Dover High School has a very long, proud tradition of success on the gridiron. The football program, which ranks #6 in Ohio in total wins, grabs most of the headlines. But there is another Tornado squad that works those same 100 yards of turf while carrying on a great tradition of its own…
The Dover Marching Tornadoes are one of the oldest marching bands in Ohio. Here is how I can put the great DHS band tradition into perspective. I am a relative ‘newbie’ resident to Dover–only two decades–and a football junkie, but I probably can recall the name of DHS’s legendary band director, Fred Delphia, before any Tornado gridiron greats.
Each Friday night, the Marching Tornadoes honor this great tradition by putting on a show that is second to none. I am the first to admit that I am a much better armchair quarterback than conductor, but year in and year out, the Tornadoes sound spectacular. They also do a great job of picking popular, yet beautiful tunes that connect with both the adult spectators as well as the youthful students both watching and performing.
Not only do they sound great, but they put on a spectacular visual display for their audience. In fact, just last week, they once again performed the gold standard for Ohio marching bands…
Script Ohio, complete with the dotting of the ‘i’ by a sousaphone player!
Besides their tremendous halftime performances, they do an super job of being involved in the games. They have their first down jingle, their defensive stops transition tune, and play loud and often to help the Tornadoes when they are on defense. They also sprinkle in their numerous in-house traditions of song, dance, and cheers throughout the game, including some crazy 4th quarter ‘Chicken’ chant I haven’t quite figured out yet, as well as the ‘Go Bananas’ cheer that I was educated about from this beautiful former DHS cheerleader…
(Can’t pass up a chance to blog about my wonderful wife!!! And do you notice from this picture that football was once played on real grass???)
More than anything, as an educator, I love to see so many students being part of a group and activity where they are having so much fun! In fact, I even got to see my son and his fellow 7th grade band members join the DHS squad in a recent halftime show to play a song. I can admit to getting a tear in my eye watching Ethan put his trumpet down, then flash a gigantic beaming smile as he did some choreographed dance moves with the rest of the squad. I especially liked the incorporation of the ‘sprinkler’ move that I like to use at wedding receptions!
Being a teen can be a very tough and tumultuous time. A positive, well-run program, whether it be football, band, or any other school activity, can make a huge impact on a person’s life. Hats off to director Christopher Redd and his staff for the outstanding job they perform for the Dover community and it’s youth. Thank you for all of your hard work and dedication.
One last thing…
Several weeks, ago, Ravenna Southeast played at Dover. The Pirates opened the halftime with a wonderful performance that drew enthusiastic cheers from the hometown Tornado faithful–Dover fans know their music! After that, the Marching Tornadoes came out to perform a tribute, not to an artist (such as the Beatles), or a genre (like 1980s music), but to an instrument. Being the son of a music lover–my dad’s melodic addiction grew to over 2,000 CDs at one point–I know that Gershwin’s Rhapsody in Blue showcases the clarinet, and that Stars and Stripes Forever has a climactic piccolo solo.
But I have never seen a show dedicated to the cowbell.
Inspired this Will Ferrell Saturday Night Live skit
to the narration of a great Christopher Walken impersonator, the Tornadoes opened with Blue Oyster Cult’s Don’t Fear the Reaper. That was followed that by Grand Funk Railroad’s We’re an American Band, with the percussion squad working a set of cowbells front and center.
And to wrap of the tribute, the band played War’s Low Rider, while breaking out this big gun…
The cow that had to wear bell that would supply a boatload of hamburgers!