Celebrating the 20th Anniversary of the 1999-00 Embry-Riddle Men's Basketball National Championship

In 1998, the Embry-Riddle Pep Band was born. From its first appearance at an ERAU basketball game, the Pep Band became a crowd favorite. 
 
By the time the 1999-00 season rolled around, the band was a fixture at every home basketball game, and band members even made a few road trips to support their Eagles.
 
During the NAIA II National Tournament that year, the Pep Band had two of the more unforgettable memories of the tournament.
 
When the Embry-Riddle men's basketball team made it to the national tournament, the Pep Band members knew they had to find a way to get there. The solution came in the form of a charter bus. On the morning of the quarterfinals, the Pep Band and a few other ERAU supporters, prepared to make the long journey from Florida to Missouri.
 
Expectations and spirits were high as they set out from Daytona Beach, but the group had no idea what was in store.
 
Somewhere in Arkansas, a vehicle driving behind the bus alerted the bus driver that there was smoke coming from the back of the bus. The driver pulled over and sure enough, the bus was on fire.
 
"Everyone was safe," ERAU Assistant Athletic Director for Business Operations Maryelllen Wynn said. "The bus fire made national news and for a while, the Pep Band was more famous than the basketball team!"
 
The group was stuck on the side of the highway for a few hours, but eventually, another bus picked them up and delivered the safely to Branson. 
 
Getting to Branson was only half the battle. 
 
The NAIA had rules in place for any spirit group, such as bands or cheerleaders, who wished to perform at a national event. In all the excitement of making the trip, the paperwork that would allow the band to play at Embry-Riddle's games had not been filed.
 
When the director of the College of the Ozarks Pep Band heard of the ERAU Pep Band's efforts and challenges to get to Branson, he intervened and in unprecedented fashion, he invited the Eagles to play with the Bobcats during the last three games of the tournament.
 
"THAT was phenomenal," ERAU Head Athletic Trainer Shari Hilscher said as she recalled what it was like to see both bands playing together.
 
There's no way of knowing whether or not the College of the Ozarks band director may have thought twice about his offer when the Eagles and the Bobcats collided in the national championship game. Regardless, the Embry-Riddle Pep Band worked in harmony with the Bobcat Band to create an unbelievable atmosphere during the national championship game in what was truly a memorable experience.
 
Wynn said, "Seeing the Embry-Riddle Pep Band played alongside the College of the Ozarks band during the tournament is proof that good sportsmanship isn't only on the court, it can happen on the sidelines!"