Datebook
March 6, 2004
The Johns Hopkins
Band doesn't just play music. At every football and
lacrosse game, the 30 students and alumni cheer the Blue
Jays on. Today they are defying an ominous gray sky to
support the Jays against Princeton, one of Hopkins' biggest
rivals.
Noon Wearing matching blue polo shirts and khakis,
the band members meet inside the Mattin Center to unpack
their instruments. Drummer Tina Hadlich, wearing blue and
white face paint, has brought rice crispy treats for
everyone.
12:25 p.m. After some practice, the band heads to
the Freshman Quad to wake the sleeping freshmen. "Feel free
to play as loud as possible," says clarinetist Kevin
Philpy.
12:40 p.m. The band sets up in the Homewood Field
stands near the 50-yard line. Some members have brought
along garbage bags or jackets to spread over the wet
bleachers; the rest suffer damp pants.
12:58 p.m. The team steps onto the field, greeted by
cheers from the crowd and the rousing bars of "Johnny
Hopkins on to Victory" from the band.
1:20 p.m. The Blue Jays score their first goal,
tying the game 1-1. The band members jump to their feet and
play "To Win" and then cheer loudly, "One: We want
more!"
1:30 p.m. Hopkins scores again. "One, Two: We want
more!" The band plays "Cleveland Rocks" as the players
regroup.
1:40 p.m. End of the first quarter, Hopkins leads
4-1. During the break the band plays a spirited rendition
of the pep band classic "Louie, Louie."
2:10 p.m. Halftime. Kids teams take the field and
the band plays when either team scores.
2:56 p.m. Band president Beth Johnson distributes
bananas. "Keep them out of sight," she says. The "banana
guys" — a small group of Hopkins alumni and
self-proclaimed victory prognosticators — have
decided that the next goal will be the "banana goal," the
point at which a Hopkins victory would be assured.
According to legend, the banana guys have never been
wrong.
2:57 p.m. Hopkins scores again, increasing the lead
to 12-4. Victory assured, the band waves their bananas
— "One, Two, Three, Four, Five, Six, Seven, Eight,
Nine, Ten, Eleven, Twelve: We want more!" — then eats
them.
3:20 p.m. Hopkins wins, 14-5. The crowd departs to
"Johnny Hopkins on to Victory," "Washington Post March,"
"Celebration, Celebration," and "The Impression That I
Get." — KD
Return to April 2004 Table
of Contents