BAND CAMP 2007: DAY 7

Quad Day marks the final day of the main part of MI bandcamp. Many view it as the end even though we have another full day of practice on Saturday after three days of classes, and we also have the perennially boiling photo day on Sunday.

This morning's rehearsal gave us a chance to start playing through parts of pregame while including the run-on cadence. For many of us, it was a brutal reminder of how much stamina and breathing control it takes to get through pregame successfully while playing with a good sound. About halfway through the rehearsal, Pete offered the band an incentive: practice efficiently with high quality today and take tomorrow off. We all gladly took him up on his offer and stepped up the practice from there. We're more than happy to have tomorrow off in order to get reacquainted with how this whole go-to-class thing works.

We also learned the Three In One drill today, but we won't be playing through it until towards the end of the week (probably either Thursday or Friday). There's a slight change in the drill this year as we are taking out the gap between the I L L and the I N I. Since the Chief no longer performs at halftime, we have no reason to keep the gap in there. It will certainly look different and feel different to many Illini fans, but we intend to play and march the piece with more spirit and pride than ever before. Just because Chief Illiniwek is no longer there does not mean that the tradition of the Three In One will be brushed aside. We encourage all of our fans to cheer and sing as loudly as they did in years past.

We'll have another update on the Saturday rehearsal in a few days. Last year at this rehearsal, we were able to play Loyalty for the team and hear Ron Zook speak. No word on whether we're doing that again, but it would certainly be fun for all of us.