Cowboy band debuts new uniforms

Friday, November 9, 2012

By Debra Schlegel 

This year's Cowboy Marching Band is the largest with more than 300 members and could be the "brightest" in school history, starting Saturday when the band will debut its brand new uniforms.

"It's important that the band's look and sound keep pace with the progress that the university itself is making," said Ryan Tapp, senior drum major, "I really believe the new uniforms help us accomplish that."

After nine years of using the old uniforms, Band Director Dr. Doug Henderson agrees, it's time for a change. "Our current uniforms are very dark, they are almost entirely black with only a little bit of orange. This makes the band look small and a bit dull against the field."

Director of Bands, Joe Missal as well as Burns and Ann Hargis, met earlier this year and the decision to create a new look for the band was made. Prospective ideas from students of the OSU Apparel Design helped create a vision for the new uniforms.

The new ensemble includes orange pants, a white cowboy hat and a white jacket with the current OSU logos emblazoned on the front and back of the uniform. Custom dye as well as bright white fabric and more areas of orange will make the band look much better from a distance.

The uniforms were produced by the Fruhauf Plant of Wichita, Kans. Fruhauf was able to create a lighter weight uniform that still retains durability. The breathe of the uniforms will make the band members more comfortable during the early season games when temperatures on the field can rise into the triple digits.

Each uniform is sewn by hand and specifically dyed to create true OSU orange. Even the new cowboy hats were custom-made for the band members.

"Everyone involved with the marching band is very excited about these new uniforms," said Tapp. "They are really going to help the university look fantastic."