11,000 Bandsmen To Fill Gridiron

11,000 BANDSMEN TO FILL GRIDIRON

Some 11,000 bandsmen in multicolored uniforms will fill Michigan Stadium from goal post to goal post tomorrow as about 130 high school bands perform before an estimated 70,000 spectators.

(Six high school bands have canceled out because of the expected anti-Vietnam war demonstration at the stadium, U-M officials reported late this morning.)

Prof. William D. Revelli, director of U-M bands who is starting his 35th year, and Prof. George R. Cavender, assistant director who will be starting his 18th year, will conduct the massed bands during half-time at the Michigan-Vanderbilt football game. Kickoff time is 1:30 p.m.

David A. Smith, a U-M student from Ann Arbor and former drum major of the Pioneer High School Band, will assume the duties of the drum major of the University’s 180-member Marching Band during the pre-game ceremonies. Smith, a 1964 graduate of the local high school, will be returning to the post he held in 1966 when illness forced him out of action.

The pre-game show also will feature some 1,000 high school baton twirlers from schools throughout the state as part of the colorful annual Band Day program at the stadium.

Four selected high school bands will be featured in the post-game show. They are the Jackson High School Band, directed by David McCoy; the Plymouth High School Band, directed by James Griffth; the Waterford-Kettering High School Band from Drayton Plains, directed by George Fetter; and the Davison High School Band, directed by Arthur Bartner.

The Marching Band will parade down E. University at 7:30 p.m. today to draw attention to a following pep rally on that street between S. University and N. University, according to Dr. Hazel Losh, U-M professor-emeritus of astronomy.

The pep rally is being held prior to the clash between the Michigan and Vanderbilt football teams at 1:30 p.m. tomorrow in Michigan Stadium.

Dr. Losh, who has been called the U-M’s No. 1 sports fan and was awarded a citation to that effect, will be the lead speaker at the rally for members of the U-M football team, other students, coaches and fans.

Following the U-M astronomy professor on the platform will be Walter (Wallie ) Weber, athletic instructor and former coach and star fullback at the University; Mike Kabat, manager of Weber's Restaurant; captain Jim Mandich; and head football coach, Glen E. (Bo) Schembechler.
Dick Vidmer, former U-M star quarterback who played varsity football in Michigan Stadium from 1965-67, will be master of ceremonies.
A street dance will follow the pep rally.