For more than a century, Ohio University’s Marching 110 has invigorated Athens, enlivening students, staff and locals with showstopping performances.
Founded in 1923, the 110 was originally given its name due to its 110 members; however, over time, the band has expanded. Now, as a 225-member marching band, the 110 symbolizes the 110% effort members give each performance.
The 110 travels beyond the scope of Athens, having performed in 40 National Football League halftime shows, three Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parades and being the first marching band to perform in New York City’s Carnegie Hall.
Maddie Saiter, a sophomore studying marketing, is a member of the 110 and plays the tuba. Saiter said her dad inspired her to join.
“I really wanted to join because my dad is an OU alum and he always told me stories about how the 110 was the star of the show and everyone loved them,” Saiter said. “(He said) our football team used to be so bad that people would just come to games to watch (the 110) and leave after halftime.”
Saiter said being a member of the 110 is a serious commitment, as the marching band practices five days a week for 90 minutes, with additional rehearsals before bigger performances.
“Typically, about two, two and a half hours of my day every week is dedicated to the 110 and then of course weekends too, usually,” Saiter said.
Although scholarships are not offered to those in the band, Saiter said participants still find satisfaction in performing and forming friendships. Like other extracurriculars, she said the 110 is a rewarding experience and worth the long practices.
“It does become a lot sometimes, this year especially has been a super busy year,” Saiter said. “We went to the Ohio State University game, we did the Browns game, we’ve just been travelling a lot already and it does become really exhausting. But I would say it’s super worth it, the bus rides are a lot of fun, we all just get to know each other a lot better through all the trips we do.”
A plethora of student-run organizations, spirit teams and sports programs present members with a group to click with and an opportunity to create long-lasting memories.
“Being in the 110 is amazing, it’s like you’re part of this huge family,” Abby Bucher, a junior studying music education, said. “When I first got here my freshman year … I didn’t really know what to expect. So I got here a week early before classes started and instantly just felt like home, felt like I had made so many new friends in that week alone, it's a family.”
Bucher is a trumpet player and said figuring out how to balance school with the 110 was difficult at first.
“You just have to find time before practice to get all your stuff done,” she said. “It’s kind of hard to manage at first, but you get used to it after a while. It’s definitely busy.”
Once a Bobcat joins the Marching 110, they are a member for life. The Marching 110 alumni band made its debut in 1973, with the alumni network forming in 1999. Hundreds of alumni reconnect to perform in OU’s historical homecoming parade.
Angelique Miller, a senior studying aviation management, was a member of the Marching 110 her freshman and sophomore year and is now part of the alumni band.
Miller said both the 110 and her major were huge time commitments and balancing her schedule was difficult, so she resigned.
“The alumni band is pretty much anyone who did two or more seasons of the 110,” she said. “Most people have already graduated but there is not really a graduation requirement.”
Miller also said band members followed strict rules when it came to performing, making the alumni 110 band a much more laid-back experience.
“The rules during the games were strict,” Miller said. “We weren’t allowed to have phones and couldn't wear jewelry. The uniform rules were a bit strict. We had to have our hair slicked back, we had to keep the entire uniform on, clothes underneath the uniform too.”
After joining the several hundred members in the alumni band, Miller said she feels at ease.
“It’s a lot more relaxed than being in the 110 … we’re having fun,” she said. “We can sit down, take our jackets off and just relax with our friends and enjoy the game while also being in the band.”
Although it is a time commitment, the 110 not only offers students, staff and locals riveting performances but also provides an avenue for members to become acquainted with like-minded individuals.
Incoming Bobcats looking to audition, can read about the visual and audio clips needed on OU’s website.
“The 110 is a safe space for everyone where we can all gather and talk about problems, wants or needs that we all have that might have nothing to do with the 110,” Saiter said. “It’s just a place of community and love and without it I would be lost on this campus.”
