment, a humble and cooperative work area, a love for our university, and one of the best bands in the country.”
The Marching Knights are the largest and most visible student organization at the University of Central Florida. They are known for their high energy performances, unique and contemporary drill designs, and musical selections ranging from jazz, to pop, to classical. Members experience the thrill of performing for tens of thousands of fans alongside over 300 other outstanding performers at each home UCF football game and select away games, as well as any bowl games.
It is for this reason that the Marching Knights return year after year to contribute to "The Pride of Central Florida," and to march under the banner of Black and Gold. Above and beyond the rehearsals, performances, and exhibitions, words like Tradition and Pride ring clear in the ears of the Marching Knights. These words come only in part because of our performances, and are rooted deeply in our history.
The Marching Knights are proud of their humble beginnings, and are largely thankful to the efforts of two great men: Mr. Jerry Gardner & Troy Driggers. All the sweat, tears, long days, hard work, sacrifices, tragedies and triumphs come together on the field, be it at home or away, the crowd comes to their feet and cheers on the Marching Knights without hesitation. It is at this point it is then realized that it was all worth it. As UCF grows, so to does the reputation of the Marching Knights, “The Pride of Central Florida”, as one of the premier marching bands in the country
[edit] History
[edit] Founding
The Marching Knights were formed after the start of the football program in 1979. To begin implementation of the marching program, Mr. Jerry Gardner was hired as the first Director on July 1, 1980. With just under three months until the first game, seemingly endless amounts of work had to be done in order to establish the Marching Knights. Student Government helped by allocating $30,000 to fund the band. With this amount, instruments and other related equipment were purchased. In order to raise publicity, Mr. Gardner contacted the Orlando Sentinel to inform them of the new marching program. In response to this information, the Sentinel wrote a series of articles introducing the Knights to the community, as well as informing readers of the upcoming marching events. While these projects were going well, the most important project remained -- recruiting members. Since no previous marching roster existed, Mr. Gardner went through the file of every UCF student to see if they had any band/marching experience. All of the students who did were contacted and asked to join the inaugural year of the Marching Knights.
It was during this time that a young man named Troy Driggers came to Mr. Gardner and asked to be the drum major of the Marching Knights. Mr. Gardner held auditions and Troy and Ken DeBord became the first drum majors of the Marching Knights. This team of officers, along with a few friends, worked the entire summer to ensure that the Knights would be successful in the fall. Troy then assisted Mr. Gardner in going through the student files. When August and band camp arrived, the hard work of recruiting all summer had paid off. The Marching Knights consisted of 125 members, including a flag, rifle, majorette, and dance line. The first regular rehearsal of the Knights followed on September 22, 1980 at 8:00 AM. At this time, UCF was on the quarter system and the Knights rehearsed from 8:00 to 10:00 AM on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. Often sections would hold sectionals beginning at 7:00 AM.
After a week of practice, the Knights went to their first football game on September 27, 1980. Due to the lack of uniforms, (they did not have enough money), the band and auxiliary wore blue jeans and T-shirts for their pregame show and in the stands. Following this game, the Knights set out to learn their first half-time show and also to get "real" uniforms. Both events came together on November 8, 1980 -- UCF's Homecoming. "HIS" stores for men donated over $5,000 worth of black pants and gold shirts to the band, and the first half-time show was put on the field. The show featured the songs: "Triumph of the Titans," "Sweet Georgia Brown," "Crown Imperial," "You are the Sunshine of My Life," and "Love Will Keep us Together" -- thus, the Marching Knights tradition was born.
The next two years saw the creation of many new traditions and characteristics of the Marching Knights such as: Toes, Pregame, and Yoder Sweats. In addition, Kappa Kappa Psi and Tau Beta Sigma were established at UCF.
In the spring of 1982, the Knights held a fundraiser called "Bucks for the Band" to raise enough money to purchase uniforms. The idea worked and the Knights had their first true uniforms for the 1982 season. Besides the regular performances, the Marching Knights also participated in the Disney Tencennial, the Citrus Bowl Parade, and the Orlando Christmas Parade.
