Despite all the empty seats in the Bank of Kentucky Center, the Northern Kentucky University Pep Band added an element of excitement and school pride to the men’s and women’s basketball games. To add to that excitement, not necessarily for the fans gathered in the arena, but for the members of the band, was the addition of two alumnae members blasting their brass instruments.

Although only two alumnae, Cathy Newman and Molly Fischer, attended the Jan. 8 games, current members enjoyed the opportunity to play with them.
“I wish that more people would have come, but I’m happy for the ones that did,” said freshmen music education major Rachael Gasser.

Newman, who graduated from NKU in 2004 and now works as a paralegal in Cincinnati, Ohio, wishes there had been more alumni there too, but understands the problems with trying to get back to one’s alma mater after beginning a career.

“They have such hectic schedules that it’s hard to get everyone at the same place at the same time,” Newman said.

But the two alumnae made the best of the situation, taking time to relive their days as Northern Kentucky University students and reminiscing with others.

“It’s just fun to see old friends and roots for your home school,” Fischer, a 2009 alumna said.

“You make friends for life in the pep band,” Newman said “There are seven or eight of us from when I was in pep band that still meet up about once a week.”

The band members (who were virtually the only students in the student section) shouted encouragements to the NKU basketball teams while dogging the University Missouri-St. Louis by chanting “air ball” at misfortunate three-point attempts. The band also provided a sound track to the NKU cheerleaders and dance team.


The pep band is open to anyone and cheers both the men’s and women’s basketball teams at all home games and also attends the postseason basketball tournaments if the teams advance.

Story by Matthew Brewer