Saxons band outdoes itself at Outback Bowl

At least one squad from Illinois succeeded while performing at a New Year's Day bowl game.

The marching band from Schaumburg High School took home seven first-place awards from its performances over the weekend at the Outback Bowl Music Festival in Tampa, Fla.

"We showed the schools from the warmer states that the kids from the cold weather states can play," said band director Kevin Miller.

The Saxons band bested 14 schools from across the country earning honors including the Grand Champion trophy, which is awarded to the best overall program.

The drum line captain, senior Alex Miller, said before he left for the eight-day trip that he wanted to bring back some hardware.

"It was just awesome," he said.

The 209 students returned Wednesday night after a 24-hour bus ride and were slowly adjusting from the 85-degree temperatures back to the freezing weather here.

In addition to playing the festival, which was held over the weekend, the band also played the halftime show of the Outback Bowl, where the Tennessee Volunteers beat the Wisconsin Badgers on Tuesday.

The band also played at the SpectroMagic Parade at Disney World, receiving a trophy with a smiling Mickey Mouse. Alex Miller said band members, including those from Neuqua Valley High School in Naperville, were very sportsmanlike in congratulating them.

Sophomore Lindsey Bergman traveled on the bus with her mother, Nancy, and older brother Randy. She said marching through the tunnel in front of Raymond James Stadium's 65,000 fans was electric.

"I was really pumped," she said.

Her mother said the students got little sleep and learned to move at breakneck speed.

Kevin Miller said this was one of his strongest bands in past years, and lauded the leadership and skills of the senior class.

The trip cost $215,000, and the band played songs including "Pinball Wizard" and "Body and Soul."