re: Past time to finally do away with Univ Marching Bands

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Honestly...I'm not one who watches the half time shows they bore me to death. Still like having the band. They are basically the directors of the cheers. They are an much worse looking extension of cheerleaders though far more useful

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Depends on the show. I always like seeing our homecoming show because we always have a Grand Champion Tennessee Walking Horse as well as a better band performance but I think they do more in between plays than at half time. We didn't have a band when we traveled to Autzen because Autzen doesn't really have the space and it sucked. You don't realize how important they are to the experience until they aren't there. It's the background of college football and games feel empty without it.

I just hope that people realize that band kids have little to no say in what we play. The directors just give us the music and expect us to memorize it. No questions asked.

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I just hope that people realize that band kids have little to no say in what we play. The directors just give us the music and expect us to memorize it. No questions asked.

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Oh yeah, definitely. I mean, the kids in LSU's band today probably aren't jamming out to Jungle Boogie and Ants Marching on the weekends.

I'm absolutely shocked these bands hadn't gone to a more Black College Band format(really popular hits and dancing)... I know it requires replacing a lot of white folks and that may be the issue but, Black bands jam! they're even fun to watch on youtube... Even in HS when we play against a team with a good Black band it is awesome to hear and watch. And they jam whether they are up by 20 or down by 30.

In HBCUs the half time shows are what people really come to see. People go to get their food about 15mins before halftime so they can come back and watch the show.. But major college bands do suck.

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but to be honest the band's value to me is pre-game festivities, running through the T, saluting the hill, rocky top, playing our Alma Mater and Down the Field (our actual fight song), playing the Tennessee Waltz as we are leaving the stadium

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all can be done with an Iphone and the student body, cash in hand

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all can be done with an Iphone and the student body, cash in hand

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No it really can't. You can't do the Vol Walk and Salute to the Hill or run through the T without them. It may look simple but it's really not. UT's band has marched in more Presidential Inaugurations than any other band besides US Military Bands. It's older than our football program and the uniform they wear harkens back to our military history (it's modeled after our old dragoon uniform) which is older than any other non-military academy. Why on Earth should we give that up?

not a big marching band myself..but there are standards. Ohio st Marching Band actually makes $$. All seats are endowed and they make CD or downloap MP3/4"s and turn a profit every year as well as entertain.

The difference between the OSUMB and every other is there is competiton..just like on the fb team. Every year is new tryouts. These kids want to be band members not for the perks..but for the accomplishment it represents.

Maybe its' just Ohio...high school marching bands are still a big thing with mostly the same participants as the football team if not more.

bottom line...either invest the $$ and energy and dedication it takes to become entertaining..or go spin your records on big speakers.

how well your band travels is a leading indicator of TOP programs.

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Marching bands are part of the pageantry of the game. Unless yours sucks, which must be the case.

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Bingo. They are a part of what makes college football so much better than the NFL.

Good thing most of your fellow fans don't think the same way that you do. If you don't like the band, either go get some food at halftime, or just don't go to the game.

I'm sure the band kids won't cry over you not showing up.