University of Minnesota Marching Band The University of Minnesota Marching Band ( also known as UMMB , The Pride of Minnesota ) is the marching band of the University of Minnesota . The band performs before , during , and after all home Golden Gopher football games and bowl games , numerous pepfests and events associated with the University of Minnesota , as well as a series of indoor concerts at the end of the regular football season . Members of the band also participate in smaller athletic pep bands that perform at other major sporting events . History . The Minnesota Marching Band was formed with 29 members as the University Cadet Band in 1892 . The band performed its first field show in 1910 . Among the formations included was the " Block M " that now serves as the University ' s logo . The " Block M " formation is still present in the band ' s pregame show . In 1961 , marching band director Dr . Frank Bencriscutto decided that , in addition to performing at football games , the band should also put on an indoor concert at which the band would be the sole performers , instead of taking a role secondary to that of the football team . This was the first concert of its kind ; many other collegiate marching bands have adopted this practice since . The Indoor Concert has been continuously performed at the University of Minnesota ' s Northrop Auditorium since its creation . Women in the Band . When it was originally formed , the band consisted of exclusively males . Women were first allowed to perform with the band in 1943 - 1945 , when they were allowed to " fill in " for male members of the band that were serving in World War II . In 1950 , a " Women ' s division " of the band was created , which lasted for several years . Women were finally allowed to be full members of the band in 1972 . Molly Watters was selected in 2006 as the first female Drum Major in the history of the band . Marching Style . The Minnesota Marching Band primarily uses the traditional " chair step " for performances , similar to other bands of the Big Ten Conference . The band ' s pregame show is performed almost entirely with this step . It consists of bringing the leg up so that the thigh is parallel to the ground and the shin is completely vertical and toes are pointed at the ground . Parade marching is performed using a modified chair step known as " parade chair , " which is far less tiring than a traditional chair step . It is similar to the chair step , but the thigh only comes up 45 degrees instead of the full 90 . Halftime shows are performed using a corps - style low step marching that allows for more musicality and forms that do not necessarily conform to a grid . " Run - Cadence " is the band ' s method of getting on and off the field for a show . It is essentially a double - time chair step , although the quickness of it necessitates that at times neither foot is in contact with the ground , as with the regular chair step . Pregame Show . The Minnesota Marching band performs one of the longest and most complex pregame shows of any band in the country . In its entirety , it is over 15 minutes long and includes over 75 pages of drill . Periodically throughout the season , band members audition for a spot in the pregame block . There are 243 marching spots in the pregame block . The pregame show in its current configuration consists of the following :