A conversation with Big MO's handlers

"Big” doesn’t really cover it anymore. Try huge, ginormous, a MO-nstronsity. When MU’s new and improved Big MO drum is revealed on Nov. 12, the sound of the celebratory touchdown canon blast will pale in comparison to the 9 by 4 1/2-foot bass drum. The drum’s dimensions make it one of the biggest in the world. It is a growth spurt that arose out of necessity. As the original Big MO approached its 40th birthday, it was beginning to show some signs of wear and tear. When it came time to act on the issue this past January, Marching Mizzou alumni and Big MO’s crew members David Champlin and Adam Rau, along with band fraternity Kappa Kappa Psi member Will Bryan, decided to shoot for what seemed like the impossible.