OK Tigers, explain this one, please ...

[1987alum]

"Pride" is blaring on my recently rewired stereo (recent as in about 10 minutes ago). It reminds me that Noah had asked me about "Happy Days Are Here Again." He wondered why it was amongst "important" songs like "Forward Falcons," "AZZ," the alma mater and "The Star Spangled Banner." He HAS noticed that the band played it at both home games he's been to, though.

OK, FMB, hit me with some history!

[FliccGirl]

I don't know much about it either... in 2003 when we started playing it for pre-game, I was confused too. Then someone explained to me that the band used to play it years ago, so no worries, it was an old tradition and not a new one. But that's about all they told me.

Anyone with a more thorough knowledge of FMB history care to enlighten me, too?

[SaxyIrishTenor]

I don't know, but I will forward this to someone who may.

[goofyeuph]

Starting as long ago as anyone that I know of can remember thru 2000 "Happy Days" was a part of pre-game. If I had to geuss (and I am geussing mind you) it was meant to be a tranistion from the downfield to the Alma Mater, proably something similar to Carmen Ohio at OSU (sorry, I'm not fimilar with OSU traditions/pregame as my Dad is a U of M Alum). Starting in 2001 Ay-Zig replaced Happy Days in Pregame (for the better IMO). The current band staff changed it back to Happy Days in wanting to "keep with tradition" (I swear I heard her say that someplace). Personally I never saw any reasoning in playing happy days other than "thats what we've always done." I would MUCH rather see the band play AZZ during Pregame instead, gets the crowd rockin.

That is all I can conjuncure from what is most likely half-truth's and hear-say. PLEASE!!!Someone prove me wrong.

[Metz]

Happy Days is tight when we all start at the same time and play it right. Usually everyone is out of breath though and dizzy from those 180 chairstep turns Anyways, we play Ay-Zig enough during the games so I say leave Happy Days where it is!!!

[Rightupinthere]

It was a transition from the opponent's fight song (facing east) over to the home side to play the Alma Mater. I don't know the exact reason behind the reason for the song.
I always thought it a little bit of a slight - out of fun, really.

[FliccGirl]

Happy Days is tight when we all start at the same time and play it right. Usually everyone is out of breath though and dizzy from those 180 chairstep turns Anyways, we play Ay-Zig enough during the games so I say leave Happy Days where it is!!!

But everyone should have mostly caught their breaths again by the time the away team fight song is done, seeing as that's pretty much all most people use that time for. (I feel kinda bad that we always suck at it... but even if you have thoroughly memorized it, it's hard to remember unfamiliar notes when all your brain is telling you is, "NEED!!!! OXYGEN!!!!!!")

Didn't we play Ay-Zig during pre-game this year, too? Transitioning from the 80 to the BG?

Anyway, I kinda like Happy Days right after the away team fight song. It's such a ridiculous, cheerful little tune, that it's almost insulting to 'em. It'd be like... I dunno... saluting your enemy and then walking away humming Zip A Dee Doo Dah

[goofyeuph]

Yes, we did play Ay Zig in Pregame, but you also have remember that this year's pregame wasn't normal. We didn't make a 79 last year, nor do I think you'll make an 81 next. So, with one less set, you need one less song. I geuss around here I'm in the minority. I just don't like happy days.

[FliccGirl]

Ya never know. That scatter-ish portion in the middle of pre-game has been different all three years I've marched. (Last year's falcon head invariably sucked, due to trumpets not making a straight diagonal in front, and a few members of my own section who insisted on finding their dot rather than guiding to the form in back.) They might come up with a new set for next year that will again include both.

[goofyeuph]

In my 4 years pregame has never been exactly the same, but it has always been basicly the same: Entry, downfield, VFS, Transition to Alma set with either AZZ or happy days, alma, america, SSB. The Alma set has always been some sort of BG logo (either spelling BGSU, BG or a Falcon head). This year was different becaues of the 80th year of the FMB.

[Godsgirlerific]

This idea just occurred to me... Because we play it after the visitor's fight song and when we're turning around from the away side to the home side of the stadium, maybe it's saying, "And now that we're done with that, back to our team!! Yay!!"

Mebbe?

[golfertk14]

"Pride" is blaring on my recently rewired stereo (recent as in about 10 minutes ago). It reminds me that Noah had asked me about "Happy Days Are Here Again." He wondered why it was amongst "important" songs like "Forward Falcons," "AZZ," the alma mater and "The Star Spangled Banner." He HAS noticed that the band played it at both home games he's been to, though.

OK, FMB, hit me with some history!

"Pride" by U2? or am I missing something?

[SaxyIrishTenor]

Pride was an FMB CD released by the Alumni Association.

[Class of 61]

"Pride" is blaring on my recently rewired stereo (recent as in about 10 minutes ago). It reminds me that Noah had asked me about "Happy Days Are Here Again." He wondered why it was amongst "important" songs like "Forward Falcons," "AZZ," the alma mater and "The Star Spangled Banner." He HAS noticed that the band played it at both home games he's been to, though.

OK, FMB, hit me with some history!

"Pride" by U2? or am I missing something?

PRIDE is the name of the FMB CD, on sale at the University Bookstore!

[Metz]

"Pride" by U2? or am I missing something?

What, you didn't see that when you were up here touring campus?