The Pride of the South

The Pride of the South
The Pride of the South
	The Pride of the South during the 2021 season.
School	The University of Mississippi
Location	Oxford, Mississippi, USA
Conference	Southeastern Conference
Founded	1924
Director	David Willson
Associate Director	Randy Dale
Assistant Director	Mel Morse
Members	300+
Fight song	"Forward Rebels"

Last updated November 05, 2022

The Pride of the South is the name of the marching band at The University of Mississippi in Oxford, Mississippi. The full band plays at all Ole Miss home football games, and a smaller pep band is sent to most away games. The full band also travels to Ole Miss bowl games and Starkville, Mississippi when Mississippi State University hosts the Egg Bowl. The University of Mississippi Band has been giving outstanding performances in concert and in support of Ole Miss athletic events since it was organized in 1924. In addition to performing at all home football games and many away games, the marching band has attended numerous bowl games including the Sugar Bowl, the Gator Bowl, the Liberty Bowl, the Independence Bowl, the Peach Bowl, the Cotton Bowl, and more recently the Motor City Bowl in 1997, the Music City Bowl in 2000, the Independence Bowl in 1998, 1999 and 2002, the Cotton Bowl in 2004, 2009 and 2010, the Chick-fil-a Classic in 2014, the Peach Bowl in 2014, the Chick-fil-a Kick Off Game in 2021, and the Sugar Bowl in 2016 and 2022.

Ensembles

In addition to the Marching Band, there are four pep bands formed out of "The Pride of the South". These pep bands perform for numerous functions, such as the Walk of Champions, before each home game.

Another branch of the Ole Miss Band is the Ole Miss Basketball Band. The Basketball Band supports both Rebel Basketball teams at all home games after football season, as well as traveling to the SEC and NCAA tournaments annually. This group also performs at volleyball games throughout the year.

The Ole Miss Drumline also performs for Ole Miss Soccer Games.

During the spring semester, the Pride of the South splits into four concert bands: the wind ensemble, the symphonic band, the concert band, and the university band.

History

By as early as 1924, the UM Band was a small organization under the leadership of a selected student Director. The band was participating in football games, home and away, by the 1926 season. The Daily Mississippian reported that the group traveled by train to cheer on the team.

^[1] In 1928, Chancellor Alfred Hume appointed Roy Coats as the university's first Director of Bands with faculty status. Coats’ initial marching band used instruments, uniforms, and equipment donated by the National Guard. Not until 1934 did the Rebel Band own full-dress uniforms, purchased with funds solicited by the general student body.

The UM Rebel Band performed at the 1958 World Music Festival in Kerkrade, Holland; they won first place with distinction in concert and marching competitions. That same year, the Rebel Band was invited by Jules Farber, U.S. Representative of the World's Fair in Brussels, Belgium. The band traveled to Europe again in the summer of 1966 with the Concert Singers and selected theatre students. While on the Music Theatre Abroad program, they studied and performed at some of the world's leading cultural centers.

The Rebel Band has performed numerous times on Regional and National Television and has officially represented the University of Mississippi at Gubernatorial and Presidential Inaugurations. The university's Wind Ensemble has performed on tour throughout Mississippi and was the guest performer of the Mississippi Bandmaster Association Clinics in 1988, 2002 and 2010. The Ole Miss Wind Ensemble was invited to perform at the College Band Directors National Association Southern Regional Conference in 1988.

The Ole Miss Band comprises students from diverse courses of study such as Pre-Med, Criminal Justice, Engineering, Political Science, Journalism and countless others. The Pride of the South offers competitive scholarships for students of every major in the university, contingent upon funding. In 2010 Ole Miss hosted the College Band Directors National Association Southern Regional Conference, where both the Wind Ensemble and Symphonic Bands performed.

Directors

Name	Years
Roy Coats	1928–1936
Michael Whitfield	1936–1946
Paul Page	1946-1949
E.F. Yerby	1949–1950
Charles V. Mangurean	1950–1952
Lyle Babcock	1952–1966
Jim Ferguson	1966–1969
Bailey Jarvis	1969– 1971
Luther Snavely	1971– 1987
Tom Waggoner	1987– 1991
David Wilson	1991-present

School songs

Grove Routine: Prior to every home game the Pride of the South gathers behind the grove stage and performs the grove routine. The grove routine includes Mr. Willson's Warm-Up/Hype Chorale, Rebel March (Forward Rebels), Dixie, R-E-B-S, Rock and Roll (The Hey Song), and From Dixie With Love.

