The Largest Trojan Marching Band Ever Salutes Dr. Bartner at Homecoming

Nearly 900 alumni joined the current Trojan Marching Band to salute former director, Dr. Arthur C. Bartner, who retired in 2020.

[keithlewis]

Great video, but, trust me, this video does NOT do justice to the sound we heard in the Coliseum. It was almost hard to believe how magnificent the sound was. The post-game show was even better! So great!

[walterfry]

That was one of the best and most heartfelt gigs of my life. Dr Bartner has given his life to make so many others better. He so deserved seeing our appreciation for him.

[SCSilk]

Two years of planning resulted in this show. Grateful to all the volunteers who made it happen!

[massimo]

Trojan football alum here. Stepped on the Coliseum field 30 years ago this year. I cannot describe the feeling running onto the field with the Trojan Marching Band playing. Fight On Forever ✌🏼

[BladeStar-uqxe]

What a Legend Dr. Bartner is. When he took over in 1970 the band was laughingly called 'The Library Band'! By 1973 they were playing with Diana Ross and were being called 'The Greatest Marching Band in the Universe'! Something they are still called today!

[nenajovonovich]

LOVED being a part of this. Such a rush to be on that field 40 years later!!! Pushed myself mentally and physically because Trojans always FIGHT ON!!!✌️🚩💛❤

[wgfinley]

Thanks for allowing those of us who couldn't be there to live the moment vicariously. Cried like a baby.

[flowergirlinWard]

Rehearsals were SO. Much. FUN.
For most of us --- we picked up right were we left off.
Off the field -- we are grown ups. We are in charge. We know where to go. We know what to do. We know exactly what to do to solve a problem.
Back on the field. "Where do we go? Where's our hashtag mark? What yard line are we on? OH MY gosh Trombones! What the heCks are you DOING on the wrong side of the field???!!" (throws hat on ground and stomps on it) Blow our horns. Drums are great. Clams screw it all up YET again.
Questions, questions, questions of all the alumni. Who was in the Fleetwood Mac original recording? Who was in the Tusk video? Who was in the reunion concert? I was talking to the twirlers -- one lady mentioned Stevie Nicks asked to borrow her baton and she was like - "Heck yeah!" And it was her baton in the Tusk video.
Going into the "Meet and greet" reception hall -- and up walks Dr. Bartner just strolling up -- he takes one look at us waiting to go in, and he said, "Oh crap, I forgot that (%^$#) mask. I guess I gotta go back to my car and get it."
Walking over to the Coliseum was FUN. We just were one big giant parade. Getting into the Colisuem -- the security guards just waving us in as long as we were wearing our stupid masks. My husband and daughter were annoyed they did not even check tickets or proof of negative stoopid Covid tests.
The game was lame. But going down the peristyle steps as part of the band down to the priceless.
This halftime show video shows only a fraction of how we felt. The REAL moment came earlier that morning at Saturday morning practice when we did the final run-through of the show --- that call to attention. We were already tired and sore from the previous night's rehearsal and the morning rehearsal --- but that call to attention --- "Band! Ten HUT! TEN HUT! U-S-C! Beat the (BRUINS)!" Our spirits were instantly revived and lifted and we had the strength to do the whole run-through like it was nothing. And crying when we heard our old friend. Dennis Packer announcing, "Ladies and Gentlemen! Presenting the Spirit of Troy! The University of Southern California Trojan Marching Band! Band! Take the field!"
I had an opportunity to talk to Dennis Packer in the stands after morning rehearsal, and I thanked him for all those years. What a gig! What a legacy to leave behind! Yes, I thanked him from the bottom of my heart for ALL of us and told him just how we ALL had felt when we heard his voice once again introducing us to the world.
And all those drum majors stabbing the field.
And then climbing UP those peristyle stairs after the halftime show.
I was in such pain the next day and for days afterward. But oh, it was glorious!
FIGHT THE F ON FOREVER!!!

[rhondarogers]

Great show, great sound, and a sendoff worthy of The Greatest Marching Band Director in the History of the Universe.

[stanfordsolutions]

First-class performance and participation, U of Southern California style.

[BrendaMozafari]

Dr Bartner left a magificent Davison High School Band in a small midwestern Michigan village after elevating its band to a TOP band in the State of Michigan. He arrived in my sophomore year and went to USC after 6 years.

[calcitygirl]

It might have been a bigger band if all the alumni had been told of the event.

I would have liked to play too

[talentonboard]

There wasn’t a dry eye in the house as Dr Bartner would say.

[septemberdan]

Be it I am a University of Kentucky fan I have always liked USC, the colors, band, cheerleaders, the amazing university and the fact its in sunny Southern California. I loved this performance! Go Trojans!

[marylimon]

Found my sister in this madness. Even figured out she was playing her piccolo and not her flute.

[jeffreythomson]

Now if only USC once more had a football team worthy of its band.

[youtubeurevil]

Tis great it is is there any on field footage ? Love from Czech republic!

[azschefres]

That was an amazing moment to be part of fight on ✌️✌️✌️

[curttsujimoto]

Great to watch! Also after the game was just as good !! Congrats to Dr B . Nice for him to b able to come to the Coli since Lee lost last year.

[JewelzFin]

It must have been crazy to hear that live. I had the pleasure to march with the USC Marching band at a home game while I was in high school. It was wild. Still my favorite PWI band, and always has been.