The Nation Ford High School football stadium will be quieter than usual tonight.

 

Despite how the Falcons perform on the field against Gaffney, there will be no band to play the school fight song or perform the half-time show. The band canceled its appearance at the game and pulled out of a Saturday competition in Shelby, N.C., because too many kids -- 26 musicians -- are out sick with the flu and other illnesses, Band Director Martin Dickey said today.

 

On Thursday, nearly 20 percent of the band's 130 students were out sick, Dickey said.

 

“I've taught for 25 years and this is the first home football game I've missed,” Dickey said. “I was more concerned with missing the game than the competition. This community gives a lot to the band and we want to give back to them. But we've just got to stop. [The game is] important, but I have to make a decision because of the health and safety of the kids.”

 

In a typical marching band season, the band might be without one or two students at a competition or football game because of illness. This season, however, the students have yet to perform the entire marching band show with anything close to a full roster. At last week's competition at Western Carolina University, 12 students were absent because of illness. Competing with “holes” – missing band members during the band's performance – makes it difficult for the musicians to maintain a proper formation.

 

Some of the absent students are suffering with the flu, but many just have common colds and congestion, Dickey said. He's also ailing, he said.

 

The Falcons' football team has also been hit hard by the flu and cold bugs this past week.

 

“We have a high percentage [absent] and what happens is you have band and football teams that are around each other a lot and if you continue to be around each other you spread it,” Dickey said.

 

The band plans to compete Saturday, Oct. 24, in the Upper State Championship in Clinton.