Cold Weather No Factor for NFL Halftime Performance
Amid the bitter cold of the Cleveland Lakefront, The Titan Marching Band struck a spectacular halftime show at Sunday’s Cleveland Browns / Pittsburgh Steelers game. With temperatures dipping to 19 degrees and a wind-chill around 13 degrees, the marching Titans and their fans braved the elements to present a seven minute show that not only pleased the fans but impressed the contingent of Browns employees who escorted the band onto the field.
“We were up against a lot with this show. Unlike the high school football season, we can’t get outside to rehearse as much,” said Titan Band Director, Jeff Fudale. “Getting into the Browns Training Facility last Tuesday for rehearsal was huge, but that was the last time we played as a group until today.”
Even with limited preparation, the Titan Band was able to play through the cold performing four of their popular tunes from this past high school season. “Our biggest concern today was keeping the instruments from freezing. Blowing warm, moist air through a brass instrument with temperatures this low can cause valves to freeze,” Fudale said. “We also had the kids keep their mouth pieces in their pockets so we weren’t imitating the flagpole scene from A Christmas Story. Frozen mouthpieces are no fun to deal with.”
The only disappointment of the afternoon was the cancellation of the pregame performance outside First Energy Stadium. Dan Barth, Titan band assistant director said, “The Browns had us playing on the north side of the stadium. We marched up there and with the wind whipping off the lake it took Jeff and I two seconds to decide there was no way we could play there and not have frozen instruments and frozen students.”
“Even in the cold weather, this was great experience for our kids” stated Fudale. “If you think about it, there are only 8 halftime shows at Browns stadium this season and we were one of them. That’s pretty special. Great way for the Titan band to end their first marching season.”