{Brad Radice}"It is time for our Bulldog Conversation.
Brad Radice here with you and joining me is Tim Heath, the Director of Athletic Bands
here at Samford University.
And Tim, the bottom line is those folks on the marching band as they are performing right
now as we're doing this interview, they practice just like the football guys and they have
a lot of pride and a lot of dedication."
{Tim Heath} "Yes, they do.
We come out early in the summer, before the school year starts, just like the football
team does.
They move onto campus, they live in the dorms.
We're out at 8 o'clock in the morning in the heat, we're sweating.
They're getting sunburn, just like all the other players and all the other marching bands
across the country.
They work just as hard they're as involved in the overall aspect of the university as
far as building the culture and just making sure that the game day is the best atmosphere
that we can possibly present for Samford University."
{Radice} "And I know you're new here to Samford.
Tell me a little bit about your background and what led you to this place?"
{Heath} "Well I'm originally from North Carolina.
I was a high school marching band director in North Carolina and my wife and I decided
when we were going to pursue me going to get my terminal degree, we wanted to move south
and I ended up at the University of Alabama.
So I spent the past three years working on my doctorate there and being a part of the
Million Dollar Band, so when it came time for the job market this particular job opened
and this was a dream job for me mainly because I knew about the history of Samford University.
I've had several teachers and mentors in my life that have been affiliated with Samford
and have actually been the marching band director.
So for me to be able to come in and to continue the legacies that they developed and they
began is a dream come true and especially, we loved Alabama and we enjoy being able to
raise our family here and be a part of the thriving culture."
{Radice} "And I know you want to build on the foundation that's already been laid with
the marching band and the athletics bands.
Where do you see it going?
What's your vision in the future for Samford?"
{Heath} "Right now, the biggest thing is we want to continue with what's already been
started and planted.
We want to take those seeds and further develop them and the first thing that I see is this
year we created a culture for that is just like going to any other college football game
across the country.
We implemented some new strategies and ideas with our pre-game with the stands, tunes and
cheers just making sure that the cheerleaders and the dancers and we all are creating this
new culture and taking traditions that are already here but further developing them and
being able to continue to set new traditions as we all collaboratively go forward to new
steps."
{Radice} "And Tim the beautiful thing about the Samford Marching Band is, there's opportunity
immediately for students who want to come to a campus like this and participate in a
band like this."
{Heath} "Absolutely.
Anyone who has played an instrument or been a part of an auxiliary unit, color guard,
dancers or different type of visual aspects of a marching band can definitely join.
There's also opportunities within our pep band which is our basketball band.
Students can do that as well.
We perform at all of the men's and women's basketball games at home.
We do travel also, so next year we're going to go to an away game we're going to be a
part, when we visit one of the larger schools for an SEC game we're going to travel and
be a part of that.
Our basketball tournaments we travel for that as well.
So there's lots of opportunities and there's also scholarship opportunities as well for
students to be able to assist with their funding of tuition."
{Radice} "And Tim, the thing that always strikes me about the band is the camaraderie in the
group.
It's a big family isn't it?"
{Heath} "Absolutely.
The students get along great.
They literally become a family.
Not only during band camp, but also throughout the semester.
It's a sense of accountability.
One of the bragging things that I always include when I talk with students about coming to
Samford or also just being a part of a university marching band as a whole is that it does create
a sense of accountability in that before all the other students have moved on campus, you
already have your friends and family and that's not saying you don't make more, but you start
campus and start school with this immediate family before all the other students are even
here, so especially if you're a first year student it's a great way to be able to plant
a seed and be successful coming right out of the gate with accountability and having
friends."
{Radice} "Well Tim, welcome to Samford and thank you for joining me."
{Heath} "Thank you very much.
I appreciate it."
{Radice} "Alright, Tim Heath, the Director of Athletic Bands here at Samford University
joining us for the Bulldog Conversation.
Folks more action comes your way right after this."