"I get to initiate that," Drum Major Michaela Churilla said. "And to hear everybody cheer in response is just a thrill beyond belief."

At the University of Florida, the football players work hard. It's a year-long process, with practices during the spring, the summer, and throughout the week leading up to games on Saturday.

But the football experience wouldn't be the same without the Pride of the Sunshine. And for as hard as the players work, the band members deserve some credit for putting in the hours as well.

"Well, it's very hectic most of the time," Churilla said. "We practice Tuesdays and Thursdays. Fridays. Usually Saturday mornings. Practices generally range (from) about two to two and a half hours. If we need to cram, probably three or four on Saturdays."

To be fair, band practices seem a lot more fun, and probably much easier, than football practices. Last night, we sat on UF's Norman Field and watched the band prepare for the SEC Championship.

I was rocking out. It's not often that I get to hear a college marching band play Welcome to the Jungle, Smoke on the Water, and I Want to Rock and Roll All Night.

The Pride of the Sunshine isn't just a bunch of musicians. Practicing off in the background were the baton twirlers (a.k.a. "The Gatorettes"). Part of their job is to learn choreography, know their spots on the field, and figure out how to interact with the other band members during their routines.

"It's a lot of hard work," Elise Kashmiry said, "and a lot of everyone being focused."

Kashmiry is a grad student who has been a UF baton twirler for four years. She is the two-time reigning "Gatorette of the Year." She loves being out on the field, warming up the crowd, getting all the Gators fans ready for game time.

"It's definitely a rush," she said. "I mean, being on the field in front of 90,000 people, screaming and yelling, singing the fight song."

The two girls we spoke to today talked about the tradition at UF. They love hearing "Go Gators." They love playing "We are the Boys From Old Florida" at the end of third quarter. And being able to attend every game isn't a bad perk either.

They told us about some superstitions among the band members. For example, Churilla has the same game day routine each week.

"The other Drum Major and I, we don't feel like we're gonna win a game unless we're wearing every single thing we wore in the last game," she said with a smile. "I'm just gonna leave it at that."

But what they seemed to love most was the excitement of representing their university.

"Coming out of the tunnel for pregame is - I can't even describe to you the feeling," Churilla said. "... It's just such a rush because you know that all eyes are on you at that moment."

Going to a Gators game wouldn't be the same without that extremely loud, extremely proud marching band. You'll be hearing them throughout Saturday's game.

You can hear them already.