The band ruined a football player's life

[Todd S. Malicoate]

The word you were looking for is colostomy, not chellostropy. It is neither necessary nor sufficient for one to be "old" to have to use (crap in) one of these. This is a consequence of many ailments of the intestines or colon necessitating a surgical procedure involving the anus. I've even seen and heard of young people being fitted with one of these. Being older (68) I find your rhetoric here a bit callow and insensitive, but that's just an old curmudgeon's opinion.

Agreed...very poor example. i hope for Kiltie's sake that karma isn't listening.

[cjk]

I'm just curious, did any of you who have posted in this thread attend a "big football" school?

(I don't know what else to call it)

You know, where the team is frequently ranked in the top 10 and the fanatics and their RVs start showing up on Thursday before a Saturday game?

Maybe I'm the only one that went to a big football school who didn't care about football.

[ken k]

It sounds like Mr. Dodd still harbors resentment from not being able to make the band in middle school.....

Every few years i will make a trek to Happy Valley to see the Penn State Blue Band. That really is the only reason I go up. I usually go when they play some non BCS team since the tix are cheaper. I watch their pre-game show, get a hot dog , watch their halftime show , get a drink and then watch their post game show, go drink a beer and eat another hot dog and go home.... Woo hoo!!
k

[cjk]

Seems like all of the above benefits can be derived from wind ensemble, orchestra, brass quintet, tuba quartet, or symphonic band without having to go to football games.

I don't disagree, to an extent. But your example reminds me of comparing someone who juggles very well to someone who juggles very well while riding a unicycle. Juggling (like performing music) by itself requires dedication and attention to detail, but doing it while riding a unicycle (or playing music while marching) requires an additional set of skills which demand extra attention to detail. That, to me, is part of the appeal of marching band and what helps instill a sense of accomplishment in those who strive to do it well.

Awwwwww c'mon. Juggling while riding a unicycle? That's a little over the top. Marching and playing your horn really isn't difficult if you don't have to cart around a 20j.

[Todd S. Malicoate]

Marching and playing your horn really isn't difficult if you don't have to cart around a 20j.

Perhaps it's not in and of itself, but that wasn't my point.

You said it was a complete waste of time and akin to "worshiping at the altar of football." I counter that the activity promotes striving for excellence by presenting a difficult set of skills that require a high level of attention to detail. While it may be easy to march in a straight line while playing a Sousa march, it's a whole different matter to move set to set while playing Festive Overture at quarter = 152. It's challenging, and it's the challenge that makes it worthwhile...not the venue in which it is presented.

[Biggs]

I'm just curious, did any of you who have posted in this thread attend a "big football" school?

(I don't know what else to call it)

You know, where the team is frequently ranked in the top 10 and the fanatics and their RVs start showing up on Thursday before a Saturday game?

Maybe I'm the only one that went to a big football school who didn't care about football.

I attend a "big football school." The team makes regular appearances in the AP and USA Today top 25 polls, generates a couple of pro players every year, and has a game-day/tailgaiting scene on home game weekends that would make the Superfans blush. The team, in my opinion, is generally mismanaged, but that's another story.

I was in the marching band at this school for three years - a group of 250 people and the largest student organization on campus. It was not required. The band does not offer scholarships as a rule (once in a great while, someone who participates in both marching band and one of the three concert bands will be thrown an award of c. $200). I agree with Todd and others who say that marching band teaches "life lessons" - i.e. friendships, teamwork, camaraderie, and also those other warm, fuzzy concepts. Though I do not support the school's football team, I enjoy following college football and being able to attend the games free of charge. I also enjoy(ed) the drunken parties, of which there are many year-round (Kiltie's school is much, much smaller and, from his description, deprived ).

All of these pleasant components of the marching band experience at a "big football school" bring me to my point: marching band has nothing to do with making music. It is about having fun. If you want to make music (which I, as a music major, have to do a goodly amount of), there are plenty of other outlets. If you want to have fun, well the marching band does that pretty darn well.

[rocksanddirt]

'snip'
Else, I don't much see the point. At the University I attended, it was lots of work for very few credit hours and a tiny scholarship (one could make more money waiting tables with much less hours expended). Most of the folks I know who went on to be professional musicians either HAD TO march to maintain their scholarship, really NEEDED the money, or NEEDED the credits for their Ed degree.

'snip'

IMO, this is why marching band should not SHOULD NOT be part of the music department. It should be in the same administrative department as the cheerleaders and such. Then only the people who want to and enjoy it participate and it's better for everyone. And don't give me no crap that no one will do it. Cal's marching band has never been part of the music department, and has never lacked for membership (around 250 in recent years).

[sc_curtis]

Here's my only question regarding marching bands in college:

How large do you think the bands would be if:

1. They did not offer a scholarship
2. It was not required for most music majors

When I was in school at the Univ of Houston there very few band scholarships and marching band was NOT a requirement for music majors (which is still true today)--less than 25% of the 250 member band were music majors. Bottom line, everyone was in marching band because they wanted to be there.

Not required for music majors, but required for music education majors.

[TUBAD83]

Not required for music majors, but required for music education majors.

That is true--mus ed majors are required to be in marching band (if you don't like marching band, why are you studying to become a band director in the first place???)

