COVINGTON, Ga. — The Georgia Bulldogs’ 65-7 win over TCU in this year's College Football Playoff National Championship game had an extra dose of local flare to it, off in the band section.
Five former members of Eastside High School’s “The Pride of Eastside” marching band were part of UGA’s “Redcoats” marching band that made the trip to Inglewood, Calif. to witness the football program win its second straight national crown.
Eastside alums Duncan Jourdan, Sarah Schlueter, Emily Rose Hamby, Emilee Walker and Matthew Walker all made the westward journey with their instruments to help add to the ambiance of Georgia’s championship glory.
For Hamby who graduated from UGA with a B.A. in Journalism this past December and accompanied the Dawgs to last year’s national championship game in Indianapolis, this year’s trip was the perfect capper and encore experience to her collegiate band career.
“Going from being a diehard Dawgs fan since childhood to traveling with the Redcoat Band to not only one but two national championship games are experiences I will cherish for the rest of my life,” Hamby said.
Matthew Walker, a freshman accounting major and sousaphone player, was similarly gratified, particularly since he got the chance to accompany the team to college football’s holy grail in his first year.
“This national championship experience was one of the most insane things I’ve ever had the pleasure of being a part of,” he said. “To be able to fly out to California, spend days in Los Angeles, visit Universal Studios and then be on the field of SoFi Stadium all because of the band, it’s brought a level of joy that I can’t imagine being replicated.”
Schlueter, a third-year mellophone player and cellular biology major at Georgia also made it back-to-back championship trips with the Redcoats. And, she highlighted how being a part of the experience as a band member trumps just being there as a fan.
“Watching a football game is a lot different when you’re in the band, for sure,” she said. “But honestly, I prefer it any day over going as a fan or sitting in the student section. There is so much thrill getting down to the field and just looking around and taking it all in.”
In addition to having a shared championship experience at Georgia, these band performers also find commonality in having been prepped for the moment through their time on The Pride of Eastside.
“TPOE gave me a mentality to be great,” Matthew Walker said. “A common saying that I heard for four years was, ‘every time we make it, we make it better.’ As I entered my first redcoat rehearsal, I still thought about the ‘Fowlerisms’ that were taught every single day at Eastside.”
Those ‘Fowlerisms’ refer to nuggets of wisdom and training Walker and the others received from former TPOE director Alan Fowler. Now the Artistic Director and Conductor at the Newton County Community Band, Fowler spent many years conducting TPOE, molding it into one of the state’s top marching bands.
He and his wife, Susan were in Indianapolis last year to watch UGA’s first title win against Alabama. Their daughter Katie Beth, now a UGA graduate, played for the Redcoats last year. But although their daughter has moved on, Fowler said he was just as intent on making the trip to SoFi Stadium this year to cheer on the Dawgs and show support for his former Eastside students.
“There was no way Mrs. F and I were going to miss Katie Beth’s last game a year ago, and it is so neat we were able to be there for Emily Rose’s (last game) earlier this week,” Fowler said. “Somehow I’ve made a habit of going to see my kids perform in college. Knowing that I was able to be a part of their development as musicians and young people is special. But the true joy is knowing that they all are a part of my and my family’s life is even more special.”
Each band member lauds their time with Fowler and TPOE as a major reason why they were prepared to perform with the Redcoats.
“TPOE taught me the basic fundamentals of marching, equipped me with stamina and gave me the skill of memorizing music rapidly, which all greatly prepared me for the fast-paced environment of the Redcoat Band,” Hamby said.
Schlueter said it helped that Fowler, a 1991 UGA grad, was familiar with the school and the Redcoat’s tradition.
“Mr. Fowler went to UGA, so a lot of our drills and music had those ties in a few ways,” Schlueter said. “But also, he always told everybody that he was glad we decided to do band. I’ve been doing band since sixth grade, so I can say I’m glad I did too. Especially now after getting to go to two national championship games.”
But for these Eastside-turned-UGA bandmates, the impact Fowler and TPOE had on them, stretching back to their high school days, transcends the songs and instruments they play.
“Music and marching band aside, I can’t acknowledge the ways that TPOE prepared me for the Redcoat Band without talking about Mr. Fowler’s impact,” Hamby said. “He ignited my love for marching band and inspired me to never give up my dreams of being a Redcoat. Not only did he write my recommendation letter, but he also provided me with the resources I needed to succeed in band on a collegiate level.”
For Hamby, Monday’s national title game was, indeed, her last as a Redcoat. But that doesn’t mean she won’t be somewhere rooting for a three-peat next year. So too will her now-former bandmates.
“Of course, I will always root for the Dawgs,” Schlueter said. “Another championship during my senior year would be one heck of an ending to my marching band time.”
Walker agreed.
“The whole week of the national championship game, the air just felt different,” he said. “Seniors knew this was their last game, win or lose. This was the pinnacle of college football, and we felt all eyes would be on us.”
Walker will have potentially three more years to experience it all, while Hamby acknowledges things will be a bit different next year.
“It’ll be weird to watch Georgia games next year as an alumna at home or in person,” Hamby said. “But I am, for sure, rooting for a three-peat next year, and I’ll always cheer for the Dawgs no matter the outcome.”
