Trent Bryant's March To The Front Page

 "Look At Yo' Boy!"

That was Trent Bryant’s inital reaction after seeing himself on SC State University’s homepage.

Trent (Trenton) Bryant, a senior mechanical engineering and technology major hailing from Georgetown, South Carolina, wears many hats on campus. He’s a drum major for the SC State Marching 101 Band, a proud member of Kappa Kappa Psi National Honorary Band Fraternity, and a proud brother of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc.

The popular photo of Bryant captures a moment mid-performance during the halftime performance at the SC State vs. Fort Valley State game. When asked about the infamous pose in the picture, Bryant explained (he believes) that the band was performing a dance routine to a Sexyy Red song. The picture was taken by Sam Watson, director of SC State University Relations, originally intended as a placeholder for the homepage.

“I placed it on the homepage as a temporary placeholder — Keith (Gaillard, a content producer in the office) plans to cut a new video for the header — but it truly sets the tone for the site,” Watson said.

Apparently, the pitch was perfect. Bryant’s phone quickly blew up with messages from family, friends and classmates congratulating him. "He's gotten a lot of love and recognition from that post," said Jordan Jones, fellow bandmate and friend.

Despite making the school's front page, Bryant’s musical journey didn’t begin in big stadiums or with college crowds. “I love music. Being in the band gave me a wider outlook, especially when it came to school,” he said. He’s been marching since sixth grade in his community's band, but surprisingly enough, being a drum major wasn’t always part of his plan. It wasn’t until 2017, when he saw the Marching 101 perform at Battle of the Bands, that he knew he had found his future. "That was my first time seeing a college band and after that, I fell in love with it."

As he sets his sights on graduation in May 2026, Bryant is already planning his next big move: a career in manufacturing with industry giants like Mercedes-Benz and BMW.

For now, Trent Bryant will always have his moment, a snapshot of passion, magic, and Bulldog pride will frozen on the SC State's school front page homepage.