Mercer University's marching band, 'Mercerians', will once again enthrall its audience starting this fall, after a 72-year hiatus. The band will not only perform during all Bears' home football games, but will also play at selected away games and exhibition performances and take part in marching band competitions.

In addition, the new band will sport a new tradition by leading fans to the stadium in a 'Bear Walk' each game.

Emory Dunn, director of athletics admissions said that the university is looking to recruit 60 new incoming freshmen with an overall 150 members in the marching band for the first year.

"The athletic department is so excited about the start up of our marching band program. We have seen the immense benefits that a successful pep band brings to the game-day environment in basketball. We tasked Doug Cowden with bringing that same energy and spirit to the football games via the new marching band. We can't wait to hear them on Aug. 31," Jim Cole, director of athletics said.

Doug Cowden is the director of athletic bands at the university.

This fall, the band is set to perform a halftime show called 'Resurrection,' enacting the story of the return of football and the marching band. It will feature three songs including: 'Gloria,' by John Rutter; 'The Humming Chorus,' by Sergei Prokofiev; and 'Berceuse and Finale' by Igor Stravinsky.

This is the fourth attempt by the university to introduce a marching band. The band was first formed in the early 1900s and dissolved in the 1930s. It was restarted in 1940 but due to World War II it was once again disbanded after two years. In 1944, the ROTC program at Mercer started a band, which was strictly used for parades in military-style.

Doris McCamy Jones was he marching band's drum major in 1941 and said that she enjoyed being a part of the marching band."I would recommend any young person who likes music to participate in a marching band. I think it's great that it's coming back," she added.