[whmatthews]

The band taking a break seems like something a high school band would get to do.

[whmatthews]

All agreed that the alma mater should be played after the game win or lose and the band shouldn't get a break?

Then it is settled... man law.

[cdbilton]

Its been a while since I've posted anything on here, but I just wanted to give some insight, being a band alum. Although I agree that the break they get shouldn't be half a quarter's worth, a break of some length is needed, at least to get some water. Compared to most other schools, we march a considerably more difficult show, music and drill wise, and so we are usually more physically tired than other bands. I've been to JMU, Wake, and Coastal, and seen plenty of videos of other bands, and moving three or four times doesn't wear you out as much as our shows do. I marched the biggest bass drum for three years, and I was ready for a break after halftime, just to give my back a rest. Everybody else at the game has a chance to relax at halftime, players included, so why are we expected to play the entire game? I'm not trying to sound defensive, but I think some perspective is needed before criticizing the band for needing to catch its breath, and wanting to socialize for a few minutes.

As far as suggestions, I think that the alma mater is absolutely needed at the end of games. The only reason I know it, aside from graduating, is because the wind ensemble plays it for a few events in the spring each year. Also, moving the band over one section would be a great idea. One of the reasons for going to the top of the stadium for a break is so that we didn't have to push through the students in front after halftime. Being right next to the steps would probably eliminate most of the break, because we could go right back to our seats. This would also allow the students to be more involved in talking players ears off on the sidelines.

Just a few thoughts.

[SuperJon]

Medic, where are my talents more needed, with the students or with the band? I rest my case.


BJ said the band gets the third quarter off to "celebrate" not to rest. He said they were celebrating while they had their time off. If that's the case, I call horse crap. The band should come into the stands right after the show. They can get water and "rest" while they're there. However, if we score, or something big happens, they can play something. I don't know how many times the band missed a touchdown because they were "celebrating" this year. If we want to be big time football, it has to be on and off the field.

[01LUGrad]

I don't know man...my sister marched in one of the better high school bands in the state (and at LU). Their halftime shows were like track meets (this coming from me!). As soon as they were done, they grabbed a drink and were back SITTING in the stands, missing only 3 min or so of the 3rd quarter. It's not necessary to play the whole game, just when the situation calls for it (ie touchdowns and when crowd noise is needed).
I have a lot of respect for all the work the band does in preparing for the season. They are out there in the heat of the day putting together a show and preparing music for the game before most of us are thinking about football. If you put in all of that work, for crying out loud, show it off!

[SuperJon]

They already have the water coolers in the stands. That why I said come directly back to the stands, sit down and have the water, but be there in case the situation arises that we need them.

[TallyW]

SJ... we're becoming ideological brothers....


I say get back into the stands. Yes you're tired but be tired in the stands and be ready to support the team. It's almost as if band members look at what's going on during Saturday as two events.... The game and the band. They are there to support the team and fire up the fans.... They don't need an entire quarter to chill out. Do your thing, get back into the stands and celebrate when the game is over.

Just my $.02

SJ.. if this keeps up I may have to send you a Christmas card.

[SuperJon]

I've noticed. I guess it's the end of the world.

[dwhite]

Also, moving the band over one section would be a great idea. One of the reasons for going to the top of the stadium for a break is so that we didn't have to push through the students in front after halftime. Being right next to the steps would probably eliminate most of the break, because we could go right back to our seats.

Dr. Kerr told me at the CSU game that they had plans to add stairs to the front of the section the band currently sits in. It seems that would cause the band to run into the opposing teams sideline area, so I am not quite sure if that would work, but that's what I was told.

ALMA MATER - do it.

WHITE OUT - do it.

LET STUDENTS IN ON SOME OF IT - do it.

[SuperJon]

I still think the band needs to be moved over one section. I know they've been where they are now for a while but we haven't had this much student support in a while.

[jimflamesfan]

I was in the band at LU....it's sad to see so many alumni so mad about a break for half the third quarter.