On August 5, 1982, Troy Driggers was killed in a car accident coming home from a DCI show. The news of the death of their friend and drum major stunned the entire band. In honor of Troy, the 1983 season was dedicated to Troy's memory and the entire band wore a pin on their uniform. Since then, the "Driggers' Pin" has become part of the Marching Knights lives and uniform.
In the fall of 1985, Mr. Gardner suffered a heart attack. He came through the crisis, but his doctor recommended that he no longer direct the Marching Knights.
[edit] 1980s
As a result of Mr. Gardner's heart attack, Roger Newburn was hired as the second Director of the Marching Knights in 1986. With this change in leadership, the size of the Knights declined to under 100. However, the spirit and enthusiasm of these years has stood out in the history of the Knights to this day. Mr. Newburn allowed some of the talented officers to write and teach the drill for many of the shows. In addition, the Knights changed initiation from only one night into a weeklong ceremony.
In the following year, which turned out to be Mr. Newburn's last, the Knights performed an exhibition at the FBA District Competition playing the infamous "NBC" theme.
In the summer of 1988, Dr. Greenwood was hired as the third Director of the Marching Knights. Since that year, the Marching Knights have evolved into a unique performance organization. The "Party Medley" show concept, a selection of popular tunes that won the affection of every audience, was introduced in 1989. To enhance the medley concept, the Knights would dress up in various costumes to match the theme of the show they performed. This type of dynamic entertainment has caused the Marching Knights to be caught dressed in outfits ranging from beach wear to the Wild West in an effort to provide innovative, entertaining, and popular shows. Also in 1989, the Marching Knights were invited to participate in the "Disney Very Merry Christmas Parade" which was aired internationally in 1990.
[edit] 1990s
In an effort to keep pace with the success and growth of the football team, recruiting was stepped up in 1991. Beginning in the spring, a group was formed called the Summer Knights. This was an ultra-hip, high-energy show band consisting of 23 members of the Knights. The Summer Knights toured schools in West Florida in order to inform students about the music program and UCF as a whole. Since that time, recruiting efforts have brought the size of the Knights up to their largest membership ever.
For the 1991 marching season, the Knights experienced a "rebirth" with new uniforms, instruments, and music. Even "Sherman", the beloved instrument/equipment truck, received a face-lift for the season. In addition, "The Accolade" was enhanced and the Knights Alumni Band Association was formed to increase Alumni awareness and involvement in the Marching Knights. The band received rave reviews for their participation as the official band of the WALT DISNEY WORLD 20th ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION. The Knights were seen by millions of people on live television at that event.
In the 1992 and 1993 seasons, Disney asked the MK's back to do the world premier parade for ALADDIN at MGM studios, and the KID'S DAY PARADE at Epcot Center (with individuals such as Sinbad and Michael Eisner in attendance.)
Nathan A. Phillips died during the period. That year a blue ribbon was added to the black and gold ribbons of the “Drigger's Pin” to honor him in life and death as a part of the Marching Knights. A Membership Candidate of Kappa Kappa Psi at the time, he was honored further by being made an honorary brother. Even today many Marching Knights will be found with these Black/Gold/Blue pins in memory of their fallen comrades.
In 1996, the Knights entered a new era. Division I-A was now a reality. Again, Disney invited the MK's to be a part of the 25th ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION, clearly one of the biggest events in Central Florida.
Also that year, the band traveled to Georgia Tech. It was the Marching Knights' first game against a 1-A opponent as a 1-A Band. That particular halftime show consisted of parts from the "Motown Show," and concluded with "When A Man Loves A Woman". While it was a benchmark in the young group's history, the greatest achievement of that trip was yet to come.
