A topic I'd like to see discussed...

[Bleeding Orange]

Why don't we have an athletic band dedicated to Falcon Hockey? I am asking you, the band members, because you are the ones that can be the impetus for change within the CMA, not to accuse anyone here of not supporting the hockey team or anything else at the University.

I was just sitting here (procrastinating, of course!) thinking about the situation last year during the playoffs when we were scrambling at the last minute to put together an alumni band for the first round of the CCHA playoffs. Sadly, year in and year out the CCHA playoffs and the MAC tourney coincide, so with only one band to go around, the hockey team was left out.

Here are a couple of major points to consider:

(1) The men's basketball team has not been to the NCAA's since 1968

(2) The Falcon hockey team won a NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP in 1984 and has been a constant supplier of talent to the NHL (as evinced by Jordan's recent call up to the Bruins).

Now, I don't make these points to belittle the importance of our basketball team (Lord knows I love my Falcon cagers just as much as anyone!). All I'm trying to say is that, at a school where hockey has been so visible and has contributed so much to our national identity, it is sad that we don't make the same kind of commitment to our Icers as we do for our men's and women's b-ball teams.

Now, I know that people in this forum are likely going to get defensive and say that to have two athletic bands would create an "either/or" situation for our musicians, but the fact of the matter is that our administrators have created an environment in which basketball takes precedence, even over that which has brought us much more of a national identity. And believe me, I recognize that everyone in the Athletic Band works very, very hard and puts in a great deal of time every year to supporting our teams, and I appreciate every second of that time. Still, I think we all (not just people in the CMA) can do a lot better job of supporting the Icers. We are on the verge right now of breaking back into the national spotlight, and we need to act like it.

I will say this, with the only predicate being that I hate Michigoon (not because of OSU, but because they're morons!). I was filled with envy every time I would go to watch BG play the 'Goons up at Yost and see their A-Band there. They were not an occasional treat for fans - they were there every game with a prominant, dedicated section in the SW (I think?) corner of Yost. I realize that they are a bigger school, but despite BG's smaller size, we still have a GREAT CMA with GREAT students in it! I believe that there are enough of them to not only help to change that A-Band situation at the U., but make it last.

I will close by saying that, first of all, I am very tired right now, so I don't know if any of this is making much sense right now. And finally, I will say that I know (or have been told) that the admin. in the CMA does not look very favorably on the FMB or A-bands in general. I furthermore realize that many of you in FMB and A-Band are not in the CMA. But I do hope that those of you that are in the CMA can help to change their view, if it has indeed been acurately represented to me.

Alright, sorry about the length and the probable rambling. Just thought I would post this while I was thinking of it!

[FliccGirl]

Well, I know the beginning of hockey season doesn't get an A-band, and it's sad, but that's because A-band hasn't started yet. We just had auditions this past weekend. A-band is technically a spring semester class, after all. Once it actually starts up, I don't think we miss any home hockey games. It would be difficult to start sooner because it'd be smack dab in the middle of marching band season. (That would be hard for not only the bandies, but the directors and grads.)

As for the CCHA playoffs, not only do they coincide with the MAC tourney, they coincide with spring break, don't they? The MAC tourney A-band is a group combined from the 2 or 3 A-band groups that play throughout the season. I'm not sure whether the main reason for that is that they're simply not allowed to have more students or that they wouldn't have enough students willing to give up their spring break, or both. If it's just the former, then I think having a band for the CCHA playoffs might be a good idea.

Don't know if those answers were very satisfactory, but hope they helped.

[SaxyIrishTenor]

A) There simply are not enough available players to make a band dedicated to specifically hockey.
B) There is not enough money to pay said players.
C) We split the games up among each band (there are, in fact, two) so that they get to perform at a variety of sporting events, and such that as many events as are possible are covered, including mens basketball, womens basketball and hockey. The only exception to this is a hockey play-off, due to its coincidence with both spring break and the MAC basketball tourni. Any players that go to the tourni are obviously in Cleveland and cannot do hockey. Any players not in the tourni band have no where to stay as the dorms are closed, and BGSU bands simply does not have the budget money to pay the fees for the students. The athletic department will not cover this for us.
D) If we dedicated a band to hockey and a band to basketball, it would be nearly impossible for us to be at each event. I simply, as a player, do NOT have the time to dedicate to being at every event. I think this would make more sense if you understand the way the system works.
E) It's not that the CMA looks down on the FMB and A-bands, just that we cost the most and funds do not grow on trees.

I agree it would be great to have a hockey band and a basketball band, but in order for this to be possible, I think we'd need TWO hockey bands and TWO basketball bands in order to cover everything. BUT - that costs too much and we do not have the appropriate personnel numbers to facilitate that. In addition, it is easier to plan for the MAC tourni because we have more specific details, and we get them much, much sooner. Hockey is not definite until usually a few days before, and you have no idea how difficult it is to get together a band, at the last minute, and while the university is on a break. I tried last year, remember? I don't think it is fair to compare the BGSU Band program to a place like U-Michigan in the sense that they get a lot more money than we do. Yes, they have a band at every hockey game, regular season or play off, but they have the money to do that, and the right break schedule. The circumstances are too different to make an appropriate comparison.

