Raised to Roll Tide, Ross Tolbert plays War Eagle

Ross Tolbert has music in his blood.

If it’s actually possible to have music in the bloodstream, he does.

Ross is the second son of Brent and April Tolbert of Shelby County, Alabama. He plays the trumpet and oboe and is a proud member of the Auburn University Marching Band (AUMB). This is his third year serving as drum major.

Back in their college days, Brent played the tuba while his future wife, April Renfroe, played the clarinet.

Ross is perhaps the best of each of his parents, musically, with one major difference: He says War Eagle, not Roll Tide.

A family divided

Before the Tolberts married and had children, they were proud members of that collegiate musical group known as the Million Dollar Band.

Yes, Auburn fans, the marching band from the University of Alabama. Brent and April were also music education majors at UA and went on to work in the field for 11 years.

With two musically inclined parents teaching music, it’s understandable that Ross grew up with a passion for the subject. Brent said Ross took piano lessons as a youngster. April said he joined the school band in sixth grade and made all-state by eighth grade and throughout high school. At Helena High School, Ross played trumpet and served as drum major for two years.

Mom and dad’s influence didn’t end there. Understandably, Ross grew up a fan of the Crimson Tide.

It seemed like the Tolberts had it all laid out for this son to follow in their footsteps. Surprisingly, they were not upset when best-laid plans went awry.

The Plains prevail

Ross began to appreciate the Loveliest Village on the Plains when he came to Auburn to participate in swim meets.

“It was my favorite place to come and swim,” Ross said.

When it was his turn to visit colleges, he named two choices — Auburn or Alabama. It was the atmosphere, the close community, that tipped the scales in Auburn’s favor.

Brent and April, two die-hard Bama fans, weren’t saddened by his decision. In fact, they said they were fine with the major and college choices of both their children. Eldest son Brooks looked at Auburn but ended up at Snead State Community College before transferring to the University of Alabama in Huntsville, where he studied civil engineering and played baseball for the Chargers.

Ross’ decision may have been a little easier for April to accept because — plot twist — she grew up an Auburn fan.

Jokingly, if Ross is the “traitor” of the family for picking Auburn over Alabama, April was the original.

She chose Alabama over Auburn, knowing her dad, Sammy Renfroe, played football for Shug Jordan in the late 1960s, and his dad, Sam “Bo” Renfroe, attended Auburn before that. Both graduated with degrees in building construction.

When Bo died in 2007, his good friend David Housel delivered the eulogy. A legendary Auburn man, Housel served as Auburn’s athletic director from 1994-2005.

Bo purchased Auburn season tickets when his son Sammy played. They have stayed in the Renfroe family ever since, with Brent and April now using them to watch Ross and AUMB.

“It’s really cool for me to sit in the same seats I did as a child,” April said.

April’s loyalty to the Tigers switched “pretty quickly” once she was in Tuscaloosa. She said she cried at her first Iron Bowl in an Alabama band uniform, and that was that.

“I got past it after that,” she said, with a chuckle.

Ross knew his decision wasn’t a slight on his parents, but rather what was best for him, even if it created a little family rivalry.

“They were very supportive of the decision because they knew I came here for academics,” he said.

Ross came to Auburn, majoring in chemical engineering and playing in the AUMB. He added music education this year and will graduate with degrees in both. He aspires to be a collegiate band director.

What more could two music-loving parents want?

Like father, like son

After his first year at Auburn, Ross decided to audition to be a drum major. Out of 380 AUMB members, only four earn the coveted role each year.

He said the tryout was a “rigorous” experience, but he secured the spot for his sophomore year and every year since.

This season, Ross has served as the head drum major, which means he and his three bandmates share the responsibility of leading the band on to Pat Dye Field pre-game and performing the iconic mace routine.

If you attended the Alabama A&M or Texas A&M games, you saw Ross doing what he loves best.

He calls it scary — how would you feel twirling a mace in front of 88,000 people? Don’t drop it! — but humbling and rewarding to be in that special role. He has learned so much about leadership and life skills as part of the band, and as drum major, he wouldn’t change a thing.

Yes, it’s a lot to manage classes — for two majors — band practices and performances — besides AUMB, there’s symphonic winds band, concert band and pep band — and homework, but time management is key, and he knows that skill is vital for the future.

Brent, who was a drum major for two years at Alabama, is proud to see his son follow in his footsteps, even if the uniforms, music and routines aren’t the same.

“I love watching him and the Auburn band,” said dad.

True colors

The Tolberts remain supportive of Ross, but like many divided households, rivalry games can bring out everyone’s true colors.

This year is no different.

Brent has a “lucky [Alabama] shirt” that he has worn to some Auburn games — underneath an Auburn shirt, jacket or sweatshirt — if the Tide are playing at the same time as the Tigers. He’s superstitious.

For an Iron Bowl game in either Tuscaloosa or Auburn, Brent will only don his lucky shirt, loud and proud, but with an AUMB button “to support Ross.” His Auburn hat comes out for Auburn home games, never the Iron Bowl.

April will be decked out in “all Alabama” for the rivalry game, also with a button “for the band and for Ross.” She could support both of her allegiances, but nope. She’s “all Auburn” for every game except this one.

Even if his parents pull for the Tide on that fateful day, Ross knows they are rooting for him, no matter what.

It’s a house divided, but family comes first.