Anderson Arena Cheering

[BGFan]

As I recall the hockey pep band was also one of the most active and considered one of the best in the CCHA. I would love to get rid of the canned music and have just the band there, but since we can no longer seem to count on them being there... Oh, how I long for those days....they seem so long ago.

[Rabbit]

So how many hockey players, basketball players, and general sports fans show up at the CMA concerts to cheer the BG musicians? Oh yeah, a one-way street...I forgot.

The A-Band is paid and given credit to be at the games. Athletes do not get credit or paid to be at band performances.

And they are AT the game. I didn't realize the requirement for credit was that they HAD to cheer for the athletes (who don't return the support willingly). I thought the requirement was to be present and perform? Maybe if a little support was thrown back at them, they might be a little more supportive.

[BGFan]

So how many hockey players, basketball players, and general sports fans show up at the CMA concerts to cheer the BG musicians? Oh yeah, a one-way street...I forgot.

The A-Band is paid and given credit to be at the games. Athletes do not get credit or paid to be at band performances.

And they are AT the game. I didn't realize the requirement for credit was that they HAD to cheer for the athletes (who don't return the support willingly). I thought the requirement was to be present and perform? Maybe if a little support was thrown back at them, they might be a little more supportive.

I have NEVER seen such a crappy attitude from a pep band member! As I recall it's part of the job of the pep band to try to get the crowd into the game. That's why they call it a PEP band. Essentially you're part of the cheerleading squad. If you're too good for that, find something else to do with your job.

[The Niz]

Well we have an a band not a pep band

[FMBfan07]

at the beginning rehearsals of Aband, it was said we are there to support our team. This is in the form of playing, cheering, and whatever else it has. How hard is it for you to cheer for the team. I don't care if people don't clap for us after play, yes it would be nice, but those people are not there us. They are there for the team. You signed up for aband to support the team. If you signed up for aband for the credit and the money then that is a pretty crappy attitude and reason. I am tired of hearing well they don't come to our concerts and support us. Well have you asked the basketball teams to come? I know the football team was asked and they came, maybe forced but they came. We get certain people for concerts and the bball team has certain people for them.
Let's just go out there and support our team and do whatever is possible to help them win.

[Jacobs4Heisman]

A lot of fans may not clap for the band after they play at basketball games, but personally I absolutely love the A-band. You guys are a huge part of what makes college sports so great. The experience at a basketball game with A-band is so much better than without. You guys are definitely cherished and greatly appreciated by even the most hard-core sports guys like myself.

And yeah -- that's a pretty crappy attitude, Rabbit. Apples and oranges.

[Rabbit]

Crappy attitude or not, it's reality. I guess I see A-band as a group that performs for entertainment of the crowd. I don't view the group as an extension of a cheerleading squad. People should cheer if they are enjoying the game, have something to cheer about, and want to do so. I guarantee if you saw more support from the teams and general crowd, it would go both ways.

And for the record, my opinions are my own. I played in A-band all 4 years of college, which was many years ago. My opinions don't necessarily reflect those of current A-band members.

[Rabbit]

Oh, and I maybe out of the loop since it's been a lot of years since college, but since when does the A-band get paid to play??? Man you all are lucky. We got credit (one measly hour) and we had to PAY for that credit.

[FMBfan07]

Oh, and I maybe out of the loop since it's been a lot of years since college, but since when does the A-band get paid to play??? Man you all are lucky. We got credit (one measly hour) and we had to PAY for that credit.

they started paying us 4 years ago.

[Rightupinthere]

Hey people from my era...

Wasn't it completely different when we were there? I think it's a direct reflection of the attitude of the ensemble's leader. Jay Jackson LOVED hoops (coming from Tobacco Road and all) and I think HIS enthusiasm was reflected in the actions of the band members. I mean, Judd Heathcoat was pissed at us!! How sweet is that??

Jackson also had his "not an option" regulations for cheers, hands, and enthusiasm.

Can't say anything about the current leaders, because I don't know their view of the role of the ensemble, but I know when we were playing we were there to contribute to the atmosphere, not only with our music, but with our enthusiasm and energy when we weren't playing!

Man, those were some good times, brother.

*Holding up our hands on free throws.

*Jay telling us during the Purdue women's game (which we won), "Come on band, let's get on these girls!" My response, "Man, I woudn't get on these girls for all the rice in China." Jay hit me.

Playing Can't Turn You Loose with 30 seconds left on the break clock. Smoke 'em!

Play "Hey" without the vulgarity.....and always playing it faster according to adrenaline level.

Screaming "I love YOU!" in a very quiet AA when a BSU player (girl's) was stepping up to the stripe. She missed the first shot.

We were loud because we LOVED the game. We were also classy (with a few minor indiscretions mentioned) because we loved the organization. And, as Grant pointed out, our attitude was an extension of JJackson.

[Rabbit]

I remember those games, Mark. Those were a LOT of fun. We cheered and had a blast because we wanted to. I get a bit ruffled when the band as a whole gets chastised by civilians for not cheering. But I still think the main job of A-band is to play music, not be a large cheerleader convention.

[Rightupinthere]

I remember those games, Mark. Those were a LOT of fun. We cheered and had a blast because we wanted to. I get a bit ruffled when the band as a whole gets chastised by civilians for not cheering. But I still think the main job of A-band is to play music, not be a large cheerleader convention.

I'm on your side in that respect, Rabbit.

[SaxyIrishTenor]

Oh, and I maybe out of the loop since it's been a lot of years since college, but since when does the A-band get paid to play??? Man you all are lucky. We got credit (one measly hour) and we had to PAY for that credit.

they started paying us 4 years ago.

Yes, but understand that the money is/was from a benefactor that demanded it's use go toward paying the A-banders. We got the $ in a form of a scholarship applied to our bursar accounts. What the benefactors want, the benfactors get. (That's all past tense as it applies to me.)

I'd rather have seen the money go to support other things in the department, but again, it wasn't up to any of us. And with the way the dynamic changed post-payments, I'd just as soon have seen it go elsewhere.

[pdt1081]

I remember those games, Mark. Those were a LOT of fun. We cheered and had a blast because we wanted to. I get a bit ruffled when the band as a whole gets chastised by civilians for not cheering. But I still think the main job of A-band is to play music, not be a large cheerleader convention.

But, if the music that is played gets the crowd going.......

That's the biggest problem I have with the band at [hockey] games. The music doesn't always allow for crowd participation. From a hockey fan's standpoint, it's kinda like "Oh, the band is playing something." With the canned music you have songs (Cotten Eyed Joe, Shout, etc) that the crowd responds to. You don't really see that with the music played by the band.

Here's an idea for hockey games: Come up with something to play after the opposing team receives a penalty. Something creative that the entire crowd can go along with. Play it right after the C-Ya chant, or come up with something to play instead of the C-Ya chant. I absolutely hate the Man in the Box montage that is played now. It's absolutely horrible.

[The Niz]

I was actually thinking about writing Man in the Box out for the pep band to play. Guess I'll keep that one to myself.