In 1886 the Purdue Student Army Training Corps formed a five-member drum corps to play music for the cadets during their morning conditioning runs. While operating without a director until 1904, the band had started playing at Purdue football games and had grown to over 50 members. However, during this time it played sporadically, as there usually wasn't anyone available to direct them. Additionally, they received almost no training and had to provide most of their own equipment. Emrick retired in 1954, and to date the band has been under the direction of just five other men: