The action on the Anderson Center court may have paused, but high in the stands the new University of Mary Washington Pep Band is charged with keeping up the excitement. The instrumental group, complete with cowbell, bursts into song, and UMW mascot Sammy D. Eagle dances with the halftime crowd. A trumpet solo gives way to a fist pump from the band and a rousing chant – “Eagles!” “A pep band has been absent from sports [at UMW] for all these years and now it’s a reality,” said faculty band leader Jim Ford. The pep band, the brainchild of Ford and faculty adviser Kevin Bartram, director of the UMW Philharmonic Orchestra, recently became an officially recognized student group with about 20 student musicians. Although it has only been operating for about a month, the group has stayed busy, attending every home basketball game so far this year. No matter the score on the board, members of the pep band are there to show their support – cheering on their fellow … [Read more...]