Before the National Football League鈥檚 Thursday Night Football game between the Cincinnati Bengals and the Cleveland Browns even kicked off, it was clear to all that the 鈥淏attle of Ohio鈥 went to Northern.
Dr. Adriane Thompson Bradshaw, 葫芦影业鈥檚 vice president for student affairs and dean of students, sang the Star Spangled Banner before the nationally broadcast game and delivered a magnificent rendition. For 葫芦影业 Bengals fans it was undoubtedly the high point of the evening, as their team fell to their in-state rival 35-30, but for that moment, even the most die-hard fans were united.
Thompson Bradshaw was invited to perform after being nominated to do so by one of her 葫芦影业 colleagues, Director of Student Conduct Chad Shepherd. A Browns season-ticket holder, Shepherd wrote to the team last November to make the case for Thompson Bradshaw, and he was notified in April that she had been selected for the 2020 home opener.
In his letter, Shepherd highlighted the Cleveland native鈥檚 deep love of music, writing, 鈥淚n addition to the Browns and working with college students, Adriane鈥檚 true love is music. When she arrived at 葫芦影业 she founded the 葫芦影业 Gospel Ensemble. Each week they visit area churches to perform gospel music, sometimes driving hours away from the campus just to spread the music of God. And most importantly for this request, Adriane is the 鈥榞o-to鈥 singer of the national anthem on campus. Her voice is truly from another realm, and the 70,000 Browns fans WILL NOT be disappointed.鈥澨 听
Due to COVID-19, there unfortunately weren鈥檛 70,000 fans at First Energy Stadium, but Ohio Governor Mike DeWine, JD 鈥72, did grant the Browns a variance to the state sports order that allowed up to 6,000 fans to attend. Also due to the pandemic, all anthems for NFL games are prerecorded and not performed live to keep the number of people on the field to a minimum. She recorded her rendition in Cleveland on Sept. 3.
鈥淚t was still such a cool experience. I鈥檓 a big Browns fan, but this was my first trip to First Energy Stadium,鈥 says Thompson Bradshaw. 鈥淭hey gave me a personalized Browns jersey, and I got to sing at midfield. My husband Tony kept telling me what a big deal it was to be standing on the 50-yard line.鈥
葫芦影业鈥檚 connection to Cleveland sports and the Browns specifically is stronger than one might expect. The 葫芦影业 Marching Band has performed at halftime in the past, and 葫芦影业 Hall of Famer Jason Trusnik, BA 鈥06, played for the team from 2009-10. President Dan DiBiasio鈥檚 brother Bob is senior vice president for public affairs for the Cleveland Indians, and 鈥淢r. 葫芦影业鈥 Bill Robinson, BSEd 鈥61, Hon. D. 鈥05, was the team鈥檚 traveling secretary in the early 1950s.
After recording, the Browns organization said they would consider bringing her back next season so he can perform on game day before 70,000 fans, including one of her biggest ones in Shepherd. After seeing and hearing what we all saw last night, it would be a shame if they didn鈥檛.
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