GHSF Daily is expanding its Four Questions feature this season beyond head coaches to other voices in high school football. Today's interviewee is Jon Bowman, director of Lowndes High's nationally known Georgia Bridgemen marching band.
Jon Bowman, director of Lowndes High's Georgia Bridgemen marching band
1. Tell us about the Georgia Bridgemen. How many members do you have, and what are some of the exciting events or things that the band has done since you've become director? "The Georgia Bridgemen have 428 members, and all members perform at all football games. No matter where we might travel for a game, the band will always be there. The band always travels around the Southeast participating in two marching band contests each fall. This year, we will be traveling to Durant High School in Plant City, Fla., to compete in a Florida Marching Band Coalition Regional Marching Contest. We will also be staying somewhat local and participating in a marching contest in Tifton. Since I have been at Lowndes, the band has traveled to Chicago twice to participate in the McDonald's Thanksgiving Day Parade. We have also performed a Memorial Day Concert at the Jefferson Memorial in Washington, D.C. This year, we will be participating for the second time in the 6ABC Thanksgiving Day Parade in Philadelphia."
2. The Bridgemen are more than a football marching band, but how important is the football part of it at Lowndes? "I tell the students all of the time that our No. 1 job on Friday nights is to support our football team. It is a way of life at Lowndes. This week will be the Winnersville Classic - Lowndes vs. Valdosta. I joke that if you ever wanted to rob a bank in Lowndes County this would be the night to do it because everyone in the town converges at the host site for this game. Having 15,000-plus people at a high school football game is unbelievable. But again, our focus is not necessarily on our halftime show on Friday nights. Don't get me wrong, we want to do the best job possible, but if I see an opportunity that our playing may fire our team up or disrupt the other team in some way, that is our job. We don't take the third quarter off. We are there from kickoff until the clock hits zero to support our football team."
3. What does it take to be a member of the Bridgemen? "We do not have an audition to be a part of the marching band. If you were in band in middle school, you have a part in our family. It is a huge time commitment. We have two weeks in July that are 12-hour days. Those are our two weeks of band camp. We rehearse Mondays after school from 3:30 to 5 and Tuesdays and Thursdays after school from 3:30 to 6. As far as ability, our philosophy is we will teach you. If you stick with us and are committed to the program, we will teach you what you need to know to be successful."
4. You came to Lowndes after working for Prattville High in Alabama. How does the atmosphere for high school football at Lowndes and south Georgia compare to what you found in Alabama, your native state? "Prattville was a special place. At the time I was there, I worked alongside two of the best high school football coaches in the state - Bill Clark, who is now the head coach at UAB, and Jamey DuBose, who is now the head coach at Central-Phenix City. I got to Prattville right at the time Hoover was going for I believe their fourth or fifth championship in a row [under current Colquitt County head coach Rush Propst]. I will never forget going to Legion Field in Birmingham and dethroning them. We went on to win three state championships in row. I remember going to the field house at Lowndes and meeting Randy McPherson for the first time. Coach Mac is now one of my closest and dearest friends. Lowndes was fresh off two state titles. I was used to big-boy football. There is something magical about a big game at the Concrete Palace. It is just different. But with all of that being said, I have never witnessed something like a Lowndes-Valdosta game. It's insane. If you are a high school football fan, you need to make the trip to south Georgia and experience it for yourself."
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