Non-Football things that frustrate me on gameday...

[Falcon30]

I could not diasgree with you more on this particular topic. I've been attending football games at BGSU for over 25 years. I don't need permission from you nor do I need the players or coaches to act as a proxy if I want to criticize the band for playing when the ball is in play.

No problem with saying it. But be respectful about it or be prepared to be criticized.

However, is it a big deal? I NEVER had my band play when the ball was in play for either team unless there was a situation where we were asked to do so, but is it really ruining the game? What's the difference between loud fans on their feet cheering on a big third down?

No one needs my permission to say that, but to drop it like the rule of God is flat-out wrong. I don't have a problem with saying it in a certain way or questioning it.

6. Persons subject to the rules, including bands, shall not create any
noise that prohibits a team from hearing its signals (Rule 1-1-6).

is the rule. Could the team NOT hear? if that isn't the case, please can it.[/quote]

Thank you for proving that you have no idea what we are all talking about. I will not waste time explaining it again. Thank you for everyone that understands about home field advantage. Current band members, keep up the good work and please try and promote a positive home field advantage for our football team. As a long-time BG fan I appreciate what you bring to the game day experience.[/quote]

I understand EXACTLY what point you are trying to make. It is NOT good to make noise when the ball is in play. But to twist it as you did was insulting.

Period.

[hammb]

I agree with you. But it was clearly a small error and not some sort of insult to Jesus or the NCAA. I get upset too easily. It's a character flaw. But you can not defend this holier than thou "the band should NEVER play when the team has the ball" stuff.

It isn't an NCAA rule, as far as I have found it isn't a MAC rule. It is a courtesy thing and if it doesn't bother the players or coaches, is it really an issue?

I agree it was a small error, and I certainly didn't mean for (or expect) it to become a 7 page bitchfest about the band.

I have no problem with the band playing when our team has the ball during timeouts or huddles, but I do think they should do their due diligence to ensure they are done before the team comes to the LOS. I'm sure they do their best in this regard, so I'm not even sure what the argument is, I think we all agree they shouldn't be playing when the team is at the LOS.

I just don't necessarily agree that just because the team/coaches haven't complained makes it alright. I trust the band is doing their best to not play as we break the huddle. They screwed up once, but I don't think it's a recurring issue.

[TG1996]

I think we're about four days from matching the Non-Sequitur thread....

In length AND relevance.

[Flipper]

What I find most amusing about this thread is the way some of you are reacting to a bit of relatively minor criticism of the band. God help us if some of the invective typically reserved for the football team and coaches is ever directed towards the marching band....

[Jacobs4Heisman]

And yet nobody is remotely pissed about the lack of s**tters in the tailgating lot?

PRIORITIES, PEOPLE!

[It's the Journey...]

What I find most amusing about this thread is the way some of you are reacting to a bit of relatively minor criticism of the band. God help us if some of the invective typically reserved for the football team and coaches is ever directed towards the marching band....

If this were done in the "band" forum that may change things a bit, but this is the "Football" forum. I am not as offended that the band is being criticized, but in how it has been done. We are talking about one, maybe two slip ups here over the course of an entire game. And this concern has not been brought up yet this season.

[San Fran Falcon]

I think we're about four days from matching the Non-Sequitur thread....

In length AND relevance.

Seriously, why are we crying about this?

[FortWayneFalcon]

And yet nobody is remotely pissed about the lack of s**tters in the tailgating lot?

PRIORITIES, PEOPLE!

OMG!!!!!!!!! Totally forgot about that one. We actully cut out of our TG a little premature because everyone had to go, because the lines were to long. "The" crapper in our 100 yd radius had at least 20 people in line at 3:00-3:15, and most the line was women. In the rush to pack up and head in to the stadium my grill got left out. The University stole my grill!!!
Seriously though, there must be a lot of people filling up milk jugs out there.
Additionally, when you said s**tters I first thought you meant sitters. I'm sorry but I think they could use a little more (any) police visibility during these events.

[The Niz]

Today's Falcon Marching Band cannot hold a candle to that of the one in the 80's, and the fact that anyone could claim that today's band is one of the best in the nation must only be considering the top 1000 college bands in the country, and then you could say its in the top 90%.

These are sensitive waters...


Although I have my disagreements with Dr. Hayward from time to time, I do respect the fact that she has somehow brought the band back from the dead. Six years ago the band could not hold a tune much less be warranted with the kind of credit some people are giving us. Consider the kind of progress that has been made, its gone from terrible, to top of the class (just my humble opinion) in only five years. If our football team had that kind of progress we would be cheering them on at the rose bowl soon.

There is so much more to add to this, but I fear my ignorance greatly outweighs that which I actually know on the matter, so in the words of RD Mathey, I'm gonna put the puppy to bed.

You're right- those are sensitive waters. I was in the band 6 (and 7 and 8) years ago and don't particularly enjoy being told we couldn't carry a tune and were terrible. In my humble opinion, both of things are absolutely not true. Things have gotten better since Dr. H came on board, but we were still a great band during that time.

I agree with Saxy- I wish I hadn't opened this thread.....

i apologize for my word choice, I went with two opposite ends of the spectrum to exaggerate a point. I should know better than to ever put anything like that against any FMB alum.

[Falcon30]

No problem with saying it. But be respectful about it or be prepared to be criticized

Well sure...I can see how you would make that demand ...you've been model of decorum and respect for the views of others in this conversation

OU's band sucks...McDonald's sucks...treating the band like a sacred cow sucks...everything sucks but the new ipods....

Where did you completely miss the original point? you don't read now, you just antagonize?

I reduced you to mumbling muslim over and over again once

[Falcon30]

What I find most amusing about this thread is the way some of you are reacting to a bit of relatively minor criticism of the band. God help us if some of the invective typically reserved for the football team and coaches is ever directed towards the marching band....

No one has a problem with criticizing the band. Comparing them with flush toilets and way overreacting to a few isolated mistakes and proclaiming with Jesus-like authority that it should "never" happen is what I have a problem with. The facts simply don't agree with that criticism. Clearly.

You fit right into that "I know better than you even though I don't know what I am talking about" crowd here.

The band did go through a period of intense criticism...why do you think they went through so many directors in so few years. The band is back. "God help us if some of the invective typically reserved for the football team and coaches is ever directed towards the marching band?" Give me a friggin break. You do not know what you are talking about. It's called the "late 90s," ask a band alum.

The criticism of the band that has validity is the wave (stupid and distracting) and not cutting off on time (not as simple as some of you think, and not necessarily against the rules. Not good, but not a commandment)

But to insult and demean the band is way out of line, and complaining like it is a personal affront to you is out of line. Believe me - if the team had a problem and communicated it, it would be remedied immediately. I remember that Blackney communicated his appreciation for the band regularly and was open with what he wanted. We used to play Rocky Top. IIRC, someone in the AD (i thought it was the coaches at the time) asked us to stop and we did. I thought it was a fun tune and ironic considering our geography, but it is someone else's fight song, so we tossed it. The band has always been responsive to requests from the AD! It is a personal insult to the band when you insult their motivation and intentions. When you belittle and demean and refuse to apologize for it is wrong. There is nothing more clear than that in this.

[Flipper]

Good Lord ...you are SUCH a baby...

[1987alum]

[BGfootballfan]

The best thing I have seen today.

[BGorDeath]

The best thing I have seen today.

I think this is better: