For most college students, Saturday mornings are filled with tailgates, spirit wear and chants from the student section. However, my game day is a little bit different. Since my freshman year, I’ve been part of the Michigan State Color Guard. While performing with the Spartan Marching Band every Saturday isn’t the typical experience, the excitement that comes from stepping out of the tunnel, or smiling towards the press box during halftime, is irreplaceable.
Here’s what a typical game day looks like for me:
4:30 am: Rise and shine! After getting out of bed, I take a quick shower and put my hair into a ballerina bun.
5 am: I grab my uniform and pack my MSU Vera Bradley duffel bag with everything I need for the game.
5:30 am: I eat a quick breakfast and make a quick drive to Demonstration Hall.
6 am: After entering Demonstration Hall, I hang my uniform in my cubby and grab my flag.
6:15 am: I chat with my teammates and start warming up for morning rehearsal.
6:30 am: Time for cardio! We sprint, stretch and get our bodies moving for the long day ahead.
6:45 am: We run through a few technical routines and make a few changes to the halftime show.
7:15 am: We join the full Spartan Marching Band for a few practice run-throughs of the pregame and halftime show.
9 am: Practice is over! Time to eat and get ready for the game.
10:30 am: I finish the last of my early lunch and put the finishing touches on my makeup.
10:45 am: We walk to Adams Field where we perform for fans and visit with our families.
11:15 am: Time to march to the stadium! MSU has an amazing tradition known as The Series — this is how we get from Adams Field to Spartan Stadium.
11:45 am: Let the pregame show begin!
12 pm: It’s kickoff! Go State!
2 pm: We head to the tunnel to warm up for halftime. Time for a great show!
4 pm: The game ends and we take the field one last time to perform a post-game show.
5 pm: The day is finally over! I head home and take a nap before celebrating another Spartan victory with my friends.