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            Auburn University - University Relations
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6/2/95              Janet McCoy

** GRADUATION FEATURE **

'BIG DOGS' OF AUBURN BRASS TO GRADUATE FROM AU JUNE 7


     AUBURN -- Being called 'big dogs' on the Auburn University
campus might not seem like a compliment to most college students,
but three music majors are proud of the distinction.
     In fact, their "bark" is actually louder than their bite as
they are a select crew of brass musicians who were involved with
several AU bands, including the marching band, the symphonic
orchestra and the Auburn Brass. 
     The music students  -- Mark Goffi of Mobile, Nat! Rinnert of
Longmont, Colo., and Dale Bloodworth of Kendall, N.Y. --  came up
with the nickname because of their size (all over 6 feet tall) and
because of the instruments they play. Bloodworth and Rinnert play
tuba and Goffi plays trombone.
     They got the idea for their nickname from a T-shirt worn 
regularly by Rinnert.
     "We cover the low brass ensemble and provide the meat of the
sound," says Bloodworth. "We kind of liked the saying, 'if you
can't play with the big dogs, get out the pen'."
     They also are heavyweights when it comes to earning degrees.
When the trio graduate from AU during Wednesday's spring
commencement, they will have earned seven degrees among them -- six
of them from AU. All will graduate with degrees in music education,
and all plan careers in music at the high school or college level.
     Goffi will earn his second undergraduate degree from AU and
will enroll in graduate school at the University of Notre Dame to
work with its band program.
    "The Notre Dame band is the oldest marching band in the country
and I will be the only trombone teacher there," he says.
     Goffi earned his first AU undergraduate degree in chemical 
engineering but says he didn't like the field, adding, "I always
enjoyed music and was involved in the band at Baker High School in
Mobile and here at Auburn."
     Bloodworth will earn his second master's degree at AU, with
all three degrees in music education. His wife, Wendy, is a 1991
graduate of AU's social work program, and he hopes to land a
teaching position. 
     Rinnert, who will earn a master's degree in music education,
has a bachelor's degree from the University of Kansas, where he
played football.
     "I turned down a scholarship to play football and played in
the band but later walked on the football team," he said. "I can
remember in the ninth grade when I said I wanted to be a musician."
     While the trio will likely move to different parts of the
country following graduation, "we'll never really split up,"
Bloodworth says. "There is a tight brotherhood among musicians in
general and especially low brass. You never really do split up."
     Rinnert says, "Our paths will definitely end up crossing
again sometime."
     The trio credited their camaraderie to music Professor
Randall Faust.
     "He's really been a constant and stable source and in times
when people are unsure about what they wanted to do, he's been the
reason many people have stayed," Bloodworth says. "He treats us
colleagues and not as students and he is the source for how we
treat each other."
     "When you're ready to do something different, he's there to
back you up and provide encouragement," Rinnert says.
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june95:AU-bigdogs
     CONTACT: Faust, 334/844-3182.

     (NOTE: Rinnert uses an exclamation point at the end of his
first name. Goffi's parents are Mr. and Mrs. James Goffi, formerly
of Mobile; Bloodworth's parents are Mr. and Mrs. Howard Harper of
Kendall, N.Y.; and Rinnert's parents are Mr. and Mrs. Jerry Rinnert
of Longmont, Colo.)