When the sun rises above Jordan-Hare Stadium on home game Saturdays, most Auburn fans are still asleep.
But not the marching band.
By 6 a.m. the Auburn University Marching Band is already hard at work preparing for the full day ahead.
A day in the life of a band member begins with a two-hour practice Saturday morning, depending on the kickoff time.
"If we have an 11 a.m. game, then our students are out there as soon as the sun is up," said marching band director Corey Spurlin.
During these rehearsals, the band polishes up its pregame and halftime shows and pump themselves up for the game.
"The hype for me really starts the moment we end rehearsal with a giant Alma Mater and 'War Eagle,'" said trumpet section leader Ben Elgan.
According to Elgan, the band is just as excited as the football team.
"(The excitement) builds all throughout game day when we perform for Gus and the team during Tiger Walk and carries through the rest of the event," Elgan said.
While the band is practicing, the band service fraternity Kappa Kappa Psi prepares the stadium for the game.
"Work crews at the stadium will ice all the drinks down into big trash cans, organize the granola bars, put the drum major podium out and make sure our seats are roped off appropriately," Spurlin said.
According to Spurlin, the work crews at the stadium make sure the band does not have to worry about anything.
"They take care of anything we have in place when the band marches through the gate," Sparlin said.
After practice, members have a chance to eat and check their uniforms before the game.
The service sorority Tau Beta Sigma oversees all the uniforms and makes any last minute fixes members may need.
Once the band is in the stadium, it makes its way to the tunnel and prepares to jog onto the field and begin the game.
"You get a huge rush of adrenaline jogging out under the lights in front of a sold-out stadium of Tiger fans," Elgan said. "It's seriously intense and definitely my favorite pre-game moment."
Throughout the game, the band is constantly preforming, even off the field.
According to Spurlin, band members are not allowed to visit the concession stands to make sure there are no holes in their section and to look as clean and orderly as possible.
"Everything we do is a performance," Spurlin said. "People are coming to see that spectacle, and they expect a certain level of decorum, behavior and ambassadorship."
After the game, members have Sunday off to focus on school work before the week of practicing begins.
To prepare for games, the band meets Tuesdays through Fridays in the afternoon to rehearse.
Drum major Annie Scibetta said balancing school with band helps members learn the importance of time management.
Scibetta also said she will be able to use the skills she has learned in marching band throughout her life.
"I have learned much more than just time management through marching band," Scibetta said. "The level of commitment and high standards of the program have taught me practical skills that I can take with me wherever I go in the future."
According to Spurlin, band members major in an array of subjects from every school on Auburn's campus.
Spurlin said that is something they pride themselves on.
"We are trying to teach them to be good professionals," Spurlin said. "We are teaching them a process that over a long term, you are going to improve every day."
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