Pride Prepares for First Full-Band Trip

            As Sooner supporters head to Dallas for the 105th edition of the Red River Rivalry game to be played tomorrow, the Pride of Oklahoma marching band will be making its first road trip of the season, and the first ever for freshmen members. Last week, a pep band performed at the Cincinnati game, but freshmen were not part of that group.

            Freshman Josh Stout from Moore is experiencing mixed emotions leading up the game this weekend, saying that he is both excited and scared.

Freshman Pride of Oklahoma member
Josh Stout holds his
 Tenor Saxophone following
 practice on Sept. 30. 

             Stout, who plays Tenor Saxophone, tried out for Pride after being part of marching band in high school. In order to prepare the Pride members for the intense atmosphere which will greet them in the Cotton Bowl, Stout says Pride director Brian Britt played audio files of people booing and cheering loudly while the group practiced its pre-game routine.

            While the OU vs. Texas game will be a new experience for some, others are experienced veterans of Pride. Fifth-year senior and multidisciplinary studies major Justin Allen is in his fourth year with the Pride. The Dallas native has played trumpet since middle school and also serves on the truck crew for Pride. Allen has a few friends who play in the Longhorn band, and his best friend since third grade is also a die-hard Texas fan.

For Allen, sleep is the most valuable way to end the weekend.

Justin Allen stands by a Pride of Oklahoma
 trailer found at the band's practice location.

 “The adrenaline from start to finish is just going, going, going. Usually when we get home on Sunday, I have to come here to the field and lock in everything, I go home to my apartment and I crash and don’t wake up until Monday morning for my class,” Allen said.

Although Stout has never attended an OU/Texas game, he has high expectations as to what the experience will be like.

“The atmosphere is just going to be electrifying. There is going to be this intensity in the air. It is completely crazy. Like goose bumps and hair sticking up the entire time,” Stout said.

            The next full band trip will be November 11 at Texas A&M. The Pride will also travel to Oklahoma State on November 27. For more information on the Pride of Oklahoma visit http://bands.ou.edu/pride/.