Crabb Band a group of 'faithful fans'

Throughout the last 15 years, the Crabb Band has sounded the alma mater after every home game.

But what these musicians are waiting for is the chance to play IU’s fight song, after earning an eighth national championship trophy.

“They’re faithful fans,” IU coach Mike Freitag said. “They’re part of the tradition of IU soccer.”

The Crabb Band, a four-credit hour course, is not just an auditioned band or the top players from the Jacobs School of Music, but a group of musicians who support IU’s Olympic sports because of one man’s persistence.

Chuck Crabb began his history in athletics as the only part-time student in sports information. During his undergraduate work at IU, Crabb’s sister played in Indiana State University’s marching band. At the time, ISU’s band was one of the only collegiate marching bands that allowed women to play.

“I would drive over there on Saturdays when Indiana didn’t have an athletic event and I’d follow my sister,” Crabb said. “I can’t read the first note of music, but I’ve always had a close relationship with marching bands.”

When he began working full-time with IU athletics in September 1976, Crabb saw the need for music at more athletic events.

“I started making more and more requests to Ray Cramer, the chair of the department of bands,” Crabb said. “I’d say, ‘Look, we need to have coverage. It’s very important for our coaches that they see interest in their sport, that we’re supporting them and we’re supporting female, as well as male, Olympic sports. We need gender equity.’”

The request occurred so frequently during meetings that Crabb eventually gained a title to his request.

“It was a matter of short-hand speech where ‘Crabb has asked for a band’ to ‘Let’s send Crabb’s Band,’” Crabb said.

In the beginning, volunteers from among the Marching Hundred comprised the Crabb Band. Today three horns, five trumpets, five trombones, one baritone, two sousaphones and three percussionists make up the auditions-only ensemble.

“We’ll play almost any time during the game – any time we feel a lull in energy or the crowd needs a pick-me-up,” said Matt Holzner, a graduate student and wind conductor at the Jacobs School of Music.

With 30 tunes to choose from, the band entertains the crowd and players with music ranging from classic rock to pop melodies.

“As far as the students, I think they like songs in which they participate in ways other than playing, like ‘Hey Baby,’ they get to sing, or ‘Roxbury Nights,’ they get to run around and dance, and ‘Shout,’ they get to lay down and pretend like they’re asleep,” Holzner said. “Pretty much anything that implements extra playing stuff on them in which they can act or do something outside the box, they like the best.”

Regardless of what tune they’re blasting, the Crabb Band offers Indiana athletics extra layers to the game-day experience.

“Their musical skills combined with their passion for Indiana athletics makes it an improved environment for fans to come and enjoy our sport,” Crabb said.

Crabb said seeing his name listed along with the symphonic and concert bands in the directory of one of the nation’s best music schools is an honor.

Crabb said he would choose live music before recorded music at athletic events.

“There’s a place for recorded music,” he said. “I think it just has to be used appropriately and judiciously. It can’t be the sole means of trying to get a crowd into it. There’s always been something about the spontaneity of a college event and its music not being canned when a great play happens.”

As for his band, Crabb agrees with Freitag that his members are not just in it for the credit hours.

“They certainly bring a lot of enthusiasm to our sporting events,” Crabb said. “They’re fans, there’s no denying that.”