Game Day experience

[oldcougar77]

I have to admit that I was really disappointed in the pre-game and in-game stadium atmosphere Saturday. It felt to me like the promotions folks just mailed it in. Is this really the best we can do for a home opener? I know that people should primarily come for the game, but a little pageantry wouldn't hurt for the first game. The freshman field-run was good and I enjoyed the features on the "soldier of the week" and "alumni couple" but everything else was stale. How about a flyover or a pre-game tribute to some noteworthy achievement by some alumnus or something a bit different from the last 50 home games?

Maybe I'm just getting old enough to join the "get off my lawn" crowd, or maybe I've just been a regular long enough to be tired of the same-ole, same-ole but there just wasn't anything that made me feel excited like I have always felt on the first game day. Does anyone else share my sentiments or am I just a whiner. Specifically:

1. The new fireworks were a giant "Meh" and I much prefer the music and stampeding buffalo video to Saturday's uninspiring team introduction.

2. "Let's Dig In" leaves me cold.

3. Can we please stop the madness of having the simultaneous blaring of hip-hop music from the on-field speakers, announcements on the video board, and entrance of the Marching Hundred drumline. The period from 35 down to 25 minutes before kickoff was auditory torture. Is there no one who can coordinate these three events so that they don't compete with one another and result in chaotic noise?

4. For the love of God, get rid of "Back Home Again in Indiana". Replace it with anything or nothing. A song with the tempo of a funeral dirge sung by a classical tenor (or baritone - whichever) is the ultimate downer at the moment you would hope the energy would be building. It sucks as a song but more importantly is has zero connection with IU. There are two schools in Indiana situated "on the banks of the Wabash". Neither is IU. Sing it at Purdue. Get rid of it in Bloomington unless it is the uptempo version the pep band plays at basketball games.

5. Just one new song from the band. One. I don't care what it is. Just learn one that hasn't been in the repertoire since the DiNardo era.

6. No more "packing the bags" for a trip to Hoosier Nation or for Hoosier Wipeout. Please. At the very least get rid of the ridiculous script that precedes these annoying tunes if they must be played. I guess I should at least be grateful that I don't have to endure them or the halftime script in an Australian accent. Crikey!

IU is full of creative folks. Surely we can do better. There's enough deja vu watching our defense get scorched. Can we at least create a distraction with something new off the field. Repeated lameness is not a substitute for nostalgia.

Sorry for the rant. I have to go look for my World's Fair spoon. Pass the tylenol

 

[Big Red Crimson Buffalo]

It was pretty bad overall....coupled with the fact that the heat and the downtown Renaissance festival kept people away in droves.

One of my chief complaints has been (and remains) the guy in the stands with his mic mixing it up with the students and appearing completely out of touch.

 

[Iamhoosier]

Agree on much of what you said, oldcougar77. Back Home was better because the band didn't try to play along but it needs to go. Just does not belong. Funeral dirge is a good comparison.

The competing noise coming both end zones is beyond nutzoid.

I DO like Wipeout.

Tradition is great but, I agree, the band adding at least one new tune to play during the game sure as heck wouldn't hurt.

 

[SuperHoosier]

My daughter kept asking me when the Bison video would play (she asked at least twice after halftime, even - LOL - She's 8 so I give her a pass)

Why start something and then just get rid of it after a year or two? Ugh

 

[Big Red Crimson Buffalo]

My daughter kept asking me when the Bison video would play (she asked at least twice after halftime, even - LOL - She's 8 so I give her a pass)

Why start something and then just get rid of it after a year or two? Ugh

The bison video was the perfect segue into getting a bison mascot this season.

We are the only school in the country without a mascot. I know some think it's unique but would like to have something we can rally around instead of the guy clownin' in the stands with the dance cam or whatever time filler they can produce.

 

[texasiuex]

The band can, if used properly, help in creating a good atmosphere for the games. The major problem with the band is the band director. His music is stale, the shows are stale, and the consequences are people leave at halftime and never come back in. He is like some tenured instructors who have used the same lesson plans for years. I played one year in the band for the best band director IU has had in my lifetime, Dr. Ronald D. Gregory. The band always looked good, the music and arrangements were outstanding, and the crowd always stayed for the show. Unfortunately, the director of bands is part of the school of music and I dont know how much power the athletic director has with the school of music dean. David Woodley has outlived his usefulness in his current capacity and should be replaced.

 

[RawbM]

I have to admit that I was really disappointed in the pre-game and in-game stadium atmosphere Saturday. It felt to me like the promotions folks just mailed it in. Is this really the best we can do for a home opener? I know that people should primarily come for the game, but a little pageantry wouldn't hurt for the first game. The freshman field-run was good and I enjoyed the features on the "soldier of the week" and "alumni couple" but everything else was stale. How about a flyover or a pre-game tribute to some noteworthy achievement by some alumnus or something a bit different from the last