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As someone who unrelentingly ripped the game presentation last week, in fairness I have to say there was marked improvement for the TCU game.

The big improvement was the scoreboard. It's remarkable what it adds to the game-watching experience when it's utilized. Thanks to whomever got the ball rolling to actually get something up there. The PA guy was definitely on his game, too, without being too over the top.

However, for God's sake, please get rid of "Compliance Trivia." This is horrendously embarrassing. Horrendous.

If we're going to have a trivia game, make it about past SMU accomplishments. Educate the crowd about something positive about SMU. Or make it about the current players - hometowns, favorite movies, whatever.

For the only school to ever receive the death penalty to do Compliance Trivia is a sadistic joke. Please, get rid of it!

Plenty of others have complained about halftime so I won't go there. There are hundreds of high school drill teams begging for opportunities to perform. The high school country dance teams are always entertaining. Use them.

Also, please move the band back where it belongs. I don't see the point in flipping the team benches. The SMU team had to run around the TCU bench when it came out onto the court. What's the benefit to being closer to the practice facility then? Even then, what are you saving, a walk of 40 feet?

I love the band. Love, love, love the band. They sounded great. Great music selection. But there were twice as many of them as needed. It doesn't take much to create a lot of noise at Moody, and most pep bands are half the size of what showed up last night. ("It's what Top 25 programs do.") If you sit anywhere near the band, and I did for a while, it's deafening.

I noticed several people who used to sit in the west end had moved to the other end. It wasn't so bad if you sat on the opposite end from the band. Otherwise it's too loud (and yes I'm too old). If the band is going to be placed among paid ticket holders -with the prime sideline chairback seats right in their blasting zone - maybe a compromise is to reduce the size of the band for basketball games. Or at least the number of those actually playing instruments.

I know, I know. It sounds crazy. Our band is too small by football standards, but it's too large for basketball. I don't want to do anything to deter from the umatched support the band gives SMU basketball, but I'd like to keep my hearing, thank you.

Then move. Its college basketball - its suppose to be deafening - for the entire game - if you want peace and quiet stay home or move to the other end.

The louder the better. Bring more of them I say.

We have a compliance trivia game? That's sick.

Longtime wrote:Also, please move the band back where it belongs. I don't see the point in flipping the team benches. The SMU team had to run around the TCU bench when it came out onto the court. What's the benefit to being closer to the practice facility then? Even then, what are you saving, a walk of 40 feet?

Someone on staff told me that is was not because they wanted the team to be closer to the locker rooms in the practice facility but because they didn't want the band to be next to our locker room. Didn't want to compete with the noise factor. I couldn't imagine it would be to loud but what do i know, and what coach wants, coach gets.

The reason why the band moved to the other end is because the bleachers on the other side cannot be pulled out anymore (due to the new floor).

Well,

They got plenty of open space.....set up the chairs and make a nice Band Pit.....they will have plenty of room and can move around and go wild....could be very entertaining if they turned that ugly dead zone into a "Let the Band Go Wild" zone....

gostangs wrote:Then move. Its college basketball - its suppose to be deafening - for the entire game - if you want peace and quiet stay home or move to the other end.

The louder the better. Bring more of them I say.

Who said anything about wanting peace and quiet?

I'm just asking for a little scale and proportion.

I'd love it if the crowd were big enough and rowdy enough to be as loud as the band. Then it would be appropriate to fire off that jet engine in the room.

The other reason they moved the band is that Doherty did not want them blasting him in the huddle....better blasting the visitors.

DBB

The Mustang Band is PERFECT right where they are. This was a smart move. They did a terrific job at the TCU game. We can only hope Moody gets louder and louder - which means there are more fans in attendance - which means we are playing good basketball. Even though I am not a fan of the rappers (or whatever), don't bring back those stinkin' high school drill teams, little dribblers, and square dancers - I am glad that they are catering to the students' interests and entertainment styles. The gray hairs and blue hairs can go to the Lettermen's Lounge or take a poop or just turn off their hearing aid. Matt Doherty knows how it is supposed to be done and you can see his hand in all of the positive changes. We've been missing out on the real basketball experience for years - I'm glad it has arrived - we should embrace it!!!

I just mentioned the high school dance teams because they're inexpensive, readily available and competent.

What halftime entertainment would you recommend that would appeal to the students? Remember, our budget is probably zero.

The students are about to go on hiatus. It would be nice if we could see them in Moody again before the Memphis game. So I'm for whatever brings students to the game, as long as it's within University Park decency laws and alcohol restrictions.

Aw heck, if we have strippers and beer, I won't call the cops. And I won't mind how loud it gets, either.

(I'm trying very hard to stay away from the poop reference...We do have nice bathrooms in the Moody, though)

The louder the band the better. You'll get used to it after a while.

They just need to increase their vocal volume as well.

couch 'em wrote:The louder the band the better. You'll get used to it after a while.

They just need to increase their vocal volume as well.

My son and I were sitting right behind the band. It was fantastic.