Kenny Morris is ready to rock. When the 22-year-old senior returns to the University of Southern California this week, it's game on.

As this season's USC drum major — the first from Hawai'i — Morris will be front man for the 400-strong Trojan Marching Band, combining classes, leadership duties and an almost daily schedule of band events.

"The band is the spiritual center of the university," Morris said, "... and the drum major is in the thick of everything. That means being at every practice and at every game, keeping the band in line, conducting fight songs and marching hard."

"It's a lot of yelling," he added.

At USC football games, the drum major is hard to miss. Pregame, clad in a Trojan helmet, armor, leather sandals and wielding a sword, the drum major marches alone into the center of the coliseum field, spins the sword above his head and "stabs the field" ... sanctifying the ground for battle, as it were. He then turns to the band, orders them to attention and conducts the opening fanfare "Tribute to Troy" and the band's anthem "Fight On."

It's a demanding role, and Morris, a 2005 Punahou graduate, is stoked to own the title.

Getting the job meant competing in a three-part tryout against fellow band members: a test of stamina and focus, and giving an inspirational speech.

But months before the tryout, Morris had to get in shape — seriously.

GEARING UP FOR JOB

"Everyone knows about the 'freshman 15,' " Morris said, referring to extra pounds students pack on when they leave home. "For me it was more like the 'freshman 20.'

"Running is a big part of the drum major job. Just running from one side of the band to the other is 100 yards," he said. "But I'd set my sights on being the drum major. I wanted to be that guy, that role model."

His decision made, Morris set his goals, getting up early each morning to run three miles before class. After class, he played basketball for upper-body muscle and overall fitness. Finally, he hit the gym whenever he could, using weights to build leg strength.

Morris also took a kinesiology class that taught him about nutrition. Three meals a day with high-protein foods edged out the haphazard mealtimes and student passion for junk food. Late-night tacos and burgers were replaced with mayo-free turkey sandwiches on whole-grain bread.

By spring he was down to 185 pounds from 225, confident, focused and ready to face an audition in which the band votes for the best candidate. Following the tryouts at the end of last semester, he was told he had the job.

Elated, Morris headed home to Kailua for the summer, where keeping momentum meant a different schedule: Getting up at 5:30 a.m. to haul supplies and help build tugs at P&R Water Taxi, a private maritime company at Kewalo Basin.

Supplementing his day job, Morris cycled daily and tried to fit in kayaking, snorkeling and working out at 24-Hour Fitness in Kane'ohe.

He's also enjoyed home cooking and morning energy drinks, courtesy of Mom.

SWEATING TOGETHER

This week, the new semester beckons, and after heading back to USC, Morris' first job as drum major will be to lead the troops through Band Camp, a tough, physically demanding 10 days of drilling, marching, conditioning, playing and, yes, lots of yelling.

"It's 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. every day; a very-in-your-face kind of thing," Morris said. "It's where the band gets into shape for the season and freshmen become Trojans. We sweat and toil together."

During the semester, the band practices four days a week, and Morris, a trombone player since fifth grade, will also function as a band teaching assistant. Then there are the jock rallies before home games, pep rallies, side gigs and always, always keeping the band pumped.

"I have to be tireless, fresh, energetic and most of all be there to boost the band morale," Morris said.

Band morale is tied closely to that of the Trojans team. "The band is very tight with the players," Morris said. "When season begins, our game days start at 6:34 a.m. (a quirky tradition), and finish after the game, whenever that is, sometimes six or seven hours later, and we're moving all the time."

Each half-time performance is different. Counting ensemble concerts, the band might play as many as 400 performances during the year.

There are perks for the hard work and time commitment: This year, the Trojan Marching Band played at the Oscars, at the final for "American Idol," and in the Rose Parade, events watched by millions around the world.

A highlight for Morris was the band's performance of "15 Step" with Radiohead at this year's Grammy Awards.

"At USC, we call ourselves 'the greatest college band in the history of the universe,' " Morris said. "I love doing this; I love the camaraderie, the feeling of being on a team and the pride involved," he said. "Having goals is great; attaining those goals and having people see you do it is very powerful."