For the people that have never seen LU's band recently, they do a great fieldshow, and actually get standing ovations when they go to places like the Lynchburg classic, where the audience is made up of "band people".

Comparing LU's band to the bands at some huge 1-A schools is not really accurate. The difference is that there are many people in LU's band who are not music majors. They voluntarily give up their time to be in the band. At larger schools, music majors have performance credits that they have to accumulate. They have to get these, so there is a larger # of students that they can draw from, and they can be more demanding, b/c it doesn't matter, the people need the performance credit.

At LU, you have some music majors, and some non-music majors that just enjoy being in band. So they try to make it a fun experience. I've seen other college bands, at even bigger schools, with fieldshows that couldn't hold a candle to what LU does.

How about giving LU some support for doing a great field show that makes us look good at places like Wake.

I've said this in another thread...in 97 they replaced the field, and the band didn't have a field that year to practice on for some time...they had to go over to Heritage. I think a lot of the band members felt like the school didn't care about them.

The band went from about 130 in 97 to 55 in 98.

To me, I'm fine with the break in the 3rd quarter...I'd rather have 150 people in the band that enjoy the experience and take 5 minutes off, than 50 people that stay there the entire game.

[jimflamesfan]

They do need to have the .MP3 of the fight song cued up to play on the PA in case LU scores at the start of the 3rd quarter...

That's my one complaint...I don't understand what a hard concept this is...the .mp3 already exists...it plays all day on the time on my myspace page.

[SuperJon]

No one is saying the band sucks. By us wanting them in the 3rd quarter we're saying they're good.

I've marched. I almost marched DCI. I know a good field show and all of that other horse crap you keep throwing out. No matter how "tired" they are after they get off of the field, they should come back in the stands for their "break." Do you know how bad it looks when 150 students leave the student section for a quarter? It proves that they're there for their own personal reasons rather than to support the football team. It comes back to the argument of is the band there to be show themselves off or to support the football team.

[SuperJon]

They do need to have the .MP3 of the fight song cued up to play on the PA in case LU scores at the start of the 3rd quarter...

That's my one complaint...I don't understand what a hard concept this is...the .mp3 already exists...it plays all day on the time on my myspace page.

That's the biggest excuse I've ever heard of. If that's the case, let's just tape the band playing stand tunes and be done with it. We can get a video board and show them marching on it. If we're going to play prerecorded stuff once, why not do it the whole game?

[jimflamesfan]

Note...SJ, you could march in the LU's band, but you choose not to, but yet you complain that the band shouldn't take a break.

That's you're opinion. I don't call anything you say horsecrap. But yet my opinion is horsecrap to you? All I'm saying is that LU does a way better job than most schools of making band fun, and if you start demanding more and more from volunteers, some will quit...and then the band will be small and useless, then people that like to complain will say, why do we have such a small band. And I'm just telling you the reason - I lived through the experience of people feeling unappreciated and not comming back to LU to march!

I'm fine with the 5 minute break...I don't think it takes away from the atmosphere, and I think it's necessary. You can say that it isn't and that's your opinion. Some band directors don't allow their students time to warm up...they just send them out on the field...that doesn't mean that it is the right thing to do...normally you want to have time to warm up.

Some band directors don't allow their students to cool down...again, that doesn't make it right

[SuperJon]

I chose not to because I have to work to afford college and I'm much more of a use getting students together to create an environment among them.


What's wrong with the "break" in the stands? That's the solution EVERYONE except the bandies have agreed on. That way they are ready to do what they're at the games for, and that's help create an atmosphere. Them missing the last 5 minutes of the second quarter and the first 7-10 minutes of the 3rd quarter is horrible. I'm ok with them missing in the 2nd quarter to warm up (although I always find it funny that people who have played a set before the game and during the game have to warm up even more). Taking a break somewhere other than the stands is just crazy.

[jimflamesfan]

I think the decision of breaks should be up to the band members. SJ, you have your right to complain about the break as a fan, and I have my right to support the break as a former member of the band and a current fan.

