The following account of the band’s history is based upon myths and legends that have been passed down from generation to generation by word of mouth. We have never been able to find documentation that tells us what truly happened, but we have been able to piece together what most likely occurred. If anyone actually does have a first hand account of what occurred, feel free to e-mail us so we can make the proper corrections.

The history of the band can be traced back to when Cal Poly Pomona had a football team, and likely many college football teams, there was a marching band to go along with it. However, in the early 1980s, for whatever reason, the football team was disbanded leaving the marching band no where to go. From there the marching band became a “Sports Band” and gave its support to the basketball teams. As the years went on the band started to fade away and gradually fell through the cracks on Pomona history never to be seen again…or so they thought.

 The teams continued on playing at a high level of excellence without a band to support them. The new millennium saw the women’s basketball team win back to back Division II national championships and the men’s basketball team became a dominant force in the Division II post-seasons. Attendance at the games remained low and action was need to helped increase fan support. The ideas were presented to create a pep band and put together a cheer squad.

Dr. David Kopplin from the Cal Poly Pomona music department agreed to become the advisor of this “new” creation of the Athletic Department. The reigns were handed over to Daniel Sandt, a music education major, and he became the first director of the pep band version 2.0. The band took on the name the Cal Poly Pomona Bronco Pep Band and the group began to take shape.

In October of 2002, for the first time in nearly a decade, the sounds of a mighty pep band were once again heard on the Cal Poly Pomona campus. In the band’s first season, six Cal Poly students, along with several high school mercenaries, performed at ten of the men’s and women’s basketball games. The band took its first away trip to Cal State Los Angeles where they witnessed an incredible comeback in Cal Poly history in which the men’s team came back from a twenty-five point deficit to claim victory in three overtimes. The inaugural season was a complete success. The band now had to prepare to become a dominant force in NCAA Division II basketball.

In the bands second season, the band tripled in sized. Members of Cal Poly Pomona’s concert and jazz ensembles joined together and raised their horns in support of Cal Poly Pomona Athletics. The band began to be able to stand on its own without the help of high school students, but their help was still greatly appreciated. The band roughly contained fifteen to twenty members on any given night. The band could no longer be run by one single person, so in reaction Christina Owens was elected the first band president and Kaci Foster was elected the band treasurer.

The band took on more of a presence at basketball games and attended about eighteen games over the course of the season. The band traveled to San Diego and had its first night trip. The band was welcomed by the UCSD Pep Band, and a new friendship was created. The following day the Bronco Pep Band painted San Diego green and gold, going to Sea World and the Hard Rock Café.

Attending the summer orientations started to pay off as the band continued to grow in size. The band attendance began to become more consistent and the group became more stable. In the third season the band was able to play at every home Cal Poly Pomona basketball game. The band once again would travel to San Diego, though it did not spend the night. The band for the first time played at Cal State San Bernardino for the rival game, making a stand against their rival San Bernardino “Wild Bunch” jazz “band”. The band headed up north to Cal State Monterey Bay and performed at “Pack the Kelp Bed Night” and was warmly welcomed by the Monterey Bay fans. This was a learning experience for the leadership as it was discovered that pep bands and whale watches do not mix well. A large majority of the band became ill on the three hour tour and the trip was never spoken of again.

The direction of the band took another wild turn as Daniel neared the end of his schooling. Knowing that his reign was almost over as director, he looked to pass his knowledge on to a younger member of the band. Dan turned to an electrical engineering major to become the first Assistant Director. The night after the Monterey Bay game while, the band was having dinner at Bubba Gump Shrimp Co., Steven Corral was announced as the assistant director. Shortly after, Dan took on the job as director of bands at A.B. Miller High School and Steven was promoted to Co-Director, having only been Assistant Director for a few months.

A rather interesting year for the band, it saw for the first time a transition in the leadership. Dan and Steve split the directing duties this year for the pep band, again performing at all but one of the Cal Poly Pomona basketball home games. They also played for the first time at several volleyball games. The band made its first trip out of state as they traveled to the University of Arizona where they played against the established U of A Pep Band. The Bronco Pep Band stood tall against this Division I band and matched them song for song. The band had proven themselves to all.

The band again traveled to San Diego but this proved to be Dan’s last trip as band director. He stepped down and Steve completed the season as the full time band director. The band would travel out to Cal State Bakersfield where they encountered a rather hostile crowd. The crowd however would be silenced as the men’s basketball team would battle back from a double digit deficit and triumph in overtime. The only sound after the buzzer in that arena was William Tell, the Cal Poly Pomona Fight Song. The following night they attended the Cal State Los Angeles game where they saw another thrilling men’s victory. The Bronco Pep Band also welcomed their friends from San Diego to Kellogg Gymnasium, the first guests since UC Davis in 2004.

The season would prove to be a rather triumphant one for the pep band as the crowds at Cal Poly began to look forward to hearing the band and voiced their support for them in a few articles in the school paper, as well as verbal support at the games.
The band started off the year with a bang competing in the First Annual Southern California Battle of the Bands held at UCSD. Within the first week of the season the pep band immediately started playing at volleyball games and played at a total of 5 home volleyball games. From there the band would make its first trip into the hollowed grounds of UCLA’s Pauley Pavillion to watch its men’s team battle the Bruins men’s basketball team. Though the band could barely see the game from the rafters of the gym, its Cal Poly pride was never any stronger. Again the band could be seen at nearly every home men and women’s basketball game and on occasion they were spotted at such places as UCSD, Cal State LA, and were given a warm welcome at Cal State Bakersfield. Sadly, Cal State Bakersfield will no longer be a part of the same athletic conference.  

The band also had the First Annual Bronco Pep Band retreat and there were very few casualties that were reported. The band was also seen around campus playing at multiple spirit rallies held on campus and also performed at the Claremont High School Relay for life.

Strictly by the numbers, the Bronco Pep Band doubled in size and at maximum capacity the pep band reached as many as 30 members. The pep band gained many new members that were very dedicated and quickly found a home in the band.  

The Bronco Pep Band will be again returning this season with a few more surprises in store for its fans. The pep band will be featuring a new look with its new uniform. The pep band has also spent the “off season” mastering the Bronco Pep Band sound and there are a few more surprises to come…

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For more information about the Bronco Pep Band, contact Steven Corral, Band Director.