Georgia Tech Yellow Jacket Marching Band The Georgia Tech Yellow Jacket Marching Band ( also known as the Marching Yellow Jackets ) is the official marching band of the Georgia Institute of Technology . Founded in 1908 by a group of 14 students , the Georgia Tech Band is one of the school ' s oldest student organizations . The Yellow Jacket Marching Band performs at all home football games , and the pep band , composed of a contingent of marching band members , plays at all home basketball games . At least a portion of the marching band or pep band travels to most away games , as financed by the Georgia Tech Athletic Association . History . Early years . Robert L . " Biddy " Bidez of Mobile , Alabama founded the Georgia Tech band in 1908 along with 13 other students . Bidez was the student leader of the band from its inception in 1908 until he graduated from the school in 1912 with a degree in Textiles . The band was first chartered on January 1 , 1911 , making it one of the school ' s oldest student organizations . M . A . " Mike " Greenblatt was a student who directed the band from the Fall of 1912 through 1913 . Frank " Wop " Roman was Georgia Tech ' s first professional band leader . He came to Tech in 1913 to play piccolo in the band , and became the director the next fall . He continued until his death on December 19 , 1928 . He wrote Tech ' s Alma Mater , as well as the arrangement s for Ramblin ' Wreck and Up With the White and Gold . Georgia Tech was the first Southern college to have its songs recorded ; they were marketed by the Columbia Graphophone Company starting on November 13 , 1925 . Since then , the songs have been published in a variety of compilations . The Iota chapter of Kappa Kappa Psi , a national honorary band fraternity , was founded under Roman ' s directorship in 1924 . Garing era . In 1929 , Major A . J . Garing was hired to replace Frank Roman . Garing was a member of the John Phillip Sousa Band . In 1931 , Georgia Tech ' s Alma Mater and the fight song " Up With the White and Gold " were copyrighted . Sisk era . Ben Logan Sisk succeeded Major Garing , and served as director until his retirement in 1975 . In 1954 , two of the nine women who were enrolled at Tech , Trombonist Teresa Thomas and flutist Paula Stevenson , became the first female members of the band . Also during his term as director , the Music Department was established under Tech ' s general college and participation in the band and other music programs could be counted as free elective academic credits . The band also found its first permanent home in the Crenshaw Building , which was behind the Varsity Drive - In on 3rd Street . During this time the band would march through the 3rd street tunnel under the Atlanta Downtown Connector to get to the football games at Grant Field . The fans would know the band was on its way because the drum corps would line the sides of the tunnel as the rest of the band marched through it . The echoing drums could be heard in the stadium . Georgia Tech eventually sold the Crenshaw Building and the land to the Varsity , and the band moved into the former Church of God , on the corner of Ferst Drive and Hemphill Avenue . In 1970 , athletic director Bobby Dodd requested that the band no longer play " Dixie " at basketball games . Dodd later extended this request to football games as well . " You ' ve Said It All ( Budweiser ) " was substituted for " Dixie " as the song played at the end of the third quarter of football games and during a later timeout in the second half of basketball games . The song was chosen because of the popularity of the song when the band had played it as part of an advertisement for the Atlanta Beverage Company . The Epsilon Theta chapter of Tau Beta Sigma , an honorary band sorority , was founded in 1973 as the counterpart to Kappa Kappa Psi . From activity to academics . Edward Bridges was hired as the band ' s new director in 1975 . Bridges came from an assistant directorship of the band at the University of Georgia ( of which he was also an alumnus ) and was also retired from the Air Force . Bridges ' style of leadership differed greatly from Sisk ' s and created immediate tensions between him and the band ' s student leadership , which had traditionally been in charge of the band ' s day - to - day operations . Some former band members have posited that this was intentional , that the Institute administration was looking to take back control of the band from the students . It is unclear whether Bridges ' selection as director was done with or without the input of the band ' s leadership at the time ; however , Bridges abolished the student leadership structure upon taking the position . The positions of band officers remained , but in a significantly diminished capacity . Eventually , the clash between Bridges ' leadership style and the band ' s culture resulted in Bridges ' departure . He was replaced by Ken Durham , who had been hired as assistant band director in 1976 . Durham had been a music educator in Atlanta for many years and had directed the band at Headland High School in the 1960s . He served as the band ' s director until 1983 when he accepted a promotion at his job at Ameriprise . Despite tensions , the band , and in fact Tech ' s music program as a whole , underwent significant growth and changes during Bridges ' tenure as band director and head of the music department . In the summer of 1975 , the music department moved from the Crenshaw building to the Couch Building , formerly Couch Elementary School . In 1976 , an institute restructuring moved the Music Department from the general college to the College of Sciences and Liberal Studies . This eventually allowed band members and members of other music programs to count their participation toward their degrees ' humanities requirement rather than just a free elective . In 1977 , the Georgia Tech Jazz Ensemble was officially established by several band members with Doug Richards as its director . Following its informal formation in 1974 , the Jazz Ensemble faced significant resistance against its formation by the band ' s student leadership . Sisk ' s retirement , the selection of Bridges as the band ' s new director , and the subsequent dismantling of the student leadership structure established under Sisk proved beneficial for the Ensemble . Bridges is credited with saving the Jazz Ensemble from an " early extinction " by providing its members with encouragement and suggesting that they submit a petition to the school to establish their practice sessions as a course offering . The Jazz Ensemble is currently under the direction of Professor Ron Mendola . The Georgia Tech Band Alumni Association was founded in 1979 . Following the departure of Ken Durham , James “ Bucky ” Johnson was hired as Tech ' s first full - time director of bands . During his directorship , the Georgia Tech Band Club underwent changes with a revision of the Constitution of the Georgia Tech Band in 1988 . In 1991 , the Music Department expanded even further and was moved under the College of Architecture . In 1992 , Johnson was named chair of the Music Department , and in 1995 the school began offering a certificate in music . During halftime of the 1992 rivalry game at the University of Georgia , the band executed a prank that drew media attention and gained a level of notoriety . As the band took the field for its halftime performance , several band members carried a large tarp with the GT logo painted on it onto the field and used it to cover the logo painted at midfield commemorating UGA ' s football program ' s centennial . The band ' s performance could not be heard over the boos that were elicited from the home crowd . Reportedly , the stands remained full during the Georgia Tech band ' s performance and cleared out when the Redcoat Band took the field , as spectators delayed making trips to the concession stands in order to boo the Tech band ' s actions . Modern history . Leading up to the 1996 Olympic Games , Bucky Johnson was the director of the Atlanta Olympic Band in addition to being the director of the Georgia Tech Band . Prior to Atlanta winning the Olympic bid , Georgia Tech ' s pep band , and occasionally the entire marching band would dress in Olympic colors and play to greet dignitaries visiting the campus . The band marched in the parade celebrating Atlanta ' s selection as the 1996 Olympic host city . In 2000 , the marching band and symphonic band were invited to play in the 2001 St . Patrick ' s Day festivities in Dublin , Ireland . The marching band played in the parade , and the symphonic band played a concert in conjunction with the Dublin Institute of Technology . Upon Johnson ' s retirement in 2002 , the marching band had nearly tripled in size , reaching its current membership of around 350 students . Following Johnson ' s retirement , Andrea Strauss , formerly the assistant band director , was named Director of Bands and director of the Symphonic Band . Chris Moore was named Director of Athletic Bands . Tech ' s first degree program in music , a Master of Science in Music Technology was approved in 2006 . In 2007 , 15 alumni trumpet players made commitments in support of an endowment which would provide an annual scholarship to a Georgia Tech trumpet player . The endowment and scholarship were conceived as a way to honor deceased trumpet alumni . Since 2005 , three Tech trumpet players died either while still in school or not long after graduating . Prior to Tech ' s football season opener against Notre Dame on 2007 - 09 - 01 , 150 members of the Georgia Tech Marching Band performed at the College Football Hall of Fame . 2008 marked the band ' s centennial . Band members and band alumni have been encouraged to contribute their memories and stories for possible inclusion in a book , which was slated for release in the fall of 2008 . The band was also invited to march in the 2008 Macy ' s Thanksgiving Day Parade as part of its centennial celebration . The full membership of the marching band participated in the trip to New York . Most recently , the marching band has been invited to play in Italy during Summer 2012 for a music festival . Traditions . RAT rules . Every year , a number of freshmen , most notably those in the marching band , wear gold caps known as RAT caps at each football game . RAT is short for " Recruit At Tech " , although freshmen are sometimes addressed as RATS , or " Recruits at Tech " , the often cited " Recently Acquired Tech Student " is not the true meaning . The RAT caps are decorated with the football team ' s scores , the freshman ' s name , hometown , major , expected graduation date , and " To HELL With georgia " emblazoned on the back of the cap . Freshmen , or RATs , in the band are expected to wear their RAT caps during all official band functions , including rehearsals and football games . RAT parents . The original duty of RAT Parents was to haze freshman members of the band and enforce RAT Rules . The modern role of RAT Parents is to welcome freshman band members , teach them Georgia Tech and band traditions , help them adjust to life at Tech and in the band and to act as a friend and advisor to them . In the early days of the tradition , there was just a Rat Mom , who was always a male band member . Since the mid - 1980s , there has been both a RAT Mom and a RAT Dad , the latter of which is always a female band member . Until 1990 , the selection of Rat Parents was fairly informal . From 1990 to 1993 , RAT Parents were selected by the band ' s executive board , partly to keep the decision in the hands of the students . When the executive board was dissolved in 1993 , the selection was made by the director of bands following an interview process . New RAT Parents are announced along with the new drum majors for the upcoming year . Alumni band . Founded in 1979 , the Alumni Band ' s mission is to " help connect GT Band Alumni with current GT Band activities and to help support the GT Band . " Most of the Alumni Band ' s activities center around homecoming . It often plays along with the current marching band in the stands and on the field at homecoming games . The Alumni Band is significantly involved with the forthcoming publication of a book about the history of the Georgia Tech Band , slated for release in the fall of 2008 in celebration of the band ' s centennial . Cross - Register . Through the Cross - Registration Program in the Georgia Board of Regents , students of other colleges and universities without similar music programs were allowed to march in Georgia Tech ' s marching band . Students from Agnes Scott College , Atlanta College of Art , Clark Atlanta University , Clayton College & State University , Columbia Theological Seminary , Emory University , Georgia Institute of Technology , Institute of Paper Science & Technology , Interdenominational Theological Center , Kennesaw State University , Mercer University Atlanta , Morehouse College , Morehouse School of Medicine , Morris Brown College , Oglethorpe University , Southern Polytechnic State University , and Spelman College were able to march in Georgia Tech ' s marching band after a successful audition process . With the inauguration of the Georgia State Marching Band in 2010 , the Marching Band no longer accepts any new wind or percussion cross - registration students . Students who had previously marched in the Georgia Tech Marching Band were allowed to continue , pending a successful audition process . Marching . The Georgia Tech Marching Band typically marches two shows each season , a pregame show and a halftime show . However , shows are sometimes modified or substituted in the case of a special event . The halftime show is different each season , but the pregame show remains largely the same from season to season . Among the more famous forms the band makes on the field are the interlocking " GT " and " Tech Tower " TECH Tower on the field The " T " formation at 2008 game vs Miami . Both of these forms are a part of the pregame show . The " GT " is commonly photographed aerially and this photo is one of the most widely used pictures of the band . GT formation vs Miami 2008 It is also in this