The band is not just there for the football team. DCI's go on without football, and people come to see them, amazing. The band is also about recruiting to LU's music program. I think they do a good job of supporting football, and having a fun atmosphere. The 5 minute break is part of the fun atmosphere.

I thought that playing the .mp3 would make sure there was music in case the team scored. If you would rather there not be a band altogether, that's a separate argument.

[SuperJon]

Marching band at football games is to support the football team and create an atmosphere.

Marching band at a competition is about the band.

It's the same as cheerleading.

[jimflamesfan]

BTW, this thread is supposed to be about whether the band plays the alma mater after the game. We've already had the argument about the break on another thread...so I hope we can get back on topic!

I'd like it if the band played the alma mater at the end of the game. I've heard Champions Arise sung before, and that would be a good tradition!

[dwhite]

jimflamesfan...

keep in mind that the "5 minute break" you keep referring to is actually around 8 minutes, which doesn't include the pre-halftime warm up of 5 minutes, which is all gametime, not actual time....in essence, the band misses about 20 minutes during the game (if not more).

and no one is criticizing the band.

[El Scorcho]

The band is not just there for the football team.

No, but I'm guessing that if LU didn't have a football team, we also wouldn't have a marching band.

[jimflamesfan]

band without football?...

Maybe, maybe not. The Majic of Orlando is a DCI drum and Bugle corps operated by the University of Orlando, completely independent of any football team. Before Rocco came, many times I was more excited during halftime than the game.

Now I can enjoy both

P.S. I still like the idea of singing/playing Champions Arise at the end of the games...I'd also like a slow version of fan the flames.

[jimflamesfan]

And I'll say one more thing about the breaks. I posted this once then deleted it...I don't know how appropriate it is...I hope the family understands that I only bring it up to point out the safety of having breaks.

In 1999, a bandmember in the percussion section passed out during practice. He died on the way to the hospital. He was in the band with me in '98, but I was in seminary in '99, and I didn't know him really well, but I had friends who did.

From my friends in the band, I heard that they had more breaks/longer breaks from that point on. I believe Dr. Locy was still the director at that time, but Dr. Kerr was the assistant, so he was probably there when it happened.

As far as the 3rd quarter break, I don't know if it affected this or not...I remember having the 3rd quarter break, but I don't remember if it was any shorter than it was then....I know that we used to be able to grab some drinks, and then I would go and sit in the stands near the 10 yard line and watch the game until we were called back...I can't remember how long the break was...

Anyway, the fact that the tragedy above did happen at LU might have something to do with the breaks - at least maybe extending them.

Normally, you expect everyone to be okay. We used to have plenty of people pass out...I remember when 3 passed out in one day when I was at practice (the old terf was like a parking lot as far as reflecting heat)...but you always expected the people to be OK. But this time he wasn't.

[SuperJon]

I've passed out at marching band practice. I had drank just water all day and my chemicals got screwed up. It happens. I'm not, by any means, trying to say this kid didn't mean anything, but I doubt the death was just because of marching band. You said he had a blood clot and just marching wouldn't cause that.

There are times built in during the show in most cases where people get a small break and can catch their breath.

If it was 5 minutes in real time then we wouldn't complain. But the band misses a good ten minutes of real time in the second quarter and ten to fifteen minutes of real time during the 3rd quarter. The 2nd quarter is understandable. The third quarter isn't.

Name one college band that gets the 3rd quarter off like LU.

[jimflamesfan]

SJ, the guy was in pretty good shape. I believe he was in the reserves. He did appear to pass out during practice because of marching and the heat. The weird thing is that most people are OK when they pass out...he somehow developed some kind of clot.

Originally, from what I heard, they did rescue breathing on him at the field, because he stopped breathing right when he passed out. He started breathing again, but died on the way to the hospital. I think that they said they thought he had some kind of clot.

I don't know what caused his death...but it happened right at practice...