PonyFans.com

The band does the best they can with the resources they have, as DiamondM75 outlined. They are far better than the crap other universities put on the field (see: TCU). Can you say that about the football team?

Samurai, care to substantiate your claim?

CalallenStang wrote:
Samurai, care to substantiate your claim?

During the second quarter, the band leaves. I have been told in the past that this is so members can change uniforms. However, I have attended SMU games for many years and can tell you that this was not always the case.

I find it disappointing that changing clothes is given a higher priority than playing for the team.

So why was so much cut out of the band's scholarship funding? A friend of mine played in the Ohio St. band and IIRC he told me they were all on full scholarship. Why does our university care so little for this group? i.e. lack of scholarships, lack of funding for new/updated band hall etc.
I was never involved with the band but was always proud of the way they looked, sounded and performed. 99 guys and a doll- best dressed band in the land.

Samurai Stang wrote:

CalallenStang wrote:
Samurai, care to substantiate your claim?

During the second quarter, the band leaves. I have been told in the past that this is so members can change uniforms. However, I have attended SMU games for many years and can tell you that this was not always the case.

I find it disappointing that changing clothes is given a higher priority than playing for the team.

The band has left at half time to change uniforms since Dr. Dreibrot's days (ala 1958). It is now a tradition that I hope will continue forever.

DiamondM75 wrote: The band has left at half time to change uniforms since Dr. Dreibrot's days (ala 1958). It is now a tradition that I hope will continue forever.

Then why is it that it is only within the last several years that the band vanishes for the entire second quarter?

Samurai Stang wrote:

DiamondM75 wrote: The band has left at half time to change uniforms since Dr. Dreibrot's days (ala 1958). It is now a tradition that I hope will continue forever.

Then why is it that it is only within the last several years that the band vanishes for the entire second quarter?

It depends on the uniform change. If it is just a coat change, that can be done in the stands and the band does not leave. If the change requires pants or shirt, then the band has to leave to change.

So sometimes the band leaves and sometimes they don't, but they have ALWAYS changed uniforms at half time.

Samurai Stang wrote:

DiamondM75 wrote: The band has left at half time to change uniforms since Dr. Dreibrot's days (ala 1958). It is now a tradition that I hope will continue forever.

Then why is it that it is only within the last several years that the band vanishes for the entire second quarter?

They go change in the middle of the quarter. The alumni band plays while they are gone. When the students come back they go down to the field to wait for halftime. While down there they can't play. When you get on the NCAA board you can make them change that rule so the students can play Peruna from right behind the players. Until then, get educated about something before complaining so I don't have to explain it.

redpony wrote:So why was so much cut out of the band's scholarship funding? A friend of mine played in the Ohio St. band and IIRC he told me they were all on full scholarship. Why does our university care so little for this group? i.e. lack of scholarships, lack of funding for new/updated band hall etc.
I was never involved with the band but was always proud of the way they looked, sounded and performed. 99 guys and a doll- best dressed band in the land.

I wouldn't say the funding was cut more that it was never increased.

Samurai Stang wrote:

DiamondM75 wrote: The band has left at half time to change uniforms since Dr. Dreibrot's days (ala 1958). It is now a tradition that I hope will continue forever.

Then why is it that it is only within the last several years that the band vanishes for the entire second quarter?

1. There used to be more emphasis on getting in and out quickly. You were expected to play for the majority of the quarter and spend no more than a couple minutes changing.
2. The band used to change in the concourse bathrooms, but that isn't allowed anymore. I think they have to go to the Lloyd center now.
3. They used to change in shifts, so that 3/4 of the band was always in the stands.

#1 is a motivational issue, which could be corrected by the director/student leaders. #2 is an administration issue, and could be fixed by providing an empty storage room somewhere in the stadium that the band could use to change. #3 is probably a byproduct of #2. The long walk means you can't string out the changes or the last group won't get back in time.

malonish wrote:

Samurai Stang wrote:

DiamondM75 wrote: The band has left at half time to change uniforms since Dr. Dreibrot's days (ala 1958). It is now a tradition that I hope will continue forever.

Then why is it that it is only within the last several years that the band vanishes for the entire second quarter?

While down there they can't play. When you get on the NCAA board you can make them change that rule so the students can play Peruna from right behind the players.

[citation needed]

Both notre dames and the visiting teams band are in the corner on the grass all game long in South Bend. I suppose they get a free pass ?

we did what we did

RGV Pony wrote:Both notre dames and the visiting teams band are in the corner on the grass all game long in South Bend. I suppose they get a free pass ?

we did what we did

Yeah, I'm not buying it at all. Bands play all the time when they are on the field and their team gets a score right before halftime.

MustangStealth wrote:

Samurai Stang wrote:

DiamondM75 wrote: The band has left at half time to change uniforms since Dr. Dreibrot's days (ala 1958). It is now a tradition that I hope will continue forever.

Then why is it that it is only within the last several years that the band vanishes for the entire second quarter?

1. There used to be more emphasis on getting in and out quickly. You were expected to play for the majority of the quarter and spend no more than a couple minutes changing.
2. The band used to change in the concourse bathrooms, but that isn't allowed anymore. I think they have to go to the Lloyd center now.
3. They used to change in shifts, so that 3/4 of the band was always in the stands.

#1 is a motivational issue, which could be corrected by the director/student leaders. #2 is an administration issue, and could be fixed by providing an empty storage room somewhere in the stadium that the band could use to change. #3 is probably a byproduct of #2. The long walk means you can't string out the changes or the last group won't get back in time.

I appreciate your willingness to provide an answer. Others have not been so cooperative.

I find it unfortunate that, given the option between changing clothes and performing, the band chooses to change clothes. Particularly when, as DiamondM75 has told me, they are perfectly capable of only making minor uniform changes that could allow them to remain.

I find it especially odd that the band has been pleading for donations for a new band hall, but will not use the entirety of a game to showcase itself as a performing group.

The change of pants goes along with being the Best Dressed. I don't think anyone would like them changing pants in the stands. I didn't want anyone seeing my polka dotted boxers(says the guy with no shirt in his avatar). It also takes a big man to admit when he's wrong . We were never given the go to play on the sideline so I assumed we weren't able to.

You'll find no greater defender of traditions than myself but if they are counter to the purpose of the band they should be changed.

As much as I enjoy the alumni band, if the school cannot provide a facility to change pants close enough to allow changing in shifts, then shirts and pants should not be changed, only coat/vest/tie etc.

Even hanging in 2 groups would suffice - the alumni band looks less than half the size of the student band and is full of olds, but do the job about as good from a average joe fan point of view.