Ole Miss Not Allowing the AUMB To Perform During Halftime

since it's their Homecoming game.

We were told last Thursday.

A little over a week before we were planning on performing.

After having this planned as a full band trip for a least five months.

WarBlogle:

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Later, I was tipped off by an Auburn University Marching Band member that I should let it be known that due to Homecoming festivities, Ole Miss would not be allowing the Auburn University Marching Band to play at half time. The band member told me that I should specifically talk to Michael Thompson, Ole Miss's Senior Associate AD, so I did.

I sent Michael a simple email asking if this was true, and if he could explain the reasoning. Here was his prompt response:

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That is true. We have great respect for visiting teams' bands, especially the Auburn University Marching Band, and strive to create opportunities for visiting bands to play. In fact, in our first 4 home games we have had two full bands play at halftime. In addition, we understand these performers invest a lot of time and energy in practicing and performing. Unfortunately, late last week was the first time our athletics department became aware that Auburn expected to perform on the field, and it was simply too late. Saturday is a very special game for us, as it is our annual Homecoming game.

As I'm sure you are aware, the Homecoming game includes several presentations and field events to honor our homecoming court and alumni. Because of this, we simply do not have time in the script to accommodate an on-field performance. We have communicated this with the Auburn band director and he is aware.

Thanks,
Michael

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Bolded part is 100% false, we informed them in May that we planned on bringing - and marching - the full band.

Not to mention, we're only taking a pep band to Vandy. Had we known we weren't going to be allowed to march, I'm sure we would've scheduled the other way around and only taken a pep band to Oxford.

Let it be known that my official stance as a member of the Auburn University Marching Band is that, while this is a disappointing set of circumstances, I understand and respect the decisions of the University of Mississippi Athletic Department on the matter.


UPDATE: WarBlogle emailed Dr. Spurlin about it, here was his response:

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Thanks for your support of our band. To clarify, Ole Miss was notified on May 7th that we would bring the full band and that we wished to perform at halftime. They have acknowledged receipt of that information. The communication breakdown that Michael refers to in his response was between Ole Miss staff members and not between Auburn and Ole Miss. They have also acknowledged and sincerely apologized for their communication breakdown. They have since offered us an opportunity to perform at 9:30 a.m. in the morning, but it will be difficult for us to make it into the stadium after Tiger Walk to meet that performance time and we feel that the stadium will be, for the most part, empty at the time in the morning. For those reasons, we have decided not to accept the offer to perform at 9:30 a.m. Even though we are disappointed that we will not be able to perform on the field and represent our university in that capacity, we are looking forward to traveling with the full band to support our team from the stands.

Dr. Corey Spurlin
Director, Auburn University Marching Band

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