While in Atlanta, the MK's attended the Bands of America South Eastern Finals at the Georgia Dome. That night was to be an exhibition of what college band is all about. In the previous 18 years, no performance could equal the energy, intensity, or result that the BOA performance did. An arrangement by Mr. Wayne Downey for the Blue Devils, "When A Man Loves A Woman" became the culmination of all the hopes, dreams, expectations, soul, energy, blood, sweat, and tears of the Marching Knights. The final push that brought the Knights off of the field also brought the attending high school bands, parents, directors, judges...all that were witness, to rise to their feet in awe and excitement. The power, precision, and skill displayed ascended the Knights to a new level of being. There was no question about it. The Marching Knights had redefined what the Collegiate Marching Ensemble was all about. The precedent had been set. The Marching Knights had arrived.
Continuing the tradition of excellence set by the performance in Atlanta, the MK's performed in front of what may have been the biggest football crowd in their history. On November 7, 1998 the MK's traveled to Auburn, Alabama to cheer on the Golden Knights. This was Auburn's homecoming and the game was sold out with over 84 thousand people in attendance. The Marching Knights halftime performance brought the crowd to their feet and their hands together as the MK's show awed the fans humbled by our field presence. The ovation from the crowd lasted for what seemed like an eternity, and the crowd was a buzz for the rest of the halftime festivities over the band's performance.
Also in ‘98 the BOA Performance from ‘96 came back to reward the MK's. Bands of America decided to move the South East Regional Championships to Orlando, and the MK's were asked to be the host band. This meant that the MK's ran most of the event as staff and performed an exhibition show, again bringing the attending high schools and all others to their feet.
1999 brought the MK's what seemed to be a very daunting task. On September 11, the Golden Knights traveled to Gainesville, Florida and the Swamp to take on the Florida Gators for the first time in school history. The MK's were extremely excited about performing in such a famous venue, but they were not prepared for what would happen that night. The Florida fans had a reputation for being disinterested in the other team, which is to say nothing for the band. Some fans heckled the band before they took the field, but those jeers quickly turned to cheers as the Marching Knights did what few other bands had done before them, and none have done in recent years. At the conclusion of the show, the Gator fans rose to their feet and gave the Marching Knights a thunderous standing ovation that had for years before been reserved only for the team wearing the Orange and Blue. By the admittance of many Gators in the stands, no other visiting band had received such an ovation from the UF crowd. The Marching Knights left their mark in ‘the Swamp' and traveled on the shoulders of gods, and still strived to be greater.
Following that performance, the MK's returned to Atlanta Georgia, the town that they had placed their signature on only a few years before, on a special invitation from Georgia Tech. Following the bands performance in ‘96, they were immediately invited and encourage to return the next time the two schools met on the football field, and they did not disappoint their hosts.
In '99 the MK's once again hosted the South East Regional Championships of BOA, helping in running the event and performing for the attending High School bands.
[edit] The New Millennium
August 2000 kicked off the 20th year of the Pride of Central Florida. As usual, the season felt like it ended before it even began - but with many emotional highs and a lifetime of memories made along the way. The upper-class members formed a pep band, returning to Georgia Tech in early September. The Golden Knights led the game but were defeated in the final minutes giving the fans and band simply another moral victory.
The Marching Knights returned to the city beautiful and regrouped to thrill home crowds with a mix of disco, Beatles, Latin sounds, and, of course, the Marching Knights' classic, the Motown Show. October 14, the University of Central Florida and Yamaha presented Trumpet Day 2000. Over 60 high school trumpeters from around Florida joined the Marching Knights in playing a variety of tunes. Also on the field was renowned trumpeter, Vince DiMartino, who thrilled crowds with solos and features in true Marching Knight fashion.
On October 28 the Marching Knights in full traveled to Alabama for their homecoming game against UCF. UCF was supposed to be the "easy homecoming win" for Alabama, just as LA-Monroe had been to UCF the week earlier (55-0 Knights). However, after Georgia Tech the fans and seemingly the UCF football team had had enough "moral victories", and on October 28 UCF scored its first Division-I major upset over Alabama. This was a historical day for Knight fans everywhere, including the Marching Knights. The Marching Knights once again received the thrill of performing for an 80,000+ crowd and were well-received by Alabama's Million Dollar Band.
