No band, not even a pep band

#26
#26
Just a little information:

1) The SEC Board of Athletic Directors voted a couple years ago to limit performances of visiting bands significantly. This was done to open up more of halftime for advertising and other activities. There's also a control element, as visiting pep bands tend to play over sponsored announcements and commercials. The less important the game appears to be at the start of the season when there planning is done, the less likely there will be any representation from the band at all.

2) Bands now have to buy tickets for each member, staff member, auxiliary member, etc. What used to be a gentleman's agreement between schools ("We'll let your band come for free if you let ours.") has largely passed away, with bands now paying full price even for low attendance or discounted games.

3) Yes, we have Hart to blame for the movement in this direction. As the Assistant AD at Alabama, he tried (unsuccessfully, thanks to pressure from boosters and alumni) to limit the Buck and a Quarter Park and Bark Band to only a pep band for national championship games. He sees only the bottom line and doesn't care what tradition gets in the way of profit.
 
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#27
#27
Meh, give the band a weekend off. No big deal.

Unlike the football players, most of the bandies are not on scholarship, and aren't playing for a chance at a lucrative pro career as bass drummers or clarinet players. So give them a weekend off before Thanksgiving break, I'm all for it.
 
#29
#29
VFL-82-JP said:
Meh, give the band a weekend off. No big deal.

Unlike the football players, most of the bandies are not on scholarship, and aren't playing for a chance at a lucrative pro career as bass drummers or clarinet players. So give them a weekend off before Thanksgiving break, I'm all for it.
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100% of the Pride are on scholarship. Might not be a full ride, but it's something else that distinguishes the program.

And as for a weekend off for band members, I am all for it. Unlike the football team, there's no NCAA limit on practice hours per week or camp length to start the season. It's more grueling than many people realize.
 
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#33
#33
orangetd88 said:
Well excuse me for rehashing something from two years ago. My bad
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You said you didn't recall. I simply stated that the same concerns were brought up 2 years ago when we played at Mizzou. We sure aren't going to pay $$$ to fly the kids and if they wanted to go I am sure they could have raised the funds at home games to pay for it. Maybe a fund raiser at the home games leading up to Mizzou in 2 years, would provide an opportunity for some to go.
 
#34
#34
Somebody was playing Rocky Top. I heard it during the game, then it was playing after the game. You could hear it as Gary Pinkel was carried off the field.
 
#35
#35
orangetd88 said:
I've been to tons of games, both home and away, and this is the first that I can recall where we brought NO band at all.

It was very odd and just added to the weird overall experience.
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Don't the band members vote which road games they travel to each year?
 
#36
#36
jkleno said:
You said you didn't recall. I simply stated that the same concerns were brought up 2 years ago when we played at Mizzou. We sure aren't going to pay $$$ to fly the kids and if they wanted to go I am sure they could have raised the funds at home games to pay for it. Maybe a fund raiser at the home games leading up to Mizzou in 2 years, would provide an opportunity for some to go.
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My bad. Didn't mean to make such a smarties comment. Lol
 
#43
#43
I'm sure budgetary concerns played a role. Having said that, I can honestly say I didn't really notice the band once the game started when I played. Hate it for the band kids, but that's the way things are right now. Maybe as we get this program back on solid footing, the bowl money will help get things back on track.
 
#44
#44
Too bad they can't just have ΚΚΨ raise money like my band does.

Cuz they inactive
 
#48
#48
butchvfl said:
Maybe if they didn't spend $450,000 for SOD every 2 years they could support the band traveling to all SEC games. Just saying!!
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Dang...Beat me to it. That is exactly what I was going to say. It is crazy that they spent $100k per year on the field and now they are spending $400k+ per year with the new groundskeeper. They would have money for a lot of things if they would get someone that knew what they were doing to be the groundskeeper.
 
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#49
#49
While we are talking about bands, I have to admit that I laughed out loud when the PA claimed that Missouri had the greatest pregame tradition in all of college football.

While I am sure that many schools make this claim, this was the first time I'd heard another school state this.
 
#50
#50
Seems fairly obvious there's been a systematic reduction to the bands involvement in games. It's almost as if they are reluctantly tolerated at all. More piped music, third down for what, etc. and cutting back on when to send even a small pep band. You can't tell me there's not a few thousand in that $100m budget to send some drums and brass five hours away.
 
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