ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. – The Beef 'O' Brady's Bowl festivities on Thursday started with a "Battle of the Bands" and ended with Ball State president Jo Ann Gora showing off her dance moves.
Band members from the Central Florida marching band stood in groups on the beach, tuning their instruments in front of the Sirata Beach Resort in St. Petersburg on Thursday afternoon. Some tuba players stood in the surf while saxophone players planted themselves farther away from the water.
As the band prepared to play, a Central Florida student rushed over to the saxophone players, pointing in the opposite direction. The Pride of Mid-America Marching Band was marching down the shoreline.
"The redcoats are coming!"
The two marching bands met for a "Battle of the Bands" on Thursday as part of the planned event surrounding the Beef 'O' Brady's Bowl. The two bands – along with cheerleaders and flag corps members – traded songs back and forth before challenging each other in multiple rounds of tug-of-war and an eating contest.
While no winner was announced for the music portion of the event, Ball State students defeated Central Florida in 4 out of 5 tug-of-war matches and the eating contest.
Near the end of the "Battle of the Bands" festivities, students began dancing on a small stage set up near the beach. When students noticed Ball State President Jo Ann Gora talking with a small group of people nearby, they convinced her to join them on stage. Gora danced with students for a few minutes before leaving the stage.
For more content on the Beef 'O' Brady's Bowl, check out the photo gallery from the event and continue to follow the Ball State Daily News for coverage.
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