Hawkeye band member makes Rose Bowl memories
Jessica Klein of Guttenberg, a member of the Iowa Hawkeye Marching Band, took part in the Jan. 1 Rose Bowl parade and field performances. Above, she poses with mascot Herky Hawk. (Photo submitted)
Note: Guttenberg native Jessica Klein, daughter of Jim and Carol Klein, was privileged to play in the Hawkeye Marching Band at this year’s Rose Bowl. She shares highlights of her memorable trip with Press readers.
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By Jessica Klein
I auditioned for Hawkeye Marching Band last April because I missed the feeling performing provided. I was accepted immediately after auditioning, and was sent information on the season, such as details on band camp and performances.
HMB started the season with band camp in August. Camp was six days of practicing fundamentals in sweltering heat for 12 hours each day. At that point, everyone joked about what we would do if Iowa went to the Rose Bowl, and how much more we would focus on perfection. No one imagined it would actually happen.
HMB kept me incredibly busy all semester. We practiced three days a week for two hours, one day a week for four hours, plus rehearsals at 7 a.m. on game day Saturdays. On game days, I was usually at Kinnick for around 12 hours, on top of the 10-plus hours per week spent on rehearsals and other performances. Though the regular season was incredibly busy, it was also incredibly fun. HMB soon became my favorite part of college, but my experiences at Kinnick were nothing compared to what awaited me at the Rose Bowl.
When I found out Iowa was going to the Rose Bowl, I had just arrived in Iowa City after traveling to Indianapolis for the Big Ten Championship Game. The first year students in HMB were coming off of an emotional night, having experienced our first loss. We knew bowl games were being announced that day, and myself and two of my best friends from my alto saxophone section were anticipating the announcement.
When ESPN finally announced Iowa versus Stanford in the Rose Bowl, it took a full 30 seconds for the news to sink in. We sat there in silence, staring at the tiger hawk logo on the screen until we finally started cheering and screaming.
The weeks leading up to the Rose Bowl were both exciting and challenging. The band was given one two-hour rehearsal on Dec. 11 to listen to announcements, clean the pre-game and halftime drills, and learn a new method for turning corners while parade marching. We had to be precise and focused. We were also told to take long walks daily, in preparation of the 5.5 mile parade on New Year’s Day.
The band flew to Los Angeles on Dec. 29. Immediately after arriving in our downtown LA hotel, we were given lunch, then set off for our three-hour rehearsal on a borrowed football field at Occidental College. Our schedule for the following days included a three-hour rehearsal, with a performance at Hawkeye Huddle and various other pep rallies for certain members. Our downtime was well deserved, and I was blessed with time to visit the Santa Monica pier and the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
Parade highlights
New Year’s Day was the big day. The day began with a wake up call of 4 a.m., unfortunately not uncommon for HMB. We were to be on our charter buses, dressed, with luggage loaded, and ready to go by 5 a.m. We were driven to a waiting location where we ate Rose-Bowl approved healthy boxed breakfasts and hydrated. After a police escort to the second waiting station, the 250-member band piled out of six buses in under five minutes to get into formation.
The parade was absolutely incredible. As we marched, we played two of our fight songs, “On Iowa” and “The Iowa Fight Song.” For the first 1.5 miles, we high stepped, a march common for Big Ten bands, and played continuously. After that, we played shorter versions of the fight songs with choreographed cadences played by the drumline in which we danced and cheered on our team.
One of my favorite memories occurred near the middle of the parade. We were marching through a heavily populated area, with large bleachers on both sides of the street. They were completely full with Iowa fans dressed in head to toe black and gold. During “The Iowa Fight Song” there is a singing portion. The fans were singing louder than the band! We didn’t experience that just once, but rather, nearly constantly throughout the parade. The energy the crowd provided fueled our motivation to finish the nearly two hour parade.
When we finally marched to the finish line, I had never been so glad to finish a parade. We were given all the free water and Gatorade we wanted, along with a huge lunch provided by In N Out Burger. Then after a short break, we loaded the buses once again, and arrived at the alumni tailgate. After a short performance, it was time for the main event.
At the Rose Bowl
Performing at the Rose Bowl was something I will never forget, and also the best performances I had ever given. During pregame, the crowd cheered so loudly I could barely hear myself playing. We even got to perform the national anthem, accompanied by a B2 Bomber flyover and pyrotechnics show. Though we hadn’t scored by halftime, the energy remained high and the cheering continued when we took the field for our halftime show.
Though Iowa lost, HMB and the football team handled it with grace. After the game, instead of leaving, the band stayed in the stands and watched the trophy presentation to the Stanford football team. After, we gathered and sang our Alma Mater, usually only sung after a victory. As we marched out of the stadium, Iowa fans gave us high fives and chanted our I-O-W-A chant. We lost, but we were all happy to have experienced the Rose Bowl.
Reflections
I think every musician dreams of marching the Rose Parade, and I am lucky enough to say I did. I read a statistic somewhere that an estimated 1% of all musicians march that route. Though the day was exhausting, it was all worth it for the experience. I saw California for the first time, marched in a parade I watched televised since childhood, and did it all with the friends who turned to family by my side.
Most don’t realize how hard the band works, or how involved we are. We cheered every Saturday regardless of weather, experiencing countless victories, and cried in Indianapolis when we experienced the first loss of the season. We spent our free time memorizing music, rehearsing in the heat and cold, and stayed fit in order to flawlessly march in a parade televised around the world.
Every bit of time put into HMB was worth it, especially when fellow Hawkeye fans commend HMB members on their hard work. I can hardly wait to see what next season brings. Needless to say, it’s great to be a Hawkeye.