Fight song ("The Rebel March") lyrics

Forward Rebels, march to fame, Hit that line, and win this game, We know that you'll fight it through, For your colors Red and Blue—Rah, Rah, Rah.
Rebels you're the Southland's pride, Take that ball and hit your stride, Don't stop til the victory's won, For your Ole Miss. Fight, fight for your Ole Miss.

Alma mater

Written by Mrs. A. W. Khale and her husband in 1925.

Way down south in Mississippi, There's a spot that ever calls
Where among the hills enfolded. Stand Old Alma Mater's Halls.
Where the trees lift high their branches, To the whisp’ring southern breeze.
There is Ole Miss calling, calling, To our hearts fond memories.
With united hearts we praise thee, All our loyalty is thine,
And we hail thee, Alma Mater, may thy light forever shine;
May it brighter grow and brighter, And with deep affection true,
Our thoughts shall ever cluster ‘round thee, Dear Old Red and Blue.
My thy fame throughout the nation, Through thy sons and daughters grow,
May thy name forever waken, In our hearts a tender glow,
May thy counsel and thy spirit, Ever keep us one in this,
That our own shall be thine honor, Now and ever dear Ole Miss.

Related Research Articles

"Hail! Minnesota" is the regional anthem of the U.S. state of Minnesota. A variation is used as a school song of the University of Minnesota. It originated at the university in the early 20th century when some students decided to honor their graduating class with a new song. In 1945, the Minnesota State Legislature approved the tune as the state song.

The Egg Bowl is the name given to the Mississippi State–Ole Miss football rivalry. It is an American college football rivalry game played annually between Southeastern Conference members Mississippi State University and Ole Miss.

Vaught–Hemingway Stadium at Hollingsworth Field is an outdoor athletic stadium located in University, Mississippi, United States. The stadium serves as the home for the University of Mississippi Rebels college football team. The stadium is named after Johnny Vaught and Judge William Hemingway. Since its expansion in 2016, it is the largest stadium in the state of Mississippi with a capacity of 64,038 and also holds the state record for attendance at 66,176.

The Ole Miss Rebels are the 18 men's and women's intercollegiate athletic teams that are funded by and represent the University of Mississippi, located in Oxford. The first was the football team, which began play in 1893.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Holy Cross Goodtime Marching Band</span>

Formed in 1845, the Holy Cross Crusaders Marching Band (HCMB) is one of the oldest organizations at The College of the Holy Cross in Worcester, Massachusetts, USA, and one of the oldest college bands in the United States. The Crusaders Marching Band first began performing at football games in 1910 and the band's role has expanded significantly since to include other athletic appearances, performing at all home football games, selected away games, in exhibition at high school band competitions, and at various events throughout the country. In the spring, the marching band converts into the Holy Cross Crusader Pep Band and plays at all home basketball games, and travels with the teams to the NCAA tournament. The Marching Band performs at Fitton Field while the Pep Band plays in the Hart Center.

Minnesota March is a march for wind band written by John Philip Sousa for the University of Minnesota. The piece was one of four marches written by Sousa expressly for a university. It is now used as one of the university's school songs, with lyrics written in 1927 by university band director Michael Jalma. The piece is regularly performed by the University of Minnesota Marching Band and pep bands and often sung by students at various athletic events and ceremonies.

The University of Minnesota Marching Band is the marching band of the University of Minnesota and the flagship university band for the state of Minnesota. The Pride of Minnesota serves as an ambassador for the university, representing the school at major events both on and off campus. The band performs before, during, and after all home Golden Gopher football games and bowl games, occasional away games, local parades, numerous pepfests, exhibition performances, as well as a series of indoor concerts at the end of the regular football season. Members of the band, along with non-member students, also participate in smaller athletic pep bands that perform at other major sporting events, including men's hockey, men's basketball, women's hockey, women's basketball, and women's volleyball.

