Halftime is shaping up as the “Battle of the Bands” as the Jacksonville State Marching Southerners and Tennessee State's Aristocrat of Bands are both set to perform during halftime of Saturday's football game at Burgess-Snow Field at JSU Stadium.
“If you want to hear two outstanding college marching bands perform, be sure and come to Burgess-Snow Field on Saturday,” said Jacksonville State Athletics Director Oval Jaynes. “We are excited to have Tennessee State's Aristocrat of Bands as our guests on Saturday and we all know how much Gamecock fans enjoy our very own Marching Southerners.”
The Marching Southerners 2010 production is “From Sea to Shining Sea”, which is a musical portrait of the United States that showcases the various regions, cultures and melodies that call the land between the Pacific and the Atlantic their home. The 375-member band is led by JSU alum Ken Bodiford, who is in his 17th year as Director of Bands.
The Tennessee State Aristocrat of Bands has shared its characteristic precision and distinctly soulful style with people throughout the country since being formed in 1946. The 200-member marching band is led by Professor Edward L. Graves, who has served as the director since 1979.
The Gamecocks, 6-0 for just the second time in the school's Division I history, remained No. 3 in The Sports Network/Fathead.com poll after receiving 10 first-place votes, and also remained No. 3 in the FCS Coaches Poll with one first-place vote.
Jax State has won 10 straight games, dating back to the final four wins of the 2009 season, and has the longest active winning streak in the FCS and the third longest among all of Division I, behind Boise State's 19 games and Ohio State's 12 games.
Jacksonville State is just one of two FCS schools that have a perfect 6-0 record this season joining No. 2 Delaware. There are only four undefeated FCS school remaining, including No. 1 Appalachian State (5-0) and Bethune-Cookman (5-0).
It's the highest ranking for an Ohio Valley Conference team since Tennessee State was ranked No. 1 in 1999 and is the highest for the Gamecocks since moving to Division I in 1995.
Jacksonville State has been ranked for 21 straight weeks in the Top 25 polls and that's the longest such stretch in the school's Division I history.
The Gamecocks return to the field on Saturday against OVC-rival Tennessee State. Kickoff is set for 3 p.m. at Burgess-Snow Field and tickets are available by calling the JSU Athletic Ticket Office at 256-782-8499.
