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Spartan Marching Band protects Sparty statue during traditional Sparty Watch

October 23, 2014

Members of the MSU marching band discuss the honor of defending the Sparty statue during rivalry week.

Photo by John Neidhart | The State News

The week leading up to the Michigan football game is typically an emotional one for most Spartan fans, but for the Spartan Marching Band, it’s also a time to participate in a long-standing tradition.

Sparty Watch is an annual marching band tradition, during which members of the band gather at Sparty statue in the week leading up to the Michigan football game. Those in attendance guard the statue from any sort of vandalism or attack by Wolverine fans.

As the event has evolved, the tradition is still focused on protecting the heart of MSU’s campus, but it is also an annual bonding opportunity for marching band members.

“It’s a lot of fun,” mathematics junior Andy Beauchine said. “We get a lot of people out here, and you know, some nights it gets kind of cold but you’re talking with all your friends, you’re meeting other people in the band that you don’t necessarily know. I try to meet someone new every night and talk to them for a couple hours.”

Members are given the opportunity to loosen up and break free from “rehearsal mode,” kinesiology sophomore Emily Bankes said.

“You meet a lot of the people you don’t usually get to see down on the field,” Bankes said. “You get to break out of your section.”

Bankes is one of four chairs in charge of organizing this year’s watch. Each chair was responsible for planning one night’s activities. Tau Beta Sigma and Kappa Kappa Psi, the marching band’s sorority and fraternity, cover the financial costs for the most part.

Local businesses support the event as well. Biggby donated hot water and hot water containers, and Sparty’s donated coffee.

The week kicked off with “Mingle Monday,” an event that encouraged interacting with the other members. Each individual had a bingo sheet with various tasks to complete, such as showing a trumpet player their favorite dance move.

Tuesday night, head football coach Mark Dantonio dropped by the statue to support the band. He also provided 25 large pizzas for members guarding Sparty.

Wednesday night was a capella night, and campus a capella groups stopped by to entertain the members.

Each night is typically capped at midnight with band members locking arms and uniting to sing the MSU alma mater and “Michigan State Fight Song” in front of the statue. While there are many memorable moments, this is often the highlight of the week.

“It’s usually just singing the fight song and ‘Shadows’ at the end of the night,” Sparty Watch chair and sophomore business major Juli Frontiero said. “We all just somber up almost and sing. It’s a great sense of community.”

This year’s Sparty Watch may be more important than ever, as retaliation from Michigan fans may be coming. MSU infiltrated Ann Arbor and painted the block ‘M’ on the Michigan Diag green, a move that has infuriated some Wolverines.

Members of the watch have thwarted previous attacks on the statue, and this year, they are confident in their numbers and presence and are doubtful of any commotion this year.

“If it were to come, I feel like it wouldn’t be when all of us are full force,” junior film study major Austin Torres said. “They wouldn’t do it at night because they know we’re here.”

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