Ferris State University Marching Band Makes Triumphant Return After 30 Years

BIG RAPIDS, MI – After a three-decade hiatus, Ferris State University‘s historic marching band is set to return for the 2025-26 school year. The band, which once thrived for nearly 40 years, made an impression when it performed at former President Richard Nixon‘s second inauguration in 1973.

The band’s revival marks a proudnew chapter for the university. It was disbanded in the early 1990s due to declining student interest and cuts to university programs, according to Dave Murray, the university’s associate vice president of marketing and communications.

Ferris State President Bill Pink emphasized that bringing back the band aims to enhance campus life and engage students in the arts. “There is undeniable excitement when people see the marching band taking the field,” Murray said, noting that the original recruitment goal of 55 students has already been surpassed, with about 80 students now involved.

The new band has already participated in two football games and a Bulldog Welcome event. It is set to debut in the homecoming parade during the university’s celebration on Saturday, Sept. 20. The parade starts at 10:30 a.m. at Big Rapids Middle School and will wind through downtown to the Big Rapids Community Library.

The Ferris State marching band is being directed by Professor Daniel Atwood, who has experience with Detroit’s Motown bands, including The Temptations. Alongside the band, a new cheer team, comprising 40 students, will also make their parade debut.

The homecoming celebration will feature the Ferris State Bulldogs football game against the University of Rio Grande at Top Taggart Field, with kickoff at 3 p.m. University mascot Brutus the Bulldog will be present, sporting a custom Stormy Kromer cap as part of a collaboration between Ferris State and the brand.

More details on the homecoming festivities, including participation in the parade, can be found on the university’s site.