MEMPHIS, Tenn. — While all of the madness of March brews in the Bluff City, The University of Memphis band was able to lend a hand to a school 1,000 miles away.
When Colgate won the Patriot league in March, earning their automatic bid for the NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament, the preparations for their trip to Memphis immediately began. However, as the round one date neared, a problem arose.
The Colgate women’s hockey team advanced to the Frozen Four in New Hampshire and would play on the same day as the men’s basketball team’s first round matchup against Baylor, in Memphis.
The small school of around 3,000 students could only send their pep band to one event. With a difficult decision to make, Colgate decided to send the band east to the Granite State for the Frozen Four.
Without a band for the men’s tournament game, the university called the one man who could save them; Will Plenk, the director of athletic bands for the University of Memphis.
“So, we heard from our colleagues in marketing that they were looking for a band," Plenk said. "So, we just happened to be available and had students who wanted to do it so that is how it came together.”
Plenk gathered his eager band members, and the squad learned the Colgate fight song the morning of the game.
With trombones and clarinets at the ready, the band played the newly learned song perfectly.
“Honestly it was a bit of a surprise but honestly any opportunity we get to show off our skills and play for a school," University of Memphis band member Justin Ignalig said. "It is always a great opportunity and I’m very grateful.”
The group even inspired some of the Colgate players.
"It was fantastic," Colgate forward Sam Thomas said. "The energy they brought into the arena was fantastic. Our own coaching staff tunred around and said, 'what is going on, this is unbelievable.' It was fantastic, they played the songs great. I think it helped to bring a little something into the game. The guys were super excited. It was great to have that representation of a band out on the court."
Even though there were a few slip ups in the vocabulary, the Mighty Sound of the South stepped up in the midst of the madness of March.
“We sort of slipped up, we said Tigers a few times," Ignalig said. "But it is always a great opportunity to support any team that we can.”
Despite the support from the Might Sound of the South, No. 3 seed Baylor cruised to 92-67 victory over No. 14 seed Colgate.