The majority of people in college marching bands are non-music majors--even if it was not a requirement, alot of music majors would join anyway (playing your axe, having fun, getting paid, and getting an "easy A"--where is the downside to this????) Its all about choice--you can always go to school that does not have a marching band and not worry about being forced to "lower yourself" by playing outside in the heat, sweating with "the common rabble".

JJ

[Kayla]

This is mostly a post reaffirming what many have already said. I just thought to throw in my 2 bits

My fiance marched in a Division I Big East conference school. Marching band to him was a big deal, as well as supporting his team. He still follows his team after having to transfer schools. When I went to football games to see him march, the crowd went nuts over the band's pregame show. It is on average a 350+ band and I'm pretty sure less than 10% of its members are music majors. There are no scholarships for this band, but at the same time the members often don't have to pay -anything- to go to away games and bowl games. I know that isn't the case for a lot of other schools, but if you play an instrument and love football, why not join? I think the trade-offs are worth it IMO.

I wish I had this opportunity in college, because I love football, and I loved marching.

As for this article, that guy is obviously biased, and I was actually surprised at all the response disagreeing with the article. The player (and the journalist) should go after the administrators/officials, not the band.

[pierso20]

Here's my only question regarding marching bands in college:

How large do you think the bands would be if:

1. They did not offer a scholarship
2. It was not required for most music majors

Depends where you bo to school.

Especailly in larger schools, bands are more represented by non-music majors. At my university, I was not in marching band (no problem, not required) and most students in the 300 member band are NOT music majors and don't get scholarships. Though, it is only one place.

Marching band is part of the football/sports culture. If a university can offer cheerleading squads or classes on bowling or tennis, they sure as heck should be having marching bands. The marching band is an part of our American tradition..or so I think.

Short rant over.

[windshieldbug]

[rant]
Considering the number of players that are injured for life during the "proper" execution of the game, I think it is totally ridiculous to blame anyone else for the incident besides
1. A quarterback who clearly overthrew the ball
2. A particularly violent sport that encourages injury
3. A participant who has no spatial sense at a very spatial position.

No player was disciplined for breaking Joe Theisman's leg in "The Hit That No One Who Saw It Can Ever Forget" on national prime-time television, so what do we, as one step below pencil-pushing geeks expect? (At least pencil-pushing geeks can record stats and pick up towels in the locker room when the REAL men are done with them... )

[/rant]

[TexTuba]

As for this article, that guy is obviously biased, and I was actually surprised at all the response disagreeing with the article. The player (and the journalist) should go after the administrators/officials, not the band.

I'm sorry, but why should they go after anyone? I used to LOVE watching NHRA. Every now and then, the drivers due die do to accidents. Should the family sue the NHRA due to the cars being so fast? Should Tom Brady have sued the person who cost him his entire season? Of course not! With ANY sport, there is a certain amount of risk. No one makes athletes BE athletes.

[sc_curtis]

(if you don't like marching band, why are you studying to become a band director in the first place???)

I do believe there are some people that would rather stay at the junior high level, and have done so for their entire career. Marching band is only a small part of what the job CAN be, and to some people, marching band offers no real musical satisfaction at all. I am not arguing with anyone here, just throwing stuff out there.

[OldsRecording]

When I was in school, we marched 350-375, no scholorships and mostly non-music majors. Applied music majors were not even required to march and ed. majors only had to march one year.

[Tubaryan12]

I guess I'm just lucky. I went to Tuskegee Institute (University, now) and people actually came to the games to see the band.

Nothing like hearing the crowd chant "Tuba Funk, Tuba Funk, Tuba Funk" over and over again as you march into the stadium.

Yeah, it was worth it.

btw...my high school was pretty much the same way. Half the crowd left after half time.

[pierso20]

I guess I'm just lucky. I went to Tuskegee Institute (University, now) and people actually came to the games to see the band.

Nothing like hearing the crowd chant "Tuba Funk, Tuba Funk, Tuba Funk" over and over again as you march into the stadium.

Yeah, it was worth it.

btw...my high school was pretty much the same way. Half the crowd left after half time.

Of course, this isn't any better then everyone ignoring the band and only watching football. They're both wrapped up into the experience. Yes, that doesn't mean that everyone will be overjoyed for both, but damn......leaving after the band plays? That's pretty disrespectful.

[jon112780]

Someone playing sports got hurt? Imagine that...


Shouldn't the issue be:

1.) Is there a rule that states the minimum distance things can be placed from the out-of-bounds line?

1a.) If so was the rule broken?

1b.) If not, what about adding a rule to help prevent this in the future?

OR

2.) How far out of bounds must a player be before he/she forfeits any reason to blame someone for something not happening on the field (i.e. in bounds)?




I seem to remember something in the past like this... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=foGHh14uvKk" target="_blank

I'm contributing to this topics because I'm bored, and I don't really care one way or the other

[windshieldbug]

As I recall, Ohio State coach Woody Hayes was fired in 1978 after having a temper tantrum during the Gator Bowl against Clemson and striking a Clemson linebacker named Charlie Bauman after intercepting a pass to clinch the game for the Tigers as well as two of his own players. I guess the even the sidelines aren't out of bounds far enough...

[PDCIITuba]

That article is very biased and the player seems quite the whiner.

i have to agree with TexTuba for a football player he seems like a baby...Think he cried to his mom about the band?