OSU Marching Band heads to New Orleans for BCS National Championship game

For the second year in a row, the 225-member Ohio State University Marching Band will be joining the Buckeyes for a trip to the BCS title game. This year's Allstate BCS National Championship versus Louisiana State University is on January 7, 2008 in the Louisiana Superdome.

Before leaving Columbus, the largest all-brass and percussion band in the world will rehearse at the Woody Hayes Athletic Center. These sessions are closed to the public.

The band plans to perform a special "Heroes and Legends" show during the pregame portion of the championship game. The show celebrates some of our legendary champions of the silver screen then salutes the real-life heroes who protect us as members of the U.S. Armed Forces.

At halftime, the band will perform its well-known, gridiron signature, a "double" Script Ohio to both sides of the field.

In New Orleans, Ohio State Alumni and friends, as well as local music students, are encouraged to attend the band's final public rehearsal before the BCS Championship, at Bishop Rummel High School, 1091 Severn Ave., in Metairie (see directions below), on Sunday, January 6 beginning at 10 a.m. Former band members are welcome to bring instruments and play along at the end of the session. Previous rehearsals at bowl games have drawn crowds of well over 1,000 alumni and local music fans.

Here is a list of The Ohio State University Marching Band's public appearances at the championship: Performance times are approximate and subject to change.

Sunday, January 6, 2008
10 a.m. - noon CST
Public Rehearsal
Bishop Rummel High School, 1091 Severn Ave., Metairie, LA
From Downtown: North on I-10 to I-10 West, exit south on North Causeway Blvd, then west on West Napoleon about one block to turn south on Severn
The band welcomes the public and OSU Alumni to its final rehearsal before the game. Former band members are welcome to bring instruments and play along at the end of the session.

3:00 p.m. (performance at approximately 4 p.m.) CST
Buckeye Bash Pep Rally
Ernest M. Morial Convention Center. 900 Convention Center Blvd. New Orleans
Annual bowl gathering of Buckeye faithful with university officials, cheerleaders and the band.

Monday, January 7, 2008
4:30 p.m. CST
Performances at Pre-game Party and Corporate Events
Louisiana Superdome

6:35 p.m. CST
Pre-game Performance - Allstate BCS National Championship
Halftime Performance with the LSU Band

Contacts:
The Band will be staying at the New Orleans Hilton, 2 Poydras Street, New Orleans (504) 561-0500.
Reach the band at the Steinbrenner Band Center in Columbus at (614) 292-2598.