Mellophone Season Pictures - 2003

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Welcome to the long-awaited online picture gallery of the 2003 MI Mellos! Click one of the following to fast-forward to a specific event. Clicking a thumbnail will open the picture in a new window. If any past or present mellophotographers have pictures to submit to the gallery, please send them to gercken at u i u c dot edu.

( Mello Mini-Camp & Preseason Stuff | Game Day Pictures | Homecoming Parade & Pep Rally | Mello/Sousa Date at Curtis Orchard | Iowa Road Trip & Semiformal | MI Formal 2003 )


Mello Mini-Camp & Preseason Stuff

Thanks to Megan and her family for graciously hosting the mini-camp at her home in Palatine, and to Megan's mom for taking many of the photos seen here.

It worked for at least three people!
Best way to let newbies know where the house is: Look like we're doing something outside.
So what do I do now?
Becky, befuddled by the game.
Croquet...a sport for bonding sections.
Pat shows his mad skills at croquet in Megan's back yard.
Swing for the fences, Dan!
The scene at the ball diamond before all the excitement began.
That's going high to right field, methinks.
Nate gets in some batting practice before the game.
Steeeeeeeerrrrrrrike!
Danyel takes a swing.
The jury's still out on whether that's foul or fair.
Is it a hit?
Time to put down the camera and get that ball!
Becky wings one out toward right field.
How does YOUR 8 to 5 measure up?
Mellos at Mini Camp in Palatine with a 22.5" stick!
...and the softball game was called on account of food.
It's dinnertime!
So much food...so little time.
Decisions, decisions...
Many thanks to Megan's mom who took many of these pictures around the food.
Now that we have our food, let's hit the patio!
Is Dr. Pepper the official drink of the mellos?
Chillin' over some picnic food.
Little did Alex know that one day he would be in a picture called 'Four Mello Girls.jpg'
Let's scrunch up for a wide-angle shot!
One of these things is not like the others...one of these things just doesn't belong!
Three newbies with a vet.
Don't worry about eating too much.  You'll march it off later.
Nate, Dan, and Jason demolish some food.
Look closely...Derek's pointing at the camera.
Music sectional time in the cool chambers of the Armory.
Where in history has it EVER been proved that crowding spreads disease?
We love rehearsing so much, we do it in tight spaces.
Were they dismissed or did they escape?
The scramble to the cars.
You can't lose a mello at dinner.  We're too good-looking.
Dinner at band camp.


Game Day Pictures

Don't miss the 2nd airhorn!
Kyle flips his tag.
I'll trade you my Snickers bar for your peanut M&M's!
Another 9am lunch from Grandy's.
This squad had it tough...five people sharing two horns.
Squad 16's last game together this year.
Who knows...there might be a 4th generation MI member in the family 20 years from now!
Second- and third-generation MI members.
Danyel, Sabina, Megan, and Derek.
The Orange & Blues Band Mellos for 2003.
Actually, we all just like to stand around.
Pat and Alison have a look at some buses parking in the lot across the street.
...yes, I fully expect that a caption like that should earn the webmaster groans and 
eye-rolling.
Beloved fossil section leader, Robin, returns without a Batman.
Three types of mellos come together on a diplomatic mission.
MI Mellos gift the Wisconsin Mellos with a bag full of candy.
Could you hit the one for the fifth floor, please?
Danyel thinks Jen's nose is a button!
Look how many of 'em are paying attention...and then there's Brian, who thinks the game could be more interesting.
Odd-numbered squads on the South side...
We would like to thank our alternates or ugs for this shot.
Perfect horn angle demonstration.
We like marching farther away from where our parents sit.
...and even-numbered squads on the North side!
LeRoy's been looking for his shades...have you seen them, Danyel?
Game day necessity: sunglasses.
Danyel can't help but smile!
There's only one reason we're going to the upper deck...
Get that crowd going, guys!
We're here to play!
Future used car salesman?
Check ya later.
Derek, you'll have to wash that mello in warm water to shrink it up a bit.
Derek tries something different, but Megan
doesn't know how to take it.

Homecoming Parade & Pep Rally

If you go to the property room, Ben might be able to snake out that Jolly Rancher.
Honestly, what's a homecoming parade without candy and something interesting to put it in?
We're ready for the long wait until they let us play.
Waiting around at the Homecoming Pep Rally.
How long is this gonna take?
Alison, as a freshman, is smiling because she doesn't know what to expect.

Mello/Sousa Date at Curtis Orchard

It's not a school bus...It's a COOL bus!  (seriously, it says so above the windshield!)
Sousas and Mellos take the short bus.
Let's get outta here before somebody catches us!
How d'ya like them apples?
Notice how everyone clumps together differently...
Mellos and Sousas are at Curtis Orchard again!
It's great how pumpkins bring everyone together!
3 Sousa guys + 6 mello girls + Curtis Orchard = a really fun time!

Iowa Road Trip & Semiformal

Ingenuity is brimming in the section without square cases.
The guys construct a curvilinear form
that's actually good for something.
Why is there a natural turf field in the stadium, then?
AstroPlay practice field with two
50 yard lines at Iowa.
Wow...a non-Sousa-lovin' mello!
Dan and Alison get comfortable.
One of the many reasons we are the best section in the land.
Squad 14! And they never
change their order!
Faces L-R: Sabina, Derek, Jen, Brittany, Kyle, Becky, Pat, Alison, Jason, Megan, Brian, Dan, Becky and Alex.
Mellos at the Iowa Roadtrip Semi-Formal.
Derek, Sabina, Brian, Alison, and Alex.
It's Squad 13!

MI Formal 2003

Click this picture to see Matt Holzner disappear into thin air!
Sabina spruces up her date up a bit.
The $22 doesn't buy you just the food, though...
Buy a ticket to the formal and get a meal like this.
We're smiling because we get to dance with some hot MI guys all night long!
Megan, Alison, and Becky — a trio of talent, smarts, and good looks.
Another great couples shot from that night.
Rosy loved going to the formal with Jason
so much, she decided to join the line in 2004!
One of the best couples shots of the night.
Jen and Geoff share a Kodak moment.
Another great couples shot of the night!
Lauren & Kyle enjoy a candlelight dinner.
Iowa State?  Danyel...how could you?
Danyel stands by her man, Adam.
Becky with Scott's roommate?
Becky and her dance partner, Ben, take it easy after swing dancing.
Nice hat, Bina—it goes with the dress and everything!
Sabina dances with a Ben of her own.
Yes folks...he's wearing a tailcoat.
Dan and Alison looking very sharp.
Can you feel the leadership in this room?
The Brain Trust: our fearless section leaders, Sabina, Kyle, and Megan.
Alison's not getting a picture taken with Scott just for the height difference.  She has a thing for guys in tailcoats.
Yes, the Mellos are a section of extremes.
Scott never knows what's going on.
Real men play mellophone!
Jen, Sabina, Megan, Kyle, Meghan, Scott, Brittany, Danyel, Nate, Becky, Dan, Alison, Jason, Becky, and Brian.
And here's the crew that
showed up to formal! (Where's Pat?)
Sorry, guys, but they're both taken.
Our marching section leaders, Megan and Sabina.
Jen, Brittany, Becky, and Megan.
Squad 14 sports the formalwear.
We get one good shot at Squad 15, and it had to go psychedelic on us.
Squad 15, not necessarily shortest to tallest.


Click to see the original version. See the Iowa Roadtrip Shirt Back designed by Danyel.
Once again, blame Scott for the design of this page.