Support the Pride: WVU Mountaineer Marching Band

There’s always something memorable about standing in the stands at an opposing team’s football stadium and hearing "Country Roads" in the background.

Hearing the fight song alongside cheers of "Let’s Go Mountaineers" over the TV or radio announcers always gives me goose bumps.

When The Pride of West Virginia, the Mountaineer Marching Band, heads on the road to play at West Virginia University football games, it’s always an intimidating experience.

In 2007, when West Virginia took on Cincinnati at Nippert Stadium, I first understood how important the band was to being successful on the road.

The band took their seats in the corner of the stadium near the scoreboard. Cincinnati packed them in like sardines, in hopes of quieting the sounds.

At that time, Cincinnati was no challenge for the Pat White-led Mountaineers, and the Bearcats’ fanbase wasn’t anything to write home about either. So when it came to gameday atmosphere, the Mountaineer fans showed UC how it was supposed to be done.

WVU fans covered most of the upper deck of Nippert Stadium. I would estimate there were nearly 10,000 in the Old Gold and Blue.

While Cincinnati’s band tried to pump up the half-filled Cincinnati student section with its fight song, the Pride was doing the same in its corner.

WVU won every battle that night and not only on the field.

The sounds coming from The Pride overtook the stadium. It sounded like any other Saturday night at Milan Puskar Stadium.

For the players in West Virginia jerseys, The Pride had to make it feel like home. The 28-23 win over the Bearcats sure helped fuel the Mountaineer fans to grow louder and louder, too.

Truth be told, WVU should’ve won that game by a lot more. But, on that night, the Mountaineers were closer to a loss than they had been in a while. With a Big East Conference championship nearly sealed and a trip to a BCS bowl expected, this game was huge for momentum.

Without The Pride and the Mountaineer faithful, I’m convinced WVU would have lost that game.

That’s how important the band was on that night.

It wasn’t just that game, though. The Pride shows its presence at every away game it plays at.

Last year, The Pride traveled to Auburn, sat and played through a downpour in one of the most intimidating atmosphere’s in college football.

The dulcet tones of the tubas could be heard all the way back to my living room in Morgantown through my TV speakers as WVU jumped out to an early lead.

With the Auburn fans stunned and quieted, all you could hear was The Pride.

At bowl games, The Pride proves its one of the best bands in the nation. I will never forget how it blew Oklahoma’s band right out of the water at the 2008 Fiesta Bowl.

When the Pride travels to road football games, it increases West Virginia’s chances of winning.

Since 2005, WVU is 10-3 in neutral/road games where the Pride has gone. WVU has lost six games away from home without the Pride in that span.

The sad truth is: The amount of money it takes to travel to every away game is just too much of a burden for the Pride to handle.

This year, the Pride is expected to travel to LSU, Marshall and Pittsburgh. But it will sit out games at Connecticut and Louisville.

"We are very excited to have the opportunity to take the band on the road to support the Mountaineers, including Louisiana – the heart of SEC country," said band director Jay Drury said in a release. "We are very proud of our band, our University and our state, and it is a great honor to represent West Virginia on a national stage. We are so thankful for the wonderful support of alumni and friends who help us each year to make these trips possible."

With the nearly 400 people who need to travel to these sites, it can get pretty expensive. And although the University and athletic department provide some financial support for these expenses, it doesn’t cover it all.

For that reason, the Pride needs your help.

In 2007, a fund for these trips was developed by the WVU Foundation. It’s called the Pride Travel Fund and has gained $320,000 since it started.

Donors who give $500 or more become members of the prestigious 100 Mile Club. Those who contribute $100 or more before Sept. 1 receive a band CD, and all donors receive a car decal.

Take it from someone who has been to enough away games to know – donating is worth it.

They aren’t called The Pride for nothing. WVU is truly blessed with one of the greatest college bands in the country.

Few realize how good WVU’s band is, and how great it makes the University look when its sounds resound over airwaves and signals across the world.

It truly is something to be proud of. The Pride deserves the Mountaineer Nation’s support.