I hope this helps you understand the situation, and I hope that I didn't let on how sick I am of having to answer this question again and again.

[Bleeding Orange]

A) There simply are not enough available players to make a band dedicated to specifically hockey.
B) There is not enough money to pay said players.
C) We split the games up among each band (there are, in fact, two) so that they get to perform at a variety of sporting events, and such that as many events as are possible are covered, including mens basketball, womens basketball and hockey. The only exception to this is a hockey play-off, due to its coincidence with both spring break and the MAC basketball tourni. Any players that go to the tourni are obviously in Cleveland and cannot do hockey. Any players not in the tourni band have no where to stay as the dorms are closed, and BGSU bands simply does not have the budget money to pay the fees for the students. The athletic department will not cover this for us.
D) If we dedicated a band to hockey and a band to basketball, it would be nearly impossible for us to be at each event. I simply, as a player, do NOT have the time to dedicate to being at every event. I think this would make more sense if you understand the way the system works.
E) It's not that the CMA looks down on the FMB and A-bands, just that we cost the most and funds do not grow on trees.

I agree it would be great to have a hockey band and a basketball band, but in order for this to be possible, I think we'd need TWO hockey bands and TWO basketball bands in order to cover everything. BUT - that costs too much and we do not have the appropriate personnel numbers to facilitate that. In addition, it is easier to plan for the MAC tourni because we have more specific details, and we get them much, much sooner. Hockey is not definite until usually a few days before, and you have no idea how difficult it is to get together a band, at the last minute, and while the university is on a break. I tried last year, remember? I don't think it is fair to compare the BGSU Band program to a place like U-Michigan in the sense that they get a lot more money than we do. Yes, they have a band at every hockey game, regular season or play off, but they have the money to do that, and the right break schedule. The circumstances are too different to make an appropriate comparison.

I hope this helps you understand the situation, and I hope that I didn't let on how sick I am of having to answer this question again and again.

First of all, you should know by now that I appreciate the dedication of people in the BGSU Bands. You should furthermore know that I do very much remember your efforts last year.

I know that there are many obstacles in the way of making this happen. I guess right now I just wanted to have a conversation about something other than the football team, and I guess I have never seen this question posed in these forums before (although I don't keep up with the Bands forum like I should). If I have struck a nerve, please know that was never my intention.

You should know, finally, that I miss you and all of the FMB'ers and that the last thing I would want to do is erk any of you! How could I knowingly piss off The Best Damn Band in Ohio!

[FliccGirl]

To me, at least, the "struck nerve" isn't so much irritation at the question (though for Erica, maybe she's been asked one too many times ). It's that we really WOULD like to do as much as everyone would like us to.... but it's just not possible.

We just don't have the number/amount/size of players, staff, facilities.... funding. Everyone on the football board and other athletic boards gripes about funding. The FMB and A-bands are strapped for cash as well... and running ensembles like those (especially the marching band) costs a lot. Instruments, uniforms, travel costs, etc are expensive.

I know we just got new uniforms and quite a few new instruments... but the instruments I know for sure were bought on loans from the university, and all of it was rather desperately needed. The lining of my old uniform was literally disintegrating at the creases, and the sousaphone section was borrowing instruments from local high schools because we didn't have enough to go around.

And Erica's right... it's not really fair to compare our band program to those at Big11 schools. When we traveled to OSU two years ago, I was staggered at the facilities their marching band has available to them. They have their own audiovisual room in their own customized suite of facilities in the stadium, so they can video their performances and rehearsals, and review them to see what needs to be worked on. We have a TV rolled in on a cart into the band room designed to hold maybe 150 people, which we share with every other instrumental ensemble in the college. (I'm not trying to complain-- just trying to make a point.)

So it's not that we wouldn't like to accomplish the feats other schools' band programs can accomplish. It's that it's simply not feasible.

[Metz]

How about before we worry about the band, we get the organ back in the Ice Arena Mr. Bleeding Orange?

I feel you on the hockey A-band, but then again how come we don't have A-bands dedicated to just basketball? All the A-bands mix the games up so it's all good. Gives everyone a chance to experience all the different sports...you should like that fact.

[transfer2BGSU]

When we traveled to OSU two years ago, I was staggered at the facilities their marching band has available to them. They have their own audiovisual room in their own customized suite of facilities in the stadium, so they can video their performances and rehearsals, and review them to see what needs to be worked on.

They can thank George Steinbrenner for all of that. He and his wife donated a cool couple of million $$$ to the OSU Marching Band.

[FliccGirl]

When we traveled to OSU two years ago, I was staggered at the facilities their marching band has available to them. They have their own audiovisual room in their own customized suite of facilities in the stadium, so they can video their performances and rehearsals, and review them to see what needs to be worked on.

They can thank George Steinbrenner for all of that. He and his wife donated a cool couple of million $$$ to the OSU Marching Band.

Well, when I become ridiculously wealthy....

*shakes fist at BG alumni for being things like teachers and musicians*