1) Pick the pep band that has the wackiest/ugliest/goofiest uniforms! See Indiana University and their 5 National Championships in 38 NCAA Tournament appearances. Those unis are just…well….how do you say it? This is science people! If you think a pep band has cute uniforms, don’t pick them. Sorry IU, we know it’s tradition, but damn those unis are ugly. Since Indiana is out of the big dance this year we suggest you go with the fun and crazy outfits that will be worn by the Dayton Flyers or Notre Dame Band. Don’t forget it will be St. Patrick’s Day this weekend and Notre Dame will be dressed to impress! Could the luck of the Irish hit hard on St Patty’s Day sending them to the Sweet 16 this year?
2) Does the pep band director dress and dance like a rockstar? See the George Mason Green Machine. Doc Nix joined in 2006, the fall after they went to the Final Four. They have returned to the Dance twice under his watch. Coincidence? I think not. While George Mason is out of the big dance this year we expect Doc Nix to make it back to the center stage of March Madness soon. Other Directors to keep an eye on, David Plack at FSU. He may be the most diehard FSU sports fan we know and provides a ton of energy into the Seminole Sound.
3) Love other sports? You’re in luck! Finding a pep band sporting their hockey or baseball style pep band uniforms at a basketball game is now a thing. Like a totally legit thing that big basketball programs are totally okay with and because I’m from the northeast and love hockey I’m totally okay with it too. You started it Iowa State and Villanova. Obviously advancing to the round of 16. Just a reminder that Villanova did in fact win the National Championship last year…just saying. This year Villanova switched from the hockey uniform to the baseball uniform to change things up. They even have nick names on the backs of their jerseys. Love it.
4) Which pep band paints their face better? See the Butler University run to the Championship in 2011. This is simple boys, face paint = victories. By the way, Butler’s face paint will be on display during this year’s tournament because they are in it again and are a pretty good seed. Watch out for Vermont too. They won’t shy away from face paint and just a friendly reminder that have won 21 games in a row.
5) Is the pep band more intimidating than the basketball team? 6’10” 255lb players have nothing on some bands. See the VCU Rams run to the Final Four in 2011. Fact: The VCU pep band has done the Haka war chant from New Zealand before games. If you haven’t seen it…go…now…I may never sleep again. Oh and did we mention that VCU is a 10 seed this year? Don’t tell us we didn’t warn you about them.
6) Does the pep band use legit performance horns and wear white marching gloves to limit hand oils on instruments? See the University of Michigan’s run to the championship in 2013. You can’t fault a band for trying to keep their horns clean! Your mother would be proud. Oh and who are the B1G Champs this year? Michigan! White gloves for the win!
7) Does the pep band have a super attractive guy playing trombone or mellophone that they just happen to conveniently place in the front row so the TV cameras catch him before every commercial break? It’s just wrong to pick against him. Somehow Duke has one every year. While, James Madison is the self proclaimed “Most Attractive Pep Band” in the country, they aren’t in the big dance this year. So, we suggest you admire the handsome bunches in the UCLA, Arizona and Florida State pep bands. #Swoon
8) Sweat bands for the win. Nothing says moving on to the next round more than head wear and in this case Kansas takes the cake. Sweaty head bands show true effort and those boys and girls from Kansas apparently sweat…a lot. I mean, why else would they invest in so many sweat bands each season. Wait…what? They use the same sweat band all year. AND NEVER WASH IT! Oh well, still a lock to move on. Maybe even win this year?
9) Does the band use protection on their trombones? Everyone can agree we need to limit the trombone population in the world these days which is why I will gladly move forward any team who uses population control measures…aka trombone sleeves. Hello Xavier!
10) And finally when the camera comes on who are you going to take in a dance battle? Last year we watched as multiple bands competed in dance offs during the tournament and honestly it wasn’t even close. UNC is a lock to repeat in the dance offs. Oh, and UNC is a 1 seed this year. Watch out!
UNC leads Providence by 4, but their bands are tied at a million. #MarchMadness https://t.co/lUYoeXdyU3
— NCAA March Madness (@marchmadness) March 20, 2016
Good luck out there everyone and remember these 10 tips as you fill out your brackets! Join our bracket challenge this year and if you win we’ll donate $100 to your favorite band program: HERE the password is marchingband. It’s 100% FREE!
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