Maverick Machine is always ready to hype up crowd
The marching band is a key factor for any school. They hype up crowds and are the ultimate super fans when it comes to football games.
Minnesota State University, Mankato’s Maverick Machine is ramping up for a busy week as homecoming festivities are upon Maverick fans.
This year the Maverick Machine’s halftime show theme is inspired by the new James Bond movie premiering in October.
The band undergoes hours of practice during the week before fall semester classes start as members learn choreography of precise routines.
After a year of limited in-person events the Maverick Machine is now back and better than ever as last year was not ideal having no major performances due to the strict COVID-19 protocols.
“The goal this year is to perform as much as we can since last year’s homecoming didn’t really exist,” said Michael Thursby, director of the Maverick Machine since 2013.
The whole idea of the band is to entertain the crowd and bring the energy.
“The students and the band are the most spirited and loyal students that I’ve ever seen. They are more dedicated to this university than just about anybody and they give up a ton of time, energy, and effort and they definitely deserve to be recognized for that,” said Thursby.
About 150 students make up the Maverick Machine which also includes the color-guard, drumline and pep-band.
However, sporting events are not the only events the band plays at during homecoming week. The Maverick Machine also performed on Monday’s bonfire and will be performing at the iconic lip sync battle and homecoming parade.
Other major events consist of the holiday lights parade as well as being highlighted as the special guest band who performed at the 70th annual TriState Band Festival last weekend.
“My favorite memory with the band members would be making up new dance moves to the songs we play,” Brook Ford, one of the two flute leaders of the Maverick Machine, who is entering her fifth year at MNSU, said. “I’m most excited to play at the homecoming football game because it’s so nice to be back to hype up everyone in the crowd and get to perform our pregame and halftime shows again.”
Being a part of something so inclusive as a pep-band can really put you at the forefront of all the action.
“I joined the Maverick Machine because I like music and I wanted to continue playing tuba in college,” Nathaniel Fox, a senior and member of the Maverick Machine said. “Also because my parents were in the original Maverick Machine when they were in college.”
Whether the Mavericks are losing by a large sum or on the verge of a victory the Maverick Machine is sure to bring the school spirit regardless.