The Cookeville High School Marching Cavaliers will be taking the field in brand new uniforms this Friday night during the season’s first home football game following a community fundraising campaign.
Assistant Principal and Co-Athletic Director Lance Kennedy said the milestone upgrade replaces older uniforms that the school had used for years. Kennedy said the new uniforms will provide a significant boost to a hardworking group of students who put incredible effort into their presentation.
“It’s an extremely wonderful milestone for us,” Kennedy said. “We have had the same uniforms since the school opened, I believe.”
Kennedy said the uniform drive was powered by an intensive $150,000 community campaign spearheaded by the Cookeville High School Band Booster Club. Kennedy said booster organizers and school administration began mapping out the logistical requirements and project timelines over a year ago.
“Well, Dawn White, that’s one of the boosters that was in charge of that,” Kennedy said. “She was huge in that process. And I know she had a vision and was the kind of figurehead over that group on that uniform drive. She emailed us and actually sat down and met with some of us, probably a year ago, and we started discussing what it would take to get uniforms, how many we need, what the unit cost is for those, timelines to get a deposit in, how much is needed on the front end, how much then is needed to finish up the project.”
Kennedy said local corporate sponsors and community members completely stepped up within a narrow timeframe to ensure the fundraising goals were fully met. Kennedy said the immense collective effort allowed the program to clear its strict manufacturing deadlines before the start of the school year.
“Especially in that timeframe, that’s a pretty narrow timeframe to get it done,” Kennedy said. “Kudos to the people who worked on that, and really just all of our sponsors and community members who saw the need, felt passionate about it. Knowing what the band brings, not only on Fridays, but throughout the year, what that program means to the rest of our community and the fact that they want them to represent Cookeville High School and the greater community to the best of their ability. This was a huge undertaking, and something we can also be very proud of.”
Kennedy said the design features the school colors in geometric shapes. Kennedy said the visual style is built to create a stately look that helps the band look uniform during their drill formations on the field.
“Everyone’s going to look tall, broad-shouldered,” Kennedy said. “The cut of the uniform is very conducive to having everybody look taller, look a little more stoic. They have the school colors and geometric shapes. It’s going to give kind of a lengthening tall look. That’s kind of what you want on the marching field.”
Kennedy brings a unique perspective to the project, having served as a local band director for 10 years after performing as a trumpet player in the University of Tennessee marching band and orchestra. Kennedy said his personal history in music education gives him an appreciation of the immense logistical challenges that local programs navigate behind the scenes.
“I have a unique path to my career,” Kennedy said. “I was a trumpet player in elementary, middle, and high school. I went on to be in the University of Tennessee band, marching band, and also in orchestra there at UT and was actually a music major and was a band director for 10 years, so I have quite a bit of insight on what goes into all that.”
Kennedy said public recognition is deeply meaningful to the music department because band achievements are rarely broadcast as widely as standard sporting scores. Kennedy said highlighting the program provides essential visibility to the non-seasonal group as they look toward future field competitions.
“I do appreciate you covering the story because it’s a great one, a timely one,” Kennedy said. “It’s easy for a lot of your athletic programs after a game or a tournament to post results. With the band program, that’s a little tougher to do, especially on a regular basis. They do go to competitions, but a lot of their results don’t really get out there as much, so I’m proud to give them deserved coverage.”
The Marching Cavaliers will officially showcase the new uniforms during pregame and halftime festivities this Friday, August 28th, at Eddie Watson Stadium.
