By Eric Stock

NORMAL – Illinois State’s Big Red Marching Machine received a hero’s welcome on Tuesday as it returned home.

The band’s nearly 200 members marched in the St. Patrick’s Day Parade in Dublin and won two international band competitions during its week-long stay in Ireland.

ISU President Larry Dietz was among the university dignitaries who made the trip.

“Nothing like doing that in Dublin and St. Patty’s Day and winning the biggest award and then they did the same thing in Limerick,” Dietz said. “It’s been a real pleasure to be traveling with this group.”

Redbird football coach Brock Spack took time to salute the band as its bus parked outside Bone Student Center. He said gamedays wouldn’t be the same without it.

“They do a lot for us, they support us and work really hard. We get to watch them practice a lot and have a great relationship with the band,” Spack said.

Dietz said trips like this help ISU broaden its international outreach.

“You talk about the study abroad program you talk about bringing more students here, bit this kind of experience is also a cultural experience and helps us expand our international reach.”

Eric Stock can be reached at [email protected].

Adam Studzinski contributed to this report.