SoundSlide, above, by Tim Marsh. See video by Tim Marsh here.
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It’s not an overstatement. Don Hower runs the WSU Cougar Marching Band (CMB) with military precision. After all, the CMB director is a former U.S. Army band musician.
In the fall, Hower – at WSU since 1991 – directs the CMB student musicians in the stands during football games and on the field before and during home game halftimes at Martin Stadium. In men’s and women’s basketball seasons, some CMB members make up the Cougar Pep Band performing in Beasley Coliseum.
Coaches stress teamwork and set goals for their athletic teams. Likewise, Hower “coaches” his team. For example, “Gotta have goals for every game,” he says.
Hower writes goals on a dry-erase whiteboard and shows the goals to his musicians before they start playing, typically about a half-hour before home basketball game tip-offs.
During Cougar home basketball games, you will hear the pep band play a variety of tunes, including, most likely, Hower’s top 5:
1. WSU Fight Song: “It’s the number one favorite. Usually when we play it, the Cougars have made a basket, or a touchdown in football, or have won the game. The crowd gets into it through their hand clapping and singing.”
2. Next song: “With exception of the WSU Fight Song, my favorite is always the next song we’re going to play.”
3. Takin’ It to the Streets: “I’m a big Doobie Brothers fan, so it has to be on the list.”
4. Louie, Louie: “It has long been a favorite with the band. I like it because of the ‘horn flashes,’ and we sound good playing it.”
5. Land of 1,000 Dances: “This is another tune that we play well, plus it has some movement with it. The band clearly enjoys it.”
SoundSlide photos were taken before and during the Jan. 14 Cal at WSU men’s basketball game. At the game, Jon Conrad, graduate teaching assistant in music, recorded the band playing, “Takin’ it to the Streets,” a 1976 hit for the Doobie Brothers.