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Jack Palmer - DHS grad proud part of 'S Row'

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Each year in early September, hundreds of the state's finest young musicians compete for the 192 regular positions in the Ohio State Marching Band.

Known as "The Pride of the Buckeyes," the band is most famous for the incomparable Script Ohio.

"I've dreamed of being a member of the OSU band since I started taking trumpet lessons in the fifth grade," said Alex Jones, a sophomore aeronautical and aerospace engineering major.

Jones, a 2008 graduate of Defiance High School and son of Steve and Anne Jones, rural Sherwood, survived the demanding and highly competitive tryout process last year until the final cut.

"I was more determined to make the band this year," Jones said in a phone interview Wednesday night. "I ran every morning over the summer for physical conditioning and I practiced my marching form. I wasn't too worried about my playing ability, but I practiced my trumpet, too."

The hard work and dedication paid off when Jones was told a few days before the first home game that he had earned a spot.

"It really didn't sink in right away," he said. "But after it did, I was thrilled. It's been all I ever dreamed about and more."

The instrumentation is unique among college bands. Patterned after the traditional British brass band, the unit has 44 B-flat cornets (trumpets), 10 E-flat cornets, 18 flugelhorns, 24 F horns, 18 trombones, six bass trombones, 24 baritone horns, 24 sousaphones (tubas), 12 snare drums, four bass drums, four pair of cymbals and four quad drums.

Jones is part of "S Row," comprised of seven trumpets and seven flugelhorn players, plus two alternates.

"Tryouts are by rows," he stated. "I received a notice over the summer that I would be trying out for 'S Row.' Last year they had me try out for 'T Row.'

Once the final roster is determined, the regulars remain in jeopardy during the week before each home game.

"Our row has two alternates, a trumpet player and a flugelhorn player. Each one has the right to challenge any member of his row that plays the same instrument," explained Jones. "But the challenger can only challenge one person."

So far, Jones has not been challenged -- a tribute to his marching and playing abilities.

That's not to imply he was supremely confident for his first game at Ohio Stadium.

"I was incredibly nervous for my first ramp entrance," he said. "I was terrified of messing up in front of 105,000 people."

Gameday preparation starts hours before most fans arrive. After uniform inspection and stretching their bodies and lips, the band marches from the stadium bandroom across Woody Hayes Drive to St. John Arena.

Once inside they are greeted by more than 10,000 fans for the famed "skull session," a pep rally/concert which includes the band's pre-game and post-game music for the day. Following the skull session, the band marches back to the stadium and assembles on the ramp which leads down to the field.

The percussion section leader stands at the base of the ramp, setting the tempo of 180 beats per minute. At the appointed time, he screams, "Drums on the side!" The percussionists then take the field, chanting "O-H-I-O, OHIO, O-H-I-O, OHIO..."

Band members take their spots on the ramp as the percussionists leave and the stadium crowd goes crazy. The drums roar to life as the first trumpets emerge, executing a precise arm swing and carrying their instruments at their side, maintaining perfect two-step spacing.

"My parents have had season tickets since before I was born, so I probably saw 25 games before I decided to attend school here," said Jones. "I always got goosebumps whenever the band took the field."

His goosebumps haven't gone away. They've just turned scarlet and gray.