Each year, approximately 2 million people line the New York City streets for the annual Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade. But in the year 2000, those 2 million people also will get to see, hear and enjoy the Ohio University marching band.

OU's Marching 110 was selected as the only band from Ohio to play in the parade, said Richard Suk, the marching band director. Only 12 bands from across the country are selected to participate, he said.

Suk said he applied to perform in the parade this year and next. The application had to include an 8 by 10 inch photo of the band, an audio cassette with three selections and a VHS recording of the band performing a field drill, he said.

The bands are then reviewed according to musical and drill performance, he said. He said he thinks it was the Marching 110's "overall musical quality" that made the OU band exceptional.

OU junior Luke Jernigan said he thinks it was the style of the Marching 110 that set them apart from other bands.

"We (the Marching 110) actually dance and play to the crowd," Jernigan said.

The Marching 110, which consists of about 160 pieces, has performed at several professional football games including the Cleveland Browns, Cincinnati Bengals and the Detroit Lions, Suk said.

Fall Quarter the band practices about an hour and a half during the week, and before home football games on Saturday, Jernigan said. There also is a two-hour dance practice on Thursdays during Fall Quarter, he said.

Winter Quarter the band continues to play at the home basketball games and also plays for some alumni functions during Spring Quarter.

"We are hard-working and exciting," sophomore Jake Lehman said.

The intensity the Marching 110 shows is important and everybody loves getting involved, he said.

Along with the 2 million people who view the parade from New York City, an addition 65 million people will watch it on television.

"I think it's a great opportunity for our band because people in Ohio know how good a band we are, but nationally we don't get the exposure," Jernigan said.

The Marching 110 will do a five-minute street show for the camera and then end with a Christmas tune. The band will probably play a good rock song, something with some dancing, Suk said.