I love football as much as the next person. Seriously, I’m right there screaming and hollering at the TV with my husband when a game is on or cheering from the stands when one of my favorite teams takes the field.

But as much as I love football, my smile just gets a little bit wider when halftime rolls around.

Being part of a marching band in high school, I know that sometimes the hard work the band does gets lost in the shuffle during football season amid the last-second touchdowns, fierce tackles and all-around grit going down on the gridiron.

I was reminded of this last week when I stopped by the driver’s ed parking lot at Russellville High School to take pictures of members of the Marching Hundred at band camp.

Just being out in the hot, humid August weather (it was near 90 degrees at 9 a.m.) on the scorching hot asphalt parking lot (that you could fry an egg on) reminded me of the hours upon hours I spent in that very place during the five years I was a member of the Marching Hundred.

At the time, I thought those band and color guard practices that seemed to go on for hours were such a grueling, daunting task, but looking back now (from the comfort of my air-conditioned office), I can really appreciate all the things band taught me like hard work and dedication and not cramming every member of a certain group into a specific stereotype.

You know, there really is something to the whole “Don’t judge a book by its cover” saying.

Band members automatically have a stigma attached to them that is completely unwarranted.

People whom I thought were total opposites of me, people I probably never would have hung out with otherwise, ended up being good friends because we shared the common bond of band.

Not everyone that is in band is a nerd, not everyone on the football team is cool, not every cheerleader is stuck-up, not every softball player is a tomboy and not everyone who’s a member of the drama team is weird.

We’re all different and unique and that’s what makes being part of a group so special.

Band also taught me that you have to work for what you want.

For those who think that being in band is a piece of cake, feel free to join them at next year’s band camp and for all the after school practices and games up until November and I’ll bet you’ll be thinking differently.

No, they’re not doing workouts like sports teams, but they are working hard, day in and day out, to provide a great halftime show and to represent the school well at any competitions they participate in.

Being in band takes dedication and hard work, and it’s great to see that the kids involved with the Marching Hundred this year seem to have a great deal of dedication and drive to have an exceptional program, and I’m sure that dedication is something they share with each member of the other outstanding bands in our county.

Here’s hoping they all have a great season full of good times and great memories.