The "Penn State Alma Mater" is the official alma mater of The Pennsylvania State University. The song was accepted by the university in 1901.

The Kansas State University Marching Band, also known as "The Pride of Wildcat Land" or just The Pride, is a 400+ piece marching band consisting of woodwinds, brass, percussion, color guard, dancers, and twirlers. It is the official band of Kansas State University.

The Ole Miss Rebels football program represents the University of Mississippi, also known as "Ole Miss". The Rebels compete in the Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) and the Western Division of the Southeastern Conference (SEC). As of 2021, the team is coached by Lane Kiffin. The Rebels play their home games at Vaught–Hemingway Stadium on the university's campus in Oxford, Mississippi.

The Thunder of the East is the marching band of the University at Buffalo in the State University of New York system. UB's first marching band was created in 1920, and disbanded in 1927. It was revived in 1946, increasing in size and reputation until about 1970. It was known as "The Pride of the East." At that time, it was dissolved upon UB's departure from Division I athletics. In 1981, some UB students continued the tradition of playing music at UB's home football and basketball games by forming UB's Pep Band. In anticipation of UB's return to Division I athletics, a marching band was formed in 1999 and named, "Thunder of the East." The band debuted at the University at Buffalo Stadium on September 11, 1999. The Thunder of the East is currently led by James E. Mauck; and performs at UB's Buffalo Bulls home football games, as well as in other musical venues.

The University of Cincinnati Bearcat Bands make up the university's athletic band program and are distinct and separate from the College Conservatory of Music. The Bearcat Bands serve as both an academic class and a student group as an independent department within the Division of Student Affairs.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">University of Pittsburgh Alma Mater</span>

The alma mater of the University of Pittsburgh was adopted soon after the University changed its name in 1908 from the Western University of Pennsylvania to its current moniker. Lyrics were written by George M. P. Baird, class of 1909 and were set to the tune of what was then the Austrian National Anthem. A new tune for the "Alma Mater" hymn was composed by Charles W. Scovel, class of 1883, but it was not widely adopted and was either lost or became obscure.

Central Davidson High School is a public high school in Lexington, North Carolina. Central was established in 1957 and is located along NC HWY 47. It is part of the Davidson County Schools system and serves parts of the Lexington, Southmont, Linwood, Hedrick's Grove and Holly Grove areas. The school is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools.

Coronation Ode, Op. 44 is a work composed by Edward Elgar for soprano, alto, tenor and bass soloists, chorus and orchestra, with words by A. C. Benson.

The Grove is the tailgating area located at the center of the University of Mississippi campus. It is approximately 10 acres (4.0 ha) in size. The Grove takes its name from "the oak, elm and magnolia trees surrounding the area".

The Pride of the Mountains is the marching band of Western Carolina University. The band performs pre-game, halftime, and post-game shows at all Catamount Football home games and provides exhibition performances throughout the Carolinas. Unlike most college marching bands, the Pride of the Mountains designs, creates, and performs one perfected halftime show other than doing different performances every week.

The Band of Pride (BOP) is the official marching band which represents Louisiana Tech University in Ruston, Louisiana. The Band of Pride performs pregame and during halftime at all Louisiana Tech Bulldogs football games, and travels to select road football games. Auditions are held throughout the academic year as scheduled for the upcoming Fall Quarter.

The Clemson University Tiger Band serves as the Marching Band, Color Guard, Tiger Dancers and Tiger Twirlers of Clemson University. The marching band component of the band is made up of wind instruments, percussion, and auxiliary units, including the piccolo, clarinet, alto saxophone, tenor saxophone, trumpet, horn, trombone, baritone, and sousaphone. To the thousands of fans, it is known as the Tiger Band, or better yet the "band that shakes the Southland". Composed of over 300 members, Tiger Band's mission is to provide inspiring spirit and entertainment to not only the university, but beyond.

"From Dixie with Love", also known as "Slow Dixie", is an American song combining elements of "Dixie" and the "Battle Hymn of the Republic". It was created and predominantly performed as the fight song at the University of Mississippi. In 2009, the Chancellor Dan Jones requested the university's The Pride of the South marching band stop playing "From Dixie with Love" at university sports events. According to some alumni and current students, it is now banned from being played in public. This has not been independently confirmed.

