
5 Questions with Amazing Race Star and Colorado Drum Major Floyd Pierce

1) How did all of this happen? How did you get on the show? Were you a fan your whole life? Who are you racing with?
Floyd: I've wanted to be on the show since the fifth grade. The minimum age was 21, so in December of 2015, I submitted an application with a friend because I wanted to get on. I was 20 at that time, but would be 21 by the start of the next race. The following March, I got a call from a casting director saying that I was moving on in the casting process, but alone and not with my partner. That's when I found out I was going to be paired with a complete stranger.
At the end of March I was flown out to LA for a week of casting finals (this was during classes) and a few weeks after that, I found out I was on the show. I trained for the next 5 or so weeks, and then I flew out to start my adventure! At that time I didn't know who I was racing with, but I was excited that I got to race with Becca Droz, a Boulder rock climbing instructor.
2) How did it impact school? How did your family react to the news?
Floyd: I'd be lying if I said this didn't impact classes a little. It was hard to focus before and after the race, and it was crazy because I was allowed to tell absolutely no one (except for family and a few teachers). I was sitting on this secret for over a year, and I finally got to announce it only a few weeks ago. My family was enthusiastic, my mom was a little nervous because she knows they can do some very dangerous and intense things on the show!
3) How did the band/school react when they heard you'd be doing this?
Floyd: My band was incredibly enthusiastic and supportive. It was awesome because a lot of them knew this was my dream, and since I consider them my family, it meant a lot to share this news with them. I really care about making them proud and representing the Golden Buffalo Marching Band to the nation. I can say for sure that the other drum majors of my band are just as enthusiastic and crazy as I am, so any incoming college band members should seriously consider doing band at CU.
4) Is there a watch party planned for each week?
Floyd: For the first week, I had a watch party with family and friends. For this week, I'm doing a watch party with just the band. Beyond that, nothing else is really planned, except for a finale party with the whole cast.
5) Was it hard keeping it a secret form everyone? How did you get away with it?
Floyd: Keeping this a secret for so long was incredibly hard. People who know me well know this is my dream, so it was difficult to not tell people that my dream came true. I tried to focus on school to distract myself. It was easy to not think about it during marching band season, especially since our football team had a stellar year that took us to our first bowl game in nearly a decade.
You can catch Floyd on the show tonight at 10pm EST on CBS.

Floyd: I'd be lying if I said this didn't impact classes a little. It was hard to focus before and after the race, and it was crazy because I was allowed to tell absolutely no one (except for family and a few teachers). I was sitting on this secret for over a year, and I finally got to announce it only a few weeks ago. My family was enthusiastic, my mom was a little nervous because she knows they can do some very dangerous and intense things on the show!
3) How did the band/school react when they heard you'd be doing this?
Floyd: My band was incredibly enthusiastic and supportive. It was awesome because a lot of them knew this was my dream, and since I consider them my family, it meant a lot to share this news with them. I really care about making them proud and representing the Golden Buffalo Marching Band to the nation. I can say for sure that the other drum majors of my band are just as enthusiastic and crazy as I am, so any incoming college band members should seriously consider doing band at CU.
4) Is there a watch party planned for each week?
Floyd: For the first week, I had a watch party with family and friends. For this week, I'm doing a watch party with just the band. Beyond that, nothing else is really planned, except for a finale party with the whole cast.
5) Was it hard keeping it a secret form everyone? How did you get away with it?
Floyd: Keeping this a secret for so long was incredibly hard. People who know me well know this is my dream, so it was difficult to not tell people that my dream came true. I tried to focus on school to distract myself. It was easy to not think about it during marching band season, especially since our football team had a stellar year that took us to our first bowl game in nearly a decade.
You can catch Floyd on the show tonight at 10pm EST on CBS.
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