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JSU'S HARDCORPS Named Best Pep Band in U.S. |
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Jamie M. Eubanks JSU News Bureau JACKSONVILLE -- February 13, 2001 -- They�re the hippest, hottest group in America�on the basketball court, that is. HARDCORPS, Jacksonville State University�s pep band, was recently named the best pep band in the U.S. by The Sporting News. The reason? It�s simple. They�re overwhelmingly talented musicians who are accompanied by go-go dancers. These ladies dance to the tunes of the pep band beat. And recently, they received a new member. The catch is�she�s only six years old. Savanna Lynch had been attending JSU basketball games with her mother, Sandy Lynch. Sandy serves as secretary for JSU�s Music Department. �She loved dancing with the other girls,� commented Sandy. So, they took the next step. Instead of just having Savanna dance with the other girls, they had a uniform made to match the other Go-Go�s. And she fits right in. Savanna rehearses with the Go-Go�s, but mainly picks up on the moves by watching. Her ultimate goal is to be able to learn the full routine the Go-Go�s do during half-time. For her sixth birthday, Savanna had no problem deciding what kind of party she wanted--Disco. She is also enrolled in Sacred Heart School. �I love taking naps,� comments Savanna. And to the future, she says, �I want to be a go-go dance teacher.� The Go-Go�s dance coordinator is Jodie Milam. Milam has been with the group since its start in the Spring of 1997. �These girls do a great job,� states Milam. �They�re here to support the team, and that�s what they do.� Each member must audition in the fall to receive a partial scholarship. Bryan McLemore, of Birmingham, also does much of the choreography for HARDCORPS and the Ballerinas, who perform with JSU�s Marching Southerners. As for the music, Mark Fifer has selected a number of tunes from the 60�s and 70�s that would have anybody rocking in the stands. He has also chosen the best of the best musicians who auditioned in September for partial scholarships. �We�re practically worshiped when we travel with the basketball team,� commented Fifer modestly. �Troy State even loved us.� Fifer feels HARDCORPS is completing its ultimate task: to support JSU�s Gamecocks. One can hear comments coming from the stands, such as, �You�re beautiful, but you�re crazy,� after a bad call from one of the refs. And their endzone of the coliseum is definitely the liveliest and most fun. �The Go-Go�s add a visible element to our music,� says Fifer. �We�ve had mascots before, like Batman and Austin Powers. Now, we have Baby Go-Go.� Fifer and HARDCORPS are looking forward to adding a little funk to the Gamecocks� game in the Sweet 16 at the end of this month. |
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