Marching Band
Herd of Thunder
The HOT Band performs at all USF home football games in the 65,908 seat Raymond James Stadium (home of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers!), as well as select away games and any bowl games. The Marching Band currently requires auditions for the Drumline, Color Guard, and all wind players. Rehearsals are held throughout the fall semester on Mondays & Wednesdays from 7-9:30pm, and Fridays from 6-8pm – rehearsals are open to the public and are located at Fowler Field (located at the corner of USF Bull Run Drive and USF Alumni Drive). There is a modest fee to cover consumables (t-shirt, hat, etc), but members receive a “talent grant” (stipend) at the end of the season (subject to the availability of funds). All members of the Marching Band must register for the course and pay the applicable tuition and fees.
Guard & Feature Twirlers
The USF Herd of Thunder Color Guard and Feature Twirlers is one of the most visible aspects of the HOT Marching Band. This select group of young men and women is chosen by audition in the spring for the following academic year. The Color Guard and Feature Twirlers presents the visual story of the band’s music through the use of flags, rifles, sabres, batons, pom-poms , and dance. As a member of the Color Guard and Twirlers, you will get to perform on our home field at Raymond James Stadium, among other places, and benefit from choreography and instruction by some of the activity’s leaders.
Founded in 2003, the USF Winter Guard represents the university off campus in their competitive season both locally and internationally. The Winter Guard participates in the FFCC local circuit as well as WGI regional and international events. Auditions for Winter Guard are held in early Fall for the following winter/spring season. With a long history of success and experience in A, Open, and World competitive classes, the Winter Guard chooses themes and ideas to explore and represent through choreography, soundtrack, and movement. As a member of the Winter Guard, you will get to perform choreography and benefit from detailed instruction by some of the activity’s leaders.
Please contact our director, Liz Bannon, for questions or more information.
Pep Band
Rumble
The USF “Rumble” Pep Band performs at all Men’s and Women’s home basketball games in the newly renovated 10,000 seat SunDome on the campus of USF. Students who have not marched with the Herd of Thunder must complete a short audition for the directors. The Pep Band will travel to support our basketball teams at the Men’s American Athletic Conference Tournament in Memphis, Tennessee (at the FedExForum), and the Women’s American Athletic Conference Tournament in Uncasville, Connecticut (at the Mohegan Sun Casino and Resort) – as well as any NCAA tournament appearances. All members of the Pep Band must register for the course and pay the applicable tuition and fees.