References

↑ University of Mississippi, "The Ole Miss" (1925). The Ole Miss Annual (1897–2013). 29. https://egrove.olemiss.edu/yearbooks/29

This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.

[1] University of Mississippi, "The Ole Miss" (1925). The Ole Miss Annual (1897–2013). 29. https://egrove.olemiss.edu/yearbooks/29

[1]

v t e Ole Miss Rebels football
Venues	Vaught–Hemingway Stadium (1915–present) Mississippi Veterans Memorial Stadium (alternate, 1941–96)
Bowls & rivalries	Bowl games Alabama Arkansas Auburn LSU: Magnolia Bowl Memphis Mississippi State: Egg Bowl (Golden Egg) Tulane Vanderbilt
Culture & lore	History Billy Cannon's Halloween run Colonel Reb Rebel Black Bear Tony the Landshark "Forward Rebels" The Pride of the South The Grove The Blind Side
People	Head coaches NFL draftees Statistical leaders
Seasons	1893 1894 1895 1896 1897 1898 1899 1900 1901 1902 1903 1904 1905 1906 1907 1908 1909 1910 1911 1912 1913 1914 1915 1916 1917 1918 1919 1920 1921 1922 1923 1924 1925 1926 1927 1928 1929 1930 1931 1932 1933 1934 1935 1936 1937 1938 1939 1940 1941 1942 1943 1944 1945 1946 1947 1948 1949 1950 1951 1952 1953 1954 1955 1956 1957 1958 1959 1960 1961 1962 1963 1964 1965 1966 1967 1968 1969 1970 1971 1972 1973 1974 1975 1976 1977 1978 1979 1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022
National championship seasons in bold

v t e Ole Miss Rebels men's basketball
Venues	Old Gym (1929–1966) Tad Smith Coliseum (1966–2015) The Sandy and John Black Pavilion at Ole Miss (2016–present)
Culture & lore	Tony the Landshark "Forward Rebels" Ole Miss Pep Band "The Shot" Howell Trophy
People	Head coaches Statistical leaders
Seasons	1908–09 1909–10 1910–11 1911–12 1912–13 1913–14 1914–15 1915–16 1916–17 1917–18 1918–19 1919–20 1920–21 1921–22 1922–23 1923–24 1924–25 1925–26 1926–27 1927–28 1928–29 1929–30 1930–31 1931–32 1932–33 1933–34 1934–35 1935–36 1936–37 1937–38 1938–39 1939–40 1940–41 1941–42 1942–43 1943–44 1944–45 1945–46 1946–47 1947–48 1948–49 1949–50 1950–51 1951–52 1952–53 1953–54 1954–55 1955–56 1956–57 1957–58 1958–59 1959–60 1960–61 1961–62 1962–63 1963–64 1964–65 1965–66 1966–67 1967–68 1968–69 1969–70 1970–71 1971–72 1972–73 1973–74 1974–75 1975–76 1976–77 1977–78 1978–79 1979–80 1980–81 1981–82 1982–83 1983–84 1984–85 1985–86 1986–87 1987–88 1988–89 1989–90 1990–91 1991–92 1992–93 1993–94 1994–95 1995–96 1996–97 1997–98 1998–99 1999–2000 2000–01 2001–02 2002–03 2003–04 2004–05 2005–06 2006–07 2007–08 2008–09 2009–10 2010–11 2011–12 2012–13 2013–14 2014–15 2015–16 2016–17 2017–18 2018–19 2019–20 2020–21 2021–22 2022–23

v t e Marching bands of the Southeastern Conference
East Division	The Pride of the Sunshine (Florida) Georgia Redcoat Marching Band (Georgia) Wildcat Marching Band (Kentucky) Marching Mizzou (Missouri) Mighty Sound of the Southeast (South Carolina) Pride of the Southland Band (Tennessee) Spirit of Gold Marching Band (Vanderbilt)
West Division	Million Dollar Band (Alabama) Razorback Marching Band (Arkansas) Auburn University Marching Band (Auburn) Louisiana State University Tiger Marching Band (LSU) Famous Maroon Band (Mississippi State) The Pride of the South (Ole Miss) Fightin' Texas Aggie Band (Texas A&M)