TALLAHASSEE, FL (#WTXLDigital) - Football players are not the only ones practicing every day for a game. Seminole Football may dominate the field, but the Florida State University Marching Chiefs dominate Doak Campbell Stadium.
However, they do more than just march. This band of more than 400 students is the soundtrack of Doak Campbell Stadium on a Saturday.
The Marching Chiefs perform before kick off and during halftime at home and select away games. The Chiefs come from a variety of different academic backgrounds.
Before kickoff, the Chiefs storm the field, playing the fight song and welcoming Chief Osceola and Renegade, as well as the football team, to the field.
While the pre-game performances are exciting, it's the halftime shows that get people talking.
During the one of the biggest games during this football season, the Chiefs brought more than marching to the performance. For the halftime show of FSU's home game against Notre Dame, the Chiefs brought in Beyonce...and some dancing.
It was certainly a halftime show to watch. Notre Dame's band took to the field first with a performance dedicated to NASA that included props, smoke, and even someone in an astronaut suit.
Marching Chiefs Head Drum Major Daniel Rosman says that he has nothing but respect to the Fighting Irish's band: "We all recognize that they're a great band and a great program, and with our home crowd, and with a show like Beyonce, we had nothing to worry about."
The Chiefs' performance was a tribute to Beyonce, starting from her Destiny's Child years to her hit song, "Single Ladies." However, it was that song's performance that got the crowd roaring.
The Chiefs dropped their instruments and did the signature dance to the song.
It doesn't stop there. During the week after the game, the performance went viral. Buzzfeed picked it up, as well as MTV. It was even mentioned on Good Morning America.
What does it take to put together a halftime show of this level?
The Marching Chiefs Director, Dr. Patrick Dunnigan, says that they had the break up the dance into pieces: "We're not dealing with trained dancers. Although we have some kids with dance experience, most of them don't. So, we had to break it down and teach it in such a way that they could memorize it and learn it at the same time."
A typical halftime show takes about two weeks to prepare. However, they have put together halftime shows in a week, which is something that Rosman calls "one week wonders."
Whether it's a "one week wonder" or a dance that takes days to learn, the Marching Chiefs surely know how to bring fans together during a game.
For more #WTXLDigital stories, click here.
