Texas Tech University Athletics
Goin' Band From Raiderland Entertaining Football Fans For 74 Years
Goin' Band From Raiderland Entertaining Football Fans For 74 Years
Oct. 20, 1999 Over the years, many Texas Tech football games have been won or lost but there is one aspect of Red Raider football that remains undefeated. While Texas A&M brags on the luck of the 12th Man, Texas Tech head football coach Spike Dykes and his players know they have a secret weapon as well - The Goin' Band From Raiderland. The 400 member Goin'Band From Raiderland has been entertaining Red Raider football fans for 74 years and is always a fan favorite whether on the road or within the friendly confines of Jones Stadium. The Goin' Band's stereophonic sound has been known to disrupt many a team in Jones Stadium and since they are seated behind the visiting bench,the band has served as a very large intimidation factor. The band got its name back in 1926 when Texas Tech icon Will Rogers made a friendly wager with his good friend Amon G. Carter who was a renowned philanthropist in Fort Worth. Rogers donated $200 for the Tech band to play at the Texas Tech-TCU football game in Fort Worth. He wanted people to hear "a real band." The Tech band made the trip to Fort Worth and went down in the history books as the first collegiate marching band to travel to an away game. While in Fort Worth, the band not only got its name "The Goin' Band From Raiderland" but became the first collegiate marching band to be heard on live radio (WBAP Dallas/Forth Worth).The Goin'Band has lived up to its name over the years as the band has performed in numerous different states and traveled to five foreign countries. The original band debuted in 1925 under director W.H. Waghorne who was a chemistry professor in the college at that time. The band went through two more directors between 1926-1958 when the legendary Dean Killion took over the program and made the band the envy of the southwest. In 1981, current director Keith Bearden took the reins from Killion and increased the size of the band by 16 as well as added the light show which has become a signature mark of the band. In 1998, Bearden once again increased the size of the band by 32 making it the third largest marching band in the nation. After countless halftime shows, parades and public appearances the Goin' Band has been rewarded with the highest honor that an NCAA collegiate marching band can receive - the Sudler Trophy. "We are very excited to receive the Sudler Trophy," said Goin' Band Director Keith Bearden. "Anytime an organization is honored nationwide it brings credit to the university. We are proud that we were able to do that for Texas Tech." The Sudler Intercollegiate Marching Band Trophy is awarded annually to a college or university marching band "that has demonstrated particular excellence over a period of many years." The selection process starts with ballots sent to all marching band directors in NCAA schools. The ballots are received by the selection committee from which the committee makes the final selection during the Midwest Band and Orchestra Clinic held annually in Chicago. Each member of the band will receive a personalized diploma while the school and both current and former band directors will receive a plaque commemorating the occasion. A magnificent bronze traveling trophy especially designed and executed for the Sousa Foundation (sponsors of the Sudler Trophy) will remain at Tech for one year. Tonight the legendary Goin' Band From Raiderland will receive this prestigious trophy that in all honesty doesn't really surprise many. After all, Tech fans always knew they had the Best Band in the Land!
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