Aztec Marching Band Shows Dramatic Growth For 2003

Aug. 28, 2003

SAN DIEGO - The SDSU Marching Aztecs, thanks to new support from San Diego State University's administration and faculty, will take to the field Saturday night with nearly twice as many members as it had during the 2002-2003 school year.

Approximately 150 student-musicians will be at Qualcomm Stadium Saturday night when the Aztec football team hosts Eastern Washington University at 6:05 p.m.. The band had 86 members during the 2002 football season.

"I have been extremely pleased with the support and encouragement from the University as a whole," said Director of Athletic Bands Bryan Ransom. "We have the opportunity to provide students a quality marching band experience and in the process we can field a marching band that will make San Diego State and the San Diego community proud."

Along with new funding, the band was moved into the Department of Athletics during the spring.

A segment of the band, "The Red And Black Band", will be in the Gaslamp Quarter Friday night from 7 to 8 p.m. in advance of the first football game of the season. Also new in 2003 will be a "Third Quarter Band" at all 2003 home games. That group, along with members of the cheer squad, will visit various spots throughout Qualcomm Stadium during the third quarter.

"Brian has done a tremendous job with a very tight timeline," said Steve Schnall, SDSU's associate athletic director for marketing. "The SDSU Marching Aztecs are a great testimony to the University community working together to not only save, but dramatically improve a very visible part of campus life."

Band membership for the 2003 season is still open. For more information, call 619-594-1600 or visit the band's website at bands.sdsu.edu or at goaztecs.com.