Members of “The Pride of West Virginia,” the Mountaineer Marching Band, perform together at a game. Courtesy photo

MORGANTOWN — The high-octane, much-recognized West Virginia University marching band now has gained the attention of not only the college football world but also made inroads into politics, entertainment and even the advertisement industry.

So wide is the band’s positive influence that it is now called “The Pride of West Virginia.”

Fast-paced, up tempo, attention-getting and charismatic, the WVU marching band has become one of faces of the university and one of the most positive symbols of the state.

This is an all-encompassing group of performers whose members come from every college and major course of study the school has to offer.

There are currently 330-plus members of the nattily attired group, whose on-field formation of the state’s outline blankets the gridiron from one 15-yard line to the other end’s 15-yard line.

"The Pride of West Virginia” forms into the shape of a star at a recent game. Courtesy photo

That state outline along with the now-famous “Flying WV” are as well-known as once were coal mines, rolling hills and quaintly named tiny hamlets and villages within the state borders.

High energy performances are what those who saw the band in person most remember.

In 1977, “The Pride” was honored by the John Phillip Sousa Foundation as the country’s outstanding collegiate marching band and made the recipient of the Sudler Trophy.

The unit has performed in nationally televised bowl games, the annual Macy’s Parade on Thanksgiving Day in New York City and two presidential inauguration parades.

It has performed in 22 states and the future holds a trip overseas to Europe.

The largest band occurred in 2008 when there were 390-plus members.

Some historical references to mention were the addition of the song “Country Roads” in 1972, the marking of 36 years as a marching member of the band by Dawn “Grandma” West who joined in 1983, playing at the Epcot Center at the Disney facility in Florida and when Cara Porterfield became the first female drum major in the 1980s.

The recent flooding of collegiate sports with NIL (name, image and likeness) money for students has also touched the band and now its members can also be compensated for the use of their name, image or likeness for monetary gain.

So recognized for its contributions, the marching band had a “Pride Travel Fund “ organization founded in 2007 to help defray the burgeoning costs of the trips to out-of-state events. As of 2019, over $1 million had been gathered for the band.

Also, in recognition of the good will the band realizes, it has become an ambassador of sorts for WVU and now stages exhibition performances all around the state. Through the years, the band has been to nearly every county in the state.

The bright yellow decoration on the musician’s helmet-like hats, the “WV” lettering on both the front and back of the blue and white uniforms and the high-stepping movements by the large contingent of players do make them easy to recognize as “The Pride of West Virginia” and the most positive of symbols concerning the state.