Singing Men of Note Bear Down
On National Anthem

Five hours on a bus with 37 other guys… just to sing one song!  Think it would be worth it?  You bet your bippy.  When that one song is sung before an audience of 74,000 screaming Americans plus several thousands others listening on radio, and the song just happens to be the Star Spangled Banner.Text Box: Casy, Terry, Glen and Jack entertain at the Security Gate on their way into the field.

That’s what made the guys of the South Cook County Chapter of the Illinois District get up at 5:00am on September 22, 2002.  Singing the National Anthem at an NFL game, especially when it’s for our heroes, Da Bears, is an unimaginable experience.  You’ve got all of your buddies and you are walking into a world very few others have experienced.  You are about to spread the gospel according to Owen Cash and Rupert Hall – barbershopping is fun, harmony is alive and we care a bunch for each other and our hobby.

The chapter arrived moments before the required mic test and we were ushered directly onto the playing field.  Logistics were such that, because we were a larger group, we were to stand in the south end zone facing the American Flag and the Jumbo-tron.  Oh! My Word!  We were gonna see ourselves on the really big screen. 

Text Box: The chorus begins the mic test. When we began the mic test, the stadium was empty and the sound was big, and loud, and echoing.  We were disciplined enough to ignore the sounds of our singing coming back at us a full second after we had finished the phrase.  But what an experience!  You would have thought the heavens would be opening with the size of the booming anthem.  The chorus was lined up in a semi-circle, three deep.  But we felt like one – the whole – we wouldn’t be here if not for the guy next to us.  While the day began cloudy, with a slight mist, the weatherman promised better by game time.

After the mic test, there was a 1 ½ hour break before we were to reassemble.  Our passes allowed us to walk the edges of the field.  The Bears are playing on a temporary field due to the renovation of Soldier Field in Chicago.  This was Champaign, Illinois – home of the Fighting Illini, the field of Halas, Grange, and Butkus.  How can you help but feel a part of something bigger, for us and for barbershop singing.  We walked as the players – huge guys, I might add, warmed up on the field. It was awesome watching these get ready to battle – modern gladiators – Wow!  The crowd began to gather.  By the time of the pre-game activities, the stands were packed to the walls, not an empty seat in the house.

Text Box: A South Cook Defining Moment The break also gave four of us time to leave the stadium and visit a few of the tailgate parties going on in a nearby parking lot.  We sang some songs, and made some new friends that day.  And as we did, the skies parted and the most gorgeous blue skies appeared, as if queued.  What do ya know, the weather guy did come through.  But it was time to get back for a little warm up and last minute organization. 

The Singing Men Of Note marched single file onto the field as the field announcer made some introductions.  The chorus members were in their rows, four mics placed in front of the group.  “And now, to sing our National Anthem, from Tinley Park, Illinois, Under the direction of Bob Tuohy, The Singing Men of Note.” 

 As Bob raised his arms, the crowd drew quiet.  And the song, the one song we came to perform began.  “Oh oh say can you see…”  The first realization was that the one second feedback was very minimal, and not as it was during the mic test.  Ok – just concentrate on the song – eyes on Bob.  Oh, is the jumbo-tron panning the chorus – don’t look up!

Text Box: SC on the Jumbo-tron “rockets red glare…” – the crowd reaction is phenomenal.  Did we do that or is it a reaction of a nation willing to fight for its freedom.  This reaction provides a charge of adrenaline - the singing is smoother and more solid.  The climax – “wave, or the land of the free…”  The crowd noise is defining; everyone is up on their feet.  “and the home of the brave.”

  The Bears provided seats for the chapter – a separate grandstand in the south end zone.  We were also provided a boxed lunch (KFC).  Our hosts went out of their way to be kind to us, and when it was done, when the Bears gave away the game after having a 20 to 0 lead, Virginia McCaskey sent her personal assistant down from her box to meet Bob, and asked if we could sing it again.  Oh, not just then, but at a game next year when the team is back in Soldier Field.  And maybe provide a halftime show as well.  We wouldn’t want to do that, would we?  You bet your bippy we would.

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