Passion. Precision. Pride.

The famous Grambling football team? Guess again. We're talking ``The Band.''

When Grambling State University's marching band takes the field at Spartan Stadium for Saturday's Literacy Classic halftime show, Bay Area fans will get a taste of what has become a dazzling tradition among the nation's historically black colleges and universities.

Anticipation for the Tiger Marching Band's big thumping sound, opulent outfits and crowd-pleasing routines is so high that San Jose State's band relinquished its share of halftime to the Louisiana-based visitors. Fact is, no traditional marching band wants to be anywhere near the field where high-stepping Grambling is performing.

``We're going to sway to the left, swirl to the right and we're gonna rock and roll all night,'' said Larry Pannell, band director, about what West Coast fans can expect. ``We're going to set the pace to win the race, whirl, twirl and do things with grace.''

For many of the nation's 103 historically black institutions, marching bands are often as much the main attraction at football games as the teams -- and have been for decades. Employing an eye-popping array of drill formations, precision marching, athletic dance moves and tight musical performances of the latest hip-hop and soul hits, the bands aim to energize and entertain the crowds.

In recent years, they have been featured in television commercials and at professional sports events.

Grambling's unit is recognized as one of the top five bands in the nation and has performed in Africa and Japan and for three Super Bowls. In 2002 the band starred in the feature film, ``Drumline.''

Howard University's ``Showtime'' Marching Band performed at last year's National Football Conference Championship Game in Philadelphia. It also provided the musical score for 1999's Electronic Arts video game ``NCAA March Madness,'' and backed rap star Lil' Kim in the music video for her single ``The Jump Off.''

Different style

Black marching bands have a style distinct from traditional marching bands. Like all bands they dedicate hours of practice to complex marching formations and playing music on the move. But black bands concentrate on lively drums and percussion-section passages that pay energetic homage to African tradition.

The size of the bands vary from about 50 members to hundreds, and are coed. Many include costumed dance troupes and all are led by a drum major, a post considered such a singular honor that the Tiger band's Web site -- www.gram.edu/band/gsu2kband.htm -- lists them all since 1952.

Earl Henry, an assistant drum major, describes training camp as a monthlong physical challenge so daunting that many drop out.

``We start at 5:30 a.m., the crack of dawn by doing some stretching and then some aerobics,'' said Henry, 20, a junior music education major. ``Then we have Marines work us out and get us into condition. Then we drill for 30 minutes to get our lines together, all before breakfast. Then we come back and work on the music part, go to lunch and then come back when the sun goes down. Then we drill all night until we get it right.''

Typically the bands play throughout the games. As Showtime's director for the past 17 years, John Newson says the band wants to set the tone for every contest.

``We try to pick songs we think will be real powerful,'' Newson said. ``Today's music has a whole lot of bass and drums. This allows us to showcase our sound.''

Long tradition

The black college marching-band tradition dates as far back as 1892, when Florida A&M University, then known as Florida A&M College, organized a 16-piece ensemble directed by P.A. Van Weller. More recently another FAMU director, Dr. William P. Foster, used the discipline learned through his military training to implement a more precise, high-stepping marching style. Today FAMU is widely considered the pre-eminent marching band in the nation.

``It started in the mid-'40s with Dr. Foster at FAMU,'' said Darryl Lassiter, the writer, producer and director of ``Pay the Price,'' a 2000 film about life behind-the-scenes in a marching band at a fictional black college. ``At one time, almost all the dominant bands in the country had at least some of his influence. The '70s were probably the height of it.''

`Fifth quarter'

Bragging rights are also at stake at every game, which has given rise to a festive postgame phenomenon dubbed the ``fifth quarter.''

Bands from each school remain in the bleachers, taking turns showcasing the depth of their repertory and the sweat-inducing prowess of individual instrument sections. These back-and-forth battles can hold crowds for hours.

``Years ago, it started with the home band staying in their place and playing as the crowd left the stadium,'' said Newson. ``Over the years, it developed into both bands staying. It finally got to the point of dueling bands.''

One thing the bands have in common is immense pride.

That's what kept Southern University's ``Human Jukebox'' marching band from a role in ``Drumline.'' Band director Isaac Greggs refused to allow his group to be depicted in the movie's ``Battle of the Bands'' scene.

``They had us finishing third,'' Greggs groused. ``I have never finished third in my life, and I wasn't going to in a movie."