Idaho Vandal Dreams of Winning Semifinals Against Elite Opponents!
It’s an exciting time to be a Vandal. For the first time ever, both the University of Idaho men’s and women’s basketball teams are going dancing. The women haven’t made the NCAA tournament in 10 years, and it’s been more than 35 years for the men.
The University of Idaho band, however, is no stranger to March Madness. Two years ago, when Yale University’s band couldn’t make it to Spokane for the team’s March Madness games, the University of Idaho’s band stepped in — donning Yale gear and learning the fight song. Band director Spencer Martin later joked the Vandals might have played a role in Yale’s 2024 success.
“When Yale upset Auburn, I called my mother on the bus ride home, and she goes, 'Well, you know, you're the reason they won. The band's the reason they won,' and so that's always kind of been a joke,” Martin said. Now, the band is heading back to the NCAA Tournament — this time to support its own teams.
“It’s just special. I mean, we’re Vandals first. Yeah, it was fun to play for Yale...
but it’s way better to play for your people and your teams, and we have a great relationship with both teams and a great relationship with both coaches and the players,” Martin said. This year brings a new challenge: supporting both the men’s and women’s teams after each won the Big Sky Conference Tournament. “Instead of putting together one band, we had to put together two bands that would be traveling all over the country,” Martin said.