Hoping the Marching Mountaineers are going to UGa

[wncapp78]

I sure hope that the Marching Mountaineers will get to travel to the Georgia game! The first weekend of college football. Our game will still be going on at PRIME time on ESPN for Anyone tuning in Eastern, Central and Mountain time zones. The biggest stage. App State vs Georga Bulldogs! Holy Cow I'm excited! ESPN does a great job of showcasing all the pageantry of college football. Every major football game that weekend will have BOTH bands. We desperately need the Band of Distinction there, just like at Michigan. Listen to the replay of the end of the Michigan game. David Jackson and Brownie are going crazy and you hear HI HI YIKAS echoing throughout the big house. IF I KNEW HOW I'd PLAY IT RIGHT NOW LOL!!

[NO.2]

Agreed, though if I recall correctly they have not traveled to many of our "big" games recently. UT's band played HiHi Yikas in front of our section last year, I'm sure they came to regret that as the game went on.

[Yosef84]

It would be great to have the BOD at the Georgia game. I know it's expensive, but maybe the closer proximity makes it possible. Does anybody know when the band reports to camp this year? Any projections on the size this year? I'd like to see them continue growing now that we have leadership in place.

[Mountaineer]

We played in "The Swamp" when I was in the band, Athens is much closer.

I just hope the band is better this year. Ever since Dr. Tobias left there has been a noticeable drop-off in quality.

[DaphneUrquhart]

Agreed, though if I recall correctly they have not traveled to many of our "big" games recently. UT's band played HiHi Yikas in front of our section last year, I'm sure they came to regret that as the game went on.

UT's band does that at every game for every opponent - even SEC opponents. All band members are expected to memorize the visiting team's fight song in order to play it in the pre-game show.

[tromboneman]

We played in "The Swamp" when I was in the band, Athens is much closer.

I just hope the band is better this year. Ever since Dr. Tobias left there has been a noticeable drop-off in quality.

That is a matter of opinion.

[Mountaineer]

We played in "The Swamp" when I was in the band, Athens is much closer.

I just hope the band is better this year. Ever since Dr. Tobias left there has been a noticeable drop-off in quality.

That is a matter of opinion.

I disagree. I attended homecoming a couple years ago and the band marched out in jeans, t-shirts, and the woodwinds played kazoos. One of the tuba players wasn't even wearing a shirt in the homecoming parade last year. That kind of unprofessionalism wouldn't have been allowed under previous directors. Richardson has really let things go.

[NO.2]

I wish the BOD would take a page out of the MEAC's book. They take marching very seriously yet still look like they have a lot of fun with the formations/dancing/etc. Watching our band vs them is like being stuck at a fancy garden party while the neighbors are throwing a raging cookout.

[McLeansvilleAppFan]

I wish the BOD would take a page out of the MEAC's book. They take marching very seriously yet still look like they have a lot of fun with the formations/dancing/etc. Watching our band vs them is like being stuck at a fancy garden party while the neighbors are throwing a raging cookout.

That can be fun to watch, but I am not sure if they are hitting all their notes, and at the end of the day, a band is about sound and everything else is secondary or tertiary even. Now I do not have a trained ear, but the high stepping style comes across as more about style than substance, which is fine, but I would take 100% correct notes standing still than movement so much the instrument is not as important. But that is just me, and I do appreciate the fact there can be variety in styles.

[BTK2000]

A trip to Athens would cost a ton. The Florida trip cost close to 120k in 2010. The ecu trip cost 90k in 2012 and only happened because of a generous donor. If people want the band to travel you are gonna have to stand up and start writing checks to the HSoM because most of the budget is for the multi-night trip to a bowl game. The band traveling is at least 6 busses, a hotel room for every 4 members, $10-$15 per band member per day for food, the cost of the tickets(yes the bAnd has to buy the tickets from the app state athletics department) and he cost to send oversized equipment if the band does a halftime show. I feel like we would rather them be at a bowl game instead of a non conference game if we had a choice.

[wncapp78]

No over night hotel required for this trip. Day trip down and back just like many fans, including this one, will do.
When was the last ESPN prime time Saturday night game App played? We can't afford NOT to have the band at this game. I would gladly chip in and "adopt" a band member. If HSoM needs donations to send the band, issue a call for donations to send the band to the game. Our fans will answer the call!