After a few weeks off, UCF's final game approached. What might-as-well have been a bowl game, UCF hosted Virginia Tech (ranked in the Top 10) in the Citrus Bowl. As the Marching Knights ran onto the field for pregame, they had an unbelievable experience. The "Fill The Bowl" campaign had paid off as a record number crowd of 50,220 stood up and cheered for the 200 Marching Knights. The Marching Knights went on to present their 2000 Best-Of Show featuring the selections: Pictures of Spain, Fire Dance, Robin Hood, and tunes from the Motown Show to the largest home crowd ever. To heighten the experience, the Marching Knights presented to the crowd their new uniforms which received rave reviews from Alumni, Marching Knights, and fans alike.
In 2001, the Marching Knights began their season by performing at the UCF Black and Gold classic. This scrimmage game was also an opportunity for the 2001 band to gain experience performing in front of a crowd. This would prove necessary as the tragic events of September 11 caused the first performance to take place on the road at the Superdome in New Orleans. Performing their Santana show, the Marching Knights received excellent exposure during their halftime show on Sunshine Network.
Four year Marching Knight and #REDIRECT Starlet Knights Dance captain Sandra Schaal was honored as the 2001 UCF homecoming queen. This was the third year in a row that the Marching Knights had representation on the UCF homecoming court.
After not seeing a visiting band in over two seasons, the Marching Knights graciously welcomed the UAB Marching Blazers and the University of Louisiana at Lafayette Ragin' Cajun band into the City Beautiful and shared the field at halftime with the two excellent ensembles.
2002 didn't only bring a new band to the Citrus Bowl, but also new rivals as UCF began its first season in the Mid-American Conference. The Marching Knights started off the season by bringing a pep band to Penn State for UCF's season opener on ESPN. Before the month of September would end the MK's would perform the classic "PARTY Show" in the Citrus Bowl, in Huntington, West Virginia (UCF vs. Marshall - ESPN2), and at their first NFL exhibition as they accepted an invitation to perform during halftime at a Jacksonville Jaguars game. The excitement lasted all season as the Marching Knights also performed at the Florida Bandmaster Association district festival. To top off a full season ended with a visit from Ohio University's Marching 110 and the installation of a new scoreboard with a full-sized video screen to catch the action of both bands.
The 2003 season started earlier than usual as a representative ensemble traveled to Eskjo, Sweden to perform in the world-renowned festival, Tattoo.
"280!" This number echoed through the Rehearsal Hall and the practice field as the directors and staff continuously updated their rosters to account for the record numbers of new members (144) and returning Knights.
UCF then sent another ensemble, this time comprised of all returning Marching Knights, to Virginia Tech for UCF's first game of the season. The full band would later travel to Athens, Ohio to perform in the stands for the UCF vs. Ohio game. While the band couldn't do a field show due to OU's Homecoming festivities, they were the exhibition band at a local high school contest where they received a standing ovation after performing the Classic Rock Show.
On November 8, the Marching Knights made a final road trip to St. Petersburg to perform at the Bands of America regional high school competition.
The 2003 repertoire included a Patriotic show, The Rock Show, and a Country Medley (complete with line dancing).
The season ended atypically with Wednesday and Friday games. In addition, the Marching Knights' banquet also tried a new setting and was held on the practice field instead of the Pegasus Ballroom. The catered picnic and awards ceremony was a huge success.
2007 SEASON
The 2007 season began with the inauguration of the on campus stadium - by far the highlight of the year to regular students and band members alike. The newfound excitement that came with the Bright House Networks stadium was empowering to fans, the band, and especially the football team, which shared a great winning season with the band. 2007 also saw another record amount of members -300- enrolled. Show one, which opened the stadium, sung of Disney's Millennium Celebration. The band's musicality, professionalism , and performance reach a new level once again under the direction of Ron Ellis and head drum major Jason D'Amico (a very handsome drum major). The football team were Conference USA Champions that year and won a slot in the Auto Zone Liberty Bowl. Kevin Smith broke the record of rushing yards of ANY Florida University. The bowl game called for a full band trip by bus to end the amazing season.
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