What will it take to get the Mustang Band to Houston?

[Buckethead]

I saw on another thread that there isn't $ for a bus or food. Well how much does it cost? I will donate $100.00 to get this started. Anybody else willing to help? I don't care if they march at half time, just be in the stands playing. If we can get this going one of you band posters needs to tell us where to get the money to. Come on people I want to go see the Mustangs in a bowl game.

[SmooBoy]

Gerald Ford, Lamar Hunt or any of the ditinguished SMU alumni who have given so much even after years of seeing little return on your investment, please find a way to "create" another write off for your end-of-year taxes by giving enough to get the Mustang Band to Rice. THIS IS THE MOST IMPORTANT GAME in 22 years. Our $20 and $50 donations will help, while your "usual" size donations will make it happen. We need the players hearing Peruna during the entire game.

Thank you.

[SMUPhil]

Considering it wasn't originally scheduled, I'd bet that most members already made plans for Thanksgiving weekend with their families.

[SmooBoy]

Considering it wasn't originally scheduled, I'd bet that most members already made plans for Thanksgiving weekend with their families.

That is okay, even a pep band that can give our fans and players some motivation and spirit would help. They don't need to march, they just need to put butts in seats with instrument to mouth or to hand (okay, maybe that doesn't sound so good )

[mr. pony]

That's really p***-poor that it wasn't scheduled in the first place. The whole band needs to be there. We haven't won there in 20 years. Are we throwing in the towel?

[ponyte]

Alumni band? If a significant number of alumni band members are going, could they give the Ponies a little 'hub of SMU Spirit" boast?

I realize this is a far fetched and intrusive (on the Alums) idea. An unreseasonable request doesn't necessarily require a reasonable response.

I do wish the band and a good number of students could make the game.

[Ikus]

The band members can suck up and get there. I know, it's an extra expense, but they can share rides and pack sandwiches, if they want to be there (and they'd better want to be there). How many times when we were in school did things come up that weren't optional, but we had to pay for? Borrow from a roommate, or something. If they all chip in for gas and food, a down-and-back trip won't cost much. I love the band, but as the "Hub of SMU Spirit," if it wasn't a scheduled trip (and what brain surgeon didn't schedule a trip to the last game of the year, against a team we can beat, when the season was starting off with bowl expectations, and .... sorry, I digress). Those guys get free trips and tickets to a lot of games -- time for them to figure out a way to get there FOR the team.

[jimpoynter]

The Mustang Football Families has just offered via email to AD Orsini that our organization will pledge up to $1,000.00 to offset the cost of a bus or other travel expenses for the Band, the Cheerleaders and the Alumni Band. Please join us in helping the cause if you can.

Jim Poynter

[Dukie]

Jim, how do we contact you/donate?

[LakeHighlandsPony]

The Mustang Football Families has just offered via email to AD Orsini that our organization will pledge up to $1,000.00 to offset the cost of a bus or other travel expenses for the Band, the Cheerleaders and the Alumni Band. Please join us in helping the cause if you can.

Jim Poynter

That will get them to Corsicana!

[LakeHighlandsPony]

We really all need to kick in some cash to get the band there.

[Peruna_Ate_My_Rolex]

The band members can suck up and get there. I know, it's an extra expense, but they can share rides and pack sandwiches, if they want to be there (and they'd better want to be there). How many times when we were in school did things come up that weren't optional, but we had to pay for? Borrow from a roommate, or something. If they all chip in for gas and food, a down-and-back trip won't cost much. I love the band, but as the "Hub of SMU Spirit," if it wasn't a scheduled trip (and what brain surgeon didn't schedule a trip to the last game of the year, against a team we can beat, when the season was starting off with bowl expectations, and .... sorry, I digress). Those guys get free trips and tickets to a lot of games -- time for them to figure out a way to get there FOR the team.

For the record, many of the current bandsmen were planning on taking a trip to support team. They weren't going to be able to take instruments but many of them were indeed planning on going to Houston.
As for the "free trips and tickets," considering what little these guys get for scholarship money, the trips are a nice incentive. It's not like they're just given a massive budget to spend.
Originally, the Alumni Band was supposed to go Houston and some of us had planned on it but for one reason or another, it did not materialize. However, in light of the circumstances involving this game, I will not be surprised if the Alumni Band is there. As for myself, I will be there regardless.

[DiamondM75]

Ikus, let me explain about band attendance at out of town games. The University must notify the home team that their band is attending, whether it is the full marching band or just a pep/spirit band. If the official notification is made, then a section is reserved for the visiting band and the visiting band is admitted to the game. Without proper notification, the band can not just show up and be admitted, and they would not be allowed to bring their instruments into the stadium.

I like your spirit and believe me, if it was up to the band folks, they would do exactly what you describe. I know many of them are planning to attend the game as spectators.

Jimpoynter, thanks for the email to Orsini. The alumni band made an offer to the AD back in September to combine with the current band members that either live in the Dallas area or were not going home for the Thanksgiving break, to create a large pep band to attend the Rice game. All we asked was that the athletic department pay for buses. Last week we were officially informed that the athletic department was not paying for the bus, therefore, our plans were cancelled. Hopefully your email and actions from others will change Orsini's mind and the alumni band folks have not made other plans.

[BrianTinBigD]

All we really need is more Cowbell! Even I can play the cowbell.

[Peruna2001]

My senior year, we got a group of about 20+ to go down to Cougar High for a pep band. I think we were able to call either the week before or the week of to get it approved.