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Hey all, so we've learned over the course of this past week that the MAC is not allowing bands, cheerleaders, dance teams, you name it... at the first round of the tournament...

very upset about this!!! anybody that is mad as well should write a letter or email to the MAC voicing their displeasure!!

I know at least a few of the band folk that will still be making the trip for the first round to cheer our heads off in the stands

Yeah, this is a pretty bone-headed move from the MAC. However, if the women continue to play well and secure the first-round bye, this should only count us out of the first men's game. Unless the men improve enough to move to the top of the division and secure a bye as well...

What?!?! That's just wrong. Plain and simply wrong. The band, cheerleaders, dance team, mascots, et al, are what make college sports. It's not just what is happening on the court/field/rink.

first I've heard of this...is there some stated reason or logic to this? It would seem that the schools would WANT the bands, cheerleaders, dance teams etc there...and it DEFINITELY adds to the atmosphere, making it more of a "big time" event.

yeah... I have a feeling that this had nothing to do (or very little) to do with school involvement. From what Dr. Hayward said, it was a decision by the MAC tournament committee or whatever the heck they're called. She was talking with the cheerleader instructor after the women's game last Tuesday about it. I was one of the last ones to help stick around and clean up the band equipment and she told the 4 or 5 people who were still there.

Regardless of how the decision was made, it is completely idiotic...

No bands?

What the hell is that all about? I mean, from a professional perspective (For my job as a band director), I love this idea, as it means that I can actually plan a vacation around that time, as opposed to waiting in limbo, but from a fan's perspective, that's crazy.

Regarding the professional perspective, I'm currently a little PO'd because I'm going to have two fewer days of Spring Break than I should, because the first two days are the last two of the state Basketball tourney. I mean, our team could lose the previous weekend, but seeing that they've only lost one game in the previous THREE seasons, I don't see that happening. Ugh. Sports are so much different when you have to be there, as opposed to when you want to be there.
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This is definitely going to change my break plans, and I will make less money bummers.

Lets hope the men do well!

My only guess would be this is a way for schools to save money? Maybe the teams that will be knocked out first round won't have to spend the money for the support teams like band and cheerleaders.

jg4242 wrote:Unless the men improve enough to move to the top of the division and secure a bye as well...

Our men have won 5 straight...they are turning it around. Give them some credit!!!

bgmaggot00 wrote: Sports are so much different when you have to be there, as opposed to when you want to be there.
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I hear ya!!!!! Spken from someone who teaches at a school that has won 5 state championships in football in the past 10 years, and went to state playoffs 12 years in a row...*big sigh*....all that overtime for no pay LOL!

BGDrew wrote:My only guess would be this is a way for schools to save money? Maybe the teams that will be knocked out first round won't have to spend the money for the support teams like band and cheerleaders.

I guess that's a possibility but still, you should want that fan support there from your cheerleaders and band. I know the athletic department pays for us to go, I'm not sure about other schools. I guess it would be the same... Of course, we all do know the economy sucks right now and money is tight all over the place...

BGDrew wrote:My only guess would be this is a way for schools to save money? Maybe the teams that will be knocked out first round won't have to spend the money for the support teams like band and cheerleaders.

Well, that was my first thought about the reasoning behind this as well.

When they say "1st round games," are they talking about the March 10-11 games at the Quicken Loans arena?

Let's put out some numbers, and these are generally hypothetical.

Bands/cheerleaders/support staff would come from 8-12 schools.

Lets say that each school would send 50 people at a per diem of $50.


That would be $2500 in per diem pay, X 8-12 schools, so that would run from $20,000-30,000.

In addition, out here in KS, if I were to rent a bus for my band for the day and drive a few hours away, it'll cost somewhere in the neighborhood of $700 bucks. 8-12 buses at that rate, we're looking at $5600-8400.

Assuming that some schools will get hotels, you're probably looking at about 15 rooms/school in the $100/night neighborhood.

Feel free to fix my fuzzy math as you see fit. Regardless. The point is, is that traveling with bands is not cheap.

bgmaggot00 wrote:

BGDrew wrote:My only guess would be this is a way for schools to save money? Maybe the teams that will be knocked out first round won't have to spend the money for the support teams like band and cheerleaders.

Well, that was my first thought about the reasoning behind this as well.

When they say "1st round games," are they talking about the March 10-11 games at the Quicken Loans arena?

Let's put out some numbers, and these are generally hypothetical.

Bands/cheerleaders/support staff would come from 8-12 schools.

Lets say that each school would send 50 people at a per diem of $50.


That would be $2500 in per diem pay, X 8-12 schools, so that would run from $20,000-30,000.

In addition, out here in KS, if I were to rent a bus for my band for the day and drive a few hours away, it'll cost somewhere in the neighborhood of $700 bucks. 8-12 buses at that rate, we're looking at $5600-8400.

Assuming that some schools will get hotels, you're probably looking at about 15 rooms/school in the $100/night neighborhood.

Feel free to fix my fuzzy math as you see fit. Regardless. The point is, is that traveling with bands is not cheap.

Now I understand why you asked me about hotels and per diem today lol