University of Wisconsin Marching Band The University of Wisconsin Marching Band is the marching band for the University of Wisconsin – Madison . It was formed with 11 members in the fall of 1885 to support the military battalion . Today , it has grown to over 300 members and performs at all Badger home football games . History . The University of Wisconsin Marching Band was created in 1885 as the Wisconsin Regimental Band . Previously the University Military Battalion marched to only a drum , and the Battalion commandant , Major Chase , stressed in 1883 that there was a " need for a fife and drum corps to play for the Battalion drills . " The first band consisted of 11 members , with two or three more joining before the year ended . It was not until 1894 that the 26 members of the University Band began playing at football games . In September 1928 it was announced that all football engagements would be handled by 100 men , to relieve the strain from concert performers . This was the beginning of the current Band Department . Under Edson W . Morphy the " Second Band " became more active with Athletic Department events . In 1934 the band gained a new director , Raymond F . Dvorak , who continued to revolutionize the band in many ways , including introducing the now famous " arm - swinging " during the singing of " Varsity " , the school ' s " alma mater " . Late in the summer of 1969 the band gained a new director , Mike Leckrone . The military aspects of a marching band were not popular with students of the time , and enrollment was suffering . Leckrone introduced physical conditioning by requiring that every member attend Registration Week ( Reg - Week ) fundamental drills , as well as by pioneering a more physically demanding marching step ( " stop at the top " ) and a new pre - game entrance ( the " Run - On " ) . He ordered every performance to be filmed , and scheduled viewing sessions in which he pointed out any inconsistencies or errors , which lead to the publishing of the " Dummy List " , or a list of every performer ' s errors . These traditions are still maintained . Auditions and membership . At the end of August returning and prospective band members attend " Welcome " or " Registration Week " ( Reg - Week ) , commonly known to students as ' Hell - Week ' . Reg - Week teaches prospective members the fundamentals of the signature " stop - at - the - top " marching style and serves as a period of intense physical conditioning . Over the course of the week , the band marches for 2 – 3 hours each morning , has a short break for lunch , and then marches for another 3 – 4 hours in the afternoon . At night there is often a 2 - 3 hour music - only rehearsal . A highlight of Reg - Week is the countdowns , which are similar to " suicides " in basketball or " lines " in volleyball , where members march out and back five yards at a time . Countdowns during Reg - Week are typically 50 yards . Every potential member also must perform a short music - only audition for the director , Mike Leckrone , who has been director for over 40 years . Membership is also not guaranteed for returning members in order to ensure that everyone works to the best of their ability . Instrumentation . The University of Wisconsin Marching Band is composed of over 300 members and divided into 28 ranks . On average , there are about 224 marchers on the field , not including the drum major . The band keeps the rest of the students as alternates , mostly freshmen , on the side lines to potentially replace injured members . These ranks number from 1 to 25 and letters A through C . There are also " X " spots designated X - 1 through X - 18 , which fill gaps in formations . The drum major is considered the primary student leader within the band . Each year , the director and field assistants select one drum major and one assistant drum major . All band members are issued silver instruments ( with the exception of the school - issued white clarinets ) . Following is a list of instruments , the ranks they occupy , and the number of members for the 2011 - 2012 school year . Traditions . The 5th Quarter . The University of Wisconsin Marching Band ' s Fifth Quarter is one of its most recognizable traditions . The band marches onto the field from the nearest end zone , then halts , and facing the winning team ' s stands , plays that team ' s school song . They then turn , face the other side , and play that team ' s school song . Thousands of spectators remain in the stands for fifteen minutes after the game for the Fifth Quarter performance . Usually played during the Fifth Quarter are songs such as " On Wisconsin " , " You ' ve Said It All " , " Space Badgers " , " Dance Little Bird " ( The Chicken Dance ) , " Beer Barrel Polka " , " Tequila " , " Hey Baby " , and others . The band first played " You ' ve Said It All " , also known as the " Bud " song , at hockey games during the 1972 season . The song , by New York composer Steve Karmen , had become a Budweiser advertising jingle in 1970 and is the basis for the beer brand ' s more recent commercial song , " Here Comes the King . " It became popular among Wisconsin fans when the band traveled to Boston for the 1973 NCAA men ' s hockey championship , where the song was played at games , on the street , and in hotel lobbies . When performed by the Wisconsin band , the advertising line at the end of the original beer ad is replaced by the line " When You Say WIS - CON - SIN , You ' ve Said It All ! " At the end of the Fifth Quarter , the band lines up once more to play " Varsity " , while the spectators sing . The band then exits the field to the north entrance to perform more and to sing " It ' s Hard to Be Humble " . Band banquet . Begun during the 1927 - 28 school year by then - band director , Edson W . Morphy , and traditionally held in late November or early December , the band banquet is a chance for band members to reflect on the past marching season and tell stories or jokes . The dress is formal , the band invites speakers and the percussion section performs drum cadence s with plates and silverware . There is an awards ceremony , including the Steve Singel Award , the Custer Award , the Crazy Horse Award , the PA Award , the Little Bighorn Award , the MVP Award and the Karl Strieby Award . The Steve Singel Award is given to the person who most embodies the " Spirit and the Pride of the Wisconsin Marching Band . " The Custer , Crazy Horse , PA and Little Bighorn Awards are awarded to individuals that exemplify the dedication it takes to march in the band . The MVP Award goes to the most valuable percussionist and the Karl Strieby Award , presented by the flügelhorns , is given to the band member who makes the biggest marching mistake during the year but ( almost ) makes it look as if it wasn ' t a mistake at all , suggesting that , " if you ' re going to make a mistake , make it with class . " The night ends with a slide show and the singing of " Varsity " . On Wisconsin Finale . Beginning in 1974 the halftime show of the last home football game of the year is ended with " On Wisconsin Finale " . While playing a maestoso version of " On Wisconsin " , the band forms vertical lines . At once , lines expand into the letters " On Wis " and the band marches towards the audience , ending the performance in a knee bow . Reversing the Caps . As with most Big Ten bands , when the football team wins the game , the members of the Band take their hats off and put them on backwards . This is a tradition started years ago and signifies " looking back " at the victory that day . Skyrockets . Skyrockets are a method that the Wisconsin Band uses to call attention to something , such as in announcing a song or cheer , telling a joke , or greeting someone . It began as a school - wide practice , where students use them to greet a professor at the beginning of a lecture . The sound of a skyrocket is meant to mimic a real rocket by beginning in a low hiss , followed by a short , loud " boom " , an " ahhh " and ending in a whistle . An example of a " classic " skyrocket is : " " SSSSS . . . BOOM . . . AHHHH . . . WHISTLE ! Hey Seattle , is that the Space Needle or are you just happy to see us ? " " Tuba March . At the beginning of the fourth quarter the tubas line up single file and begin a march around the stadium , weaving in and out of the stands and concourse , playing songs such as " Semper Fidelis " , " Beer Barrel Polka " , and " On Wisconsin " . This tradition began some time in the 1950s and when athletic director Elroy Hirsch banned the tuba march in 1971 many students and alumni protested . The uproar was so great that the tuba march was reinstated the following year . Union South . One hour before every home game , the Badger Band congregates at Union South to perform a pregame concert for fans . After playing Chorale # 1 , the Tubas tell a joke using a skyrocket , and then the band plays " On Wisconsin " twice . Then the band plays an abbreviated version of the opposing school ' s song , the pregame concert selection , the halftime show , and finally " The Bud Song " and " On Wisconsin " one last time to fire up the fans . Then they march to the Camp Randall for pregame . Controversy . In 2006 the band was placed on probation by then Chancellor John Wiley after its road trip to Michigan . Then , on October 3 , 2008 Leckrone announced the band would be suspended from performing because of serious hazing allegations that involved alcohol and " inappropriate sexual behavior " . As a result , the band missed the nationally televised game against Ohio State . It marked the first time in at least 40 years , and the first ( and as of the end of the 2011 season , only ) time in Leckrone ' s 42 - year tenure as director , that the band had missed a home football game . Leckrone said that although only a small number of band members were involved , because members had a " shared responsibility " to the band and the university , " the only thing I could do to send the message was to suspend . " A letter from UW – Madison Dean of Students , Lori Berquam , to parents of band members , stated that " Some allegations include but are not limited to : being forced or pressured to have their hair cut in a way that is not flattering ; being forced or pressured to eat something disgusting ; being sexually fondled against their will ; being forced or pressured to drink alcohol or other concoctions that may contain alcohol . " Berquam later stated , " I regret the allegation of sexual fondling was misrepresented as confirmed fact in some news reports . We have nothing to substantiate that allegation . " Other performances . The band performs at other venues , such as local concerts and parades around the state of Wisconsin .