The Diamond M Manifesto

[DiamondM]

Many things annoyed me about the game presentation yesterday and in previous games (the game itself has positives -- like our guys showing a lot of heart, but these things are bugging me and I just have to vent.)

In no particular order...

1. When our fans actually start cheering, chanting in unison, etc. DO NOT play piped in music to drown them out. This includes the "left right" foul out cheer. It's the one really fun, cool thing the crowd gets into, and what have they done? Started playing "Hit the Road Jack" so you can't hear the chanting.

2. Speaking of Piped in Music: Just say no. It is my understanding that there are certain times where the band has been told not to play so that they can play some chosen music. This is WRONG. Piped in music should be at a minimum at a college game.

3. If you absolutely must play piped in music (like if the band stops playing too soon in a time out or is not playing during pregame or something), NO Darth Vader Theme. It is high school and TCU has practically adopted it as their fight song.

4. The intro song sucks. Bring back "Homey It's Game Time" (no idea what the real name of the song was, but this pumped up the football team and the crowd in 2005, and is way better than what they're using now). And I personally just like loud drum beats at an increasingly fast tempo, but I understand I may lose on that one.

5. Player Spotlight was another buzzkill. It needs a voice over, and intro, shorter clips, something. It totally blew.

6. No Lollipops & Roses at a basketball game. See other thread. Also, while I love to play "Yes Indeed," it is not loud enough or peppy enough for in-game time outs. Save it for pre-game or half-time.

7. No floor wiper children running around playing tag during time outs. If they can't just do their job, then they don't need to be doing it.

8. I knew who she was, but not everyone will. Rhonda's video invitation needed some graphics saying who she is. So did Cameron Spencer's call to get everyone up and on their feet.

9. When a player makes a 3 pointer or converts and "and 1", Dan Bell needs to say " so and so HAS JUST SCORED A 3 POINT PLAY" so the crowd can join in. The band has kept this tradition alive from the Bill Melton days, and Dan needs to revive it.

10. If we're going to have half time presentations, make them short & sweet, don't tell us the obvious, and don't have multiple speakers.

[PonyPower]

Many things annoyed me about the game presentation yesterday and in previous games (the game itself has positives -- like our guys showing a lot of heart, but these things are bugging me and I just have to vent.)

2. Speaking of Piped in Music: Just say no. It is my understanding that there are certain times where the band has been told not to play so that they can play some chosen music. This is WRONG. Piped in music should be at a minimum at a college game.

It's the nature of the beast. Happens everywhere, and SMU is trying to get more mainstream (or so it seems) with its gameday presentation. Get used to it, because I doubt it will change any time soon.

7. No floor wiper children running around playing tag during time outs. If they can't just do their job, then they don't need to be doing it.

Absolutely agree.

8. I knew who she was, but not everyone will. Rhonda's video invitation needed some graphics saying who she is. So did Cameron Spencer's call to get everyone up and on their feet.

Agreed.

9. When a player makes a 3 pointer or converts and "and 1", Dan Bell needs to say " so and so HAS JUST SCORED A 3 POINT PLAY" so the crowd can join in. The band has kept this tradition alive from the Bill Melton days, and Dan needs to revive it.

HELL NO. It's fine that the band has kept that alive. I know Bill was a Band Buddy, or somesuch, and that's fine, but asking Dan Bell to emulate Bill Melton is like asking Dirk Nowitzki to pick up some of Shawn Bradley's skills. Like Bradley, Melton had some value, insofar as he could speak, but that was it. Dan Bell is a fantastic announcer who does his own thing and does it well. The band can keep that alive, and the old farts in the building will remember the subtle bellowing of Bill "I LOVE MY OWN VOICE" Melton. It was a nice line back then, but the Ponies are moving onward and upward, not aiming to dive back into ancient history.

[jtstang]

Man we are sooo bush league. Until I read this I did not realize just how bad it is.

[PonyPower]

Man we are sooo bush league. Until I read this I did not realize just how bad it is.

What does this have to do with W's bookmobile? And how did it get into a league?

[abezontar]

Man we are sooo bush league. Until I read this I did not realize just how bad it is.

What does this have to do with W's bookmobile? And how did it get into a league?

I think part of the library plan is to spend somebody else's money to by a baseball team, steal some land through eminent domain, and then cut and run with a huge profit.

[jtstang]

I think part of the library plan is to spend somebody else's money to by a baseball team, steal some land through eminent domain, and then cut and run with a huge profit.

Don't forget to install your former counsel as head librarian....

[smu diamond m]

9. When a player makes a 3 pointer or converts and "and 1", Dan Bell needs to say " so and so HAS JUST SCORED A 3 POINT PLAY" so the crowd can join in. The band has kept this tradition alive from the Bill Melton days, and Dan needs to revive it.

Uhm, we do that. Slightly different now, but it gets done.
Announcer: "THREEE POINTS BLAHBLAH!"
US: "HAS JUST SCORED A THREE POINT PLAY"

I like the way he does it, and asking him to imitate someone else just seems... wrong?

[EastStang]

I think for college sports when you have a band present, you shouldn't have piped in music. If you want the band to play different music, just ask them and try and work out a mutually acceptable play list. At Redskins games we have a band and some piped in music like the beginning of Led Zeppelen (where the bell rings) which is actually pretty good. And of course the funky time dance for the four fat band guys who dance at every game and have their own FEDEx commercial. But its okay. The Caps have organ music and piped in music. Mostly piped in and have pretty good song selections. Although they stopped that song which has the pause in the middle for a cheer because too many fans would chant "Hey, you suck". Now that's a number the band could play.

[MustangStealth]

6. No Lollipops & Roses at a basketball game. See other thread. Also, while I love to play "Yes Indeed," it is not loud enough or peppy enough for in-game time outs. Save it for pre-game or half-time.

Us folks in the peanut gallery had some things to say about that particular selection too.

5. Player Spotlight was another buzzkill. It needs a voice over, and intro, shorter clips, something. It totally blew.

I won't go so far as saying it blew, since it's pretty cool for Derrick to do that, but during the game is not at all the right atmosphere for those type of things. That could be done 15 minutes before the game while people are wandering in and chit chatting and the players are warming up, sort ot a "get to know the mustangs" thing. During the game it was inaudible and dragged on when we wanted to be watching something with some energy.

1. When our fans actually start cheering, chanting in unison, etc. DO NOT play piped in music to drown them out. This includes the "left right" foul out cheer. It's the one really fun, cool thing the crowd gets into, and what have they done? Started playing "Hit the Road Jack" so you can't hear the chanting.

Ditto. It's like the people running the sound system are trying to show off for someone by playing every cliche clip out there. Let the fans get involved, don't try to drown them out when they are actually making noise.

[couch 'em]

I don't know much, but I do know "the hey song" is most effective when played FASTER than 10 beats/minute

[abezontar]

It helps when there is enough low brass to put some oomph behind it.

[Peruna88]

It was a nice line back then, . . .

Until he decided to whip it out at a football game when Russell Anderson kicked a field goal.

RE: Piped in music - JUST SAY NO!

[PonySoprano]

9. When a player makes a 3 pointer or converts and "and 1", Dan Bell needs to say " so and so HAS JUST SCORED A 3 POINT PLAY" so the crowd can join in. The band has kept this tradition alive from the Bill Melton days, and Dan needs to revive it.

I remember this little tradition starting back in the late 80's when I was a student. I would still like to see this one continue. It might not be Eric Longino, Carlton McKinney or Chad Allen knocking down the three's anymore, but its still Moody Coliseum.

God Bless Todd Alexander, Glenn Puddy, and Terry Thomas.

[friarwolf]

Of all the fumbles and stumbles of our new "scripted" game presentation, Cam Spencer may be the best discovery. He is a genuinely funny kid and SMU should take advantage of this. With a little production, his bits could really be fun. Just watching him and his obvious enjoyment of doing the bits - forget trying to understand what he is saying with the crappy sound mixing - makes you laugh.

Doherty ought to give his buddy Cuban a call and see if Mark would make his game presentation staff available to help us stop embarrassing ourselves..................

[abezontar]

Will the sound system be replaced as part of the Moody renovations? That might help some.