Everyone is well aware of the Auburn University Marching Band, but we don't always recognize the range of its impact on the university and its athletics. Not only does the AUMB create an electric atmosphere in the student section and perform at halftime of every football game but it also provides the soundtrack for many of your favorite Auburn events.
The Auburn University Marching Band was founded in 1897 as a drum corps for military exercises. It was eventually transformed into an official instrumental band by the first director M. Thomas Fullman. They raised money from local businesses, students and donors to order instruments and start hosting official practices.
Over 125 years later, the AUMB is a staple of home football games, playing at the fan-favorite Tiger Walk, setting up the stadium for the team's entrance and playing the iconic halftime show. The band, currently under the leadership of Dr. Corey Spurlin, boasts 380 members consisting of students from colleges across the University.
The band plays at home games and travels with the Auburn football team to each of its away games, having recently performed in the 2011 and 2014 BCS National Titles, as well as the SEC championship games in 2010, 2013 and 2017.
Most collegiate bands, like AUMB, are so synonymous with their football atmosphere that their performance can go unnoticed, but without them, the games and excitement around them would lose their tone.
The Tigers open every home game with AUMB coming out of the tunnel to build upon the energy and create an atmosphere that makes attendees ready for an Auburn football game. They remain on the field and serve as the first greeting for the Tigers, as the players exit the tunnel.
AUMB not only opens each game but also closes it with the playing of the alma mater, creating a nice wind down following a matchup.
Take one of the most popular sports video games of all time, College Football by EA Sports, as an example of how much a band truly contributes to an atmosphere. The video game creators valued the band's impact on the sport of college football so much that when you open the newest iteration of the game, “College Football 26,” you hear none other than the AUMB playing the opening title, as well as being the recording for in-game play and background atmosphere.
Following the featuring in the video game "College Football 26," AUMB performed a special half-time show during the Georgia night game, where they had lights incorporated into their uniforms, which displayed the EA Sports logo and the company slogan “It’s in the Game.”
AUMB sets the tone in Jordan-Hare Stadium and beyond, so next time you attend a kickoff, be sure to appreciate the band, because they help make Auburn football what we know and love each fall Saturday.
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Reid is a sophomore majoring in accounting. He joined the Plainsman in the fall of 2024.
You can follow him on X (Twitter) at @ReidFarris2