form that the football team , led by the Ramblin ' Wreck , runs onto the field . Music . Starting in the 2007 football season , the marching band ' s pregame show has begun with the band ' s run - out from under the north stands of Bobby Dodd Stadium at Historic Grant Field . This pregame has included a work entitled " Fantasia on Georgia Tech Themes " by current band director Chris Moore . " Fantasia on Georgia Tech Themes " contains segments of the school ' s prominent songs ( Ramblin ' Wreck , White and Gold , and the Alma Mater ) . The band marches from the north end zone to the south , reverses field and forms the block T , and finishes with forming the Tech Tower . The National Anthem is played facing the west stands , followed by the Alma Mater . Then the band continues with " White and Gold " while forming the interlocking GT on the field . The band remains in this formation while the pregame announcements and videos are played . The Ramblin ' Wreck leads the football team from the northeast corner of the stadium to the west sidelines while the band plays " Ramblin ' Wreck " . The band exits the field in the GT formation to take its place in the center of the lower north stands for the game . This change in 2007 was the first time pregame music at GT had been edited in many years . Before entering the stadium , the band assembles at the amphitheater by the Kessler Campanile for pregame warmup . Next the band plays " Budweiser " at the Library , then assembles at Cherry Street and Bobby Dodd Way to follow the Ramblin ' Wreck car , Ramblin ' Reck Club members and Buzz mascot , and marches down The Hill to Bobby Dodd Stadium , playing " White and Gold " and " Ramblin ' Wreck " . The band joins thousands of fans and the cheerleaders , and takes its place on the stairway at Callaway Plaza outside the north end of the stadium , where it plays " O Fortuna " , the " Fanfare " , " White and Gold " , and finishes with " Ramblin ' Wreck " before entering the stadium for the pregame show detailed above . The band ' s halftime themes have varied over the years to include Latin and jazz , the 70 ' s , hits from the band Chicago , etc . In the stands , the band entertains during TV timeouts and revs up the crowd after plays on the football field . Favorites are the " Let ' s Go Tech " response cheer after First Down plays , the " Go Jackets ! " cheer or " White and Gold " tag after productive offensive plays , " School ' s Out for Summer " or " Mortal Kombat " after big defensive plays , Chords before 3rd down defensive plays , and the ever - popular " Budweiser " song at the end of the third quarter . After a Georgia Tech touchdown , the band first plays " White and Gold " followed by " Ramblin ' Wreck " . After field goals , the band plays " Ramblin ' Wreck " . Following GT wins , the band plays " White and Gold " and " Ramblin ' Wreck " with the players singing along with the band and fans . Two popular stand songs during TV timeouts for the GT band are " Low Rider " , " Hey Baby " , and " Living on a Prayer " . After postgame announcements , the band ' s last song is " The Horse " . For the second verse , the band members spread out as far as possible in the stadium . A new tradition is that fans - - especially The Swarm students in the north and northeast sections of the stadium - - stay for " The Horse " to be played and dance along with the band . Student organizations . Georgia Tech Symphony Orchestra . The Georgia Tech Symphony Orchestra ( GTSO ) has been performing as an ensemble from 1996 to 2010 under the direction of Professor Ron Mendola , and from 2011 to the present under the direction of Dr . Andrea Brown . With an ensemble of over 80 students , they are one of the largest performance groups on campus . The GTSO is a full symphony orchestra consisting of strings , woodwinds , brass , percussion , and piano . They perform several times during the academic school year in the Robert Ferst Center for the Arts . Kappa Kappa Psi . The Iota chapter of Kappa Kappa Psi was founded on April 21 , 1924 , making it the sixth oldest active chapter of Kappa Kappa Psi and the oldest active chapter in the southeastern United States . Tau Beta Sigma . The Epsilon Theta chapter of Tau Beta Sigma was founded on 12 May 1973 . It is the ninth oldest active chapter in the Southeast District . Georgia Tech Band Club . The Georgia Tech Band Club is a student organization dedicated to serving the band . Their primary goals include fostering music on campus , performing administrative and fundraising functions for the marching band and increasing school spirit through music . All active members of the marching band are also considered active members of Band Club , dues being paid at band camp .