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iane a twirl
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By Deb Gray
Her baton has taken her to Europe,
given her a part in a movie and helped
hep. win the title of Miss College
Majorette of America.
Now after six years of fronting the
Cornhusker Marching Band, Diane
Tangeman has returned to her native
Omaha to teach baton lessons.
Tangeman said she graduated last
May with a double major in English and
psychology. She will probably not
pursue a career in either field, she said.
Tangeman mentioned two high points
of her six years. One, she said, was the
band's trip to Europe this summer.
"Everyone was astonished at the size
of the band and its sound," she said.
Another was the Orange Bowl trip in
1971. There, Tom Laughlin, the star of
the ''Billy Jack" movies, saw her in the
Orange Bowl parade and asked her to
lead a parade in "Trial of Billy Jack,"
she said.
In 1973, Tangeman competed at Notre
Dame for the title of Miss College
Majorette of America. She wen on the
basis of baton twirling and strutting
exhibitions, evening gown competition
and interviews, she said.
Tangeman said her routines changed
in nati "e in recent years. When she
began, she said, she did strictly twirling
routines. Lately, the band has played
jazzier numbers, allowing her to do as
much dancing as.twirlirjg, .she! said.
When the stadiumchaged from
grass to AkUoiufi-, Yaffgeman said she
stopped doing routines with flaming
batons.
"I was told the Astroturf was
flammable, so I had to quit," she said.
"But the turf is really better for routines
because it's not as bumpy."
Tangeman began twirling with fire
when she was 7 years old. She has also
studied jazz, tap and ballet, she said.
Tangeman admitted that at first it was
a "little scary" being the only woman in
a band of about 200 men. Now, with
women members, "the band's attitude
has changed somewhat," she said.
"Seme like it and some don't."
Tangeman has seen many changes in
her twirling career: Astroturf has
replaced grass, Tom Osborne has
replaced Bob Devaney and David
Humm has replaced Jerry Tagge. Does
she have any regrets now that she
doesn't have to attend the 8 a.m. band
practices?
"It's going to be nice not having to
get up that early," she said, "but I think
I am going to miss it a little."
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daily nebraskan
thursday, decemberS, 1974
