Eyes may be glued to the field for the halftime show of the TCU football season opener, but if fans are expecting a battle of the bands between the TCU and Grambling State University they may be in for a surprise.

Comparing the two is like comparing apples to oranges, drum major Jordan Kendle said.

TCU’s marching band plans on staying true to its roots throughout this football season using its own artistic style to set itself apart from other bands, Kendle said.

“We try to play a lot of sets and be real musical and real concise,” Kendle said.

This year marks TCU’s first season as Big 12 competitors, which means bigger teams, bigger games and bigger bands. Over the summer, TCU’s marching band tried to expand its membership in order to compete with the size of other Big 12 bands.

Kendle said he was excited to interact with more visiting bands and fans than usual in the stadium.

Moving into the Big 12, drum major Matthew Schaul said the goal for this year is to play higher, faster and louder than everyone else.  

“I believe we have the personnel to make it happen,” he said.

This year, the Frogs are planning on switching up the halftime show. Schaul said while last year’s show was filled with pop music by Journey, this year’s show will be based on a performance from 1999.

Kendle said the TCU marching band had originally attempted to get in touch with the Grambling band in order to work out a collaboration piece between the two bands for halftime, but it did not work out.

In reference to Grambling State, Kendle said the band is legendary for their style of play and hopes that their energy will transfer to everyone else and make an exciting show for the fans.