USF HOT Band performs during halftime at Tampa Bay Buccaneers season opener

By Tina Meketa, University Communications and Marketing

USF’s Herd of Thunder is putting in the mileage marching across the field at Raymond James Stadium. They’re two-for-two playing at home openers. First, it was the USF football game, and now, during halftime at the Tampa Bay Buccaneers game against the Washington Commanders.

More than 340 students performed on the field – changing formations and spelling out Bucs with their bodies and instruments. The performance is especially memorable for USF seniors in their final year of performing with the HOT Band, which is part of the USF School of Music. 

"I am ecstatic we got to show Bucs fans what HOT Band is all about,” said senior Kaleigh Cummings-Stork, who’s majoring in music education. “The unique opportunity to perform at Raymond James Stadium allows us to further our reach within the Tampa Bay community, and hopefully create a few new Bulls fans and HOT supporters in the process."

Cummings-Stork has been playing the clarinet for 10 years. Like many of her bandmates, her love for music started when she was a kid. Drum major Matthew McCardell is majoring in information technology and has also been a musician for a decade, as has Kaitlyn Sewell, who plays the baritone and is majoring in speech language and hearing sciences.

“I'm really excited for HOT to have had the opportunity to share our passion and energy with more of the Tampa community,” McCardell said.

“I'm so excited for the opportunity to have been part of the football experience for all the Bucs fans,” Sewell said.

Playing in the HOT Band takes tremendous dedication – performing at all USF football home games, major university events and hours-long practices three days a week. The band has also traveled internationally, performing at parades in London and Rome. 

“It is great that the HOT Band was asked to perform at the Bucs home opener,” said HOT Band director and USF alum Trevor Butts, assistant professor in the School of Music. “It has been more than six years since we have performed at a Bucs game. I am super excited we got to showcase the hard work and dedication of the Herd of Thunder.” 

The HOT Band started its eight-minute performance with the Call of the Bulls/El Toro song, which can be heard on the field before kickoff at every home USF football game. They then shifted into Louisiana Funk – a song they’re known to perform during half time. 

“We are thrilled to have had USF’s Herd of Thunder marching band perform at Sunday’s season opener against the Washington Commanders,” said Brian Ford, chief operating officer for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. “Playing at home in front of a packed and energized Raymond James Stadium is the ideal way to kick off the 2024 season and having the Herd of Thunder perform their signature high-energy show at halftime will add even more to what will be a special day for members of our Krewe.”

The HOT Band performance is one of the university’s many ties to the Bucs. USF recently announced a partnership with the NFL team that’s focused on combining the resources of both organizations to grow, cultivate and develop careers in sports. The partnership's key foundational element will involve individual and group mentoring opportunities between Buccaneers front office staff and USF students pursuing careers in the sports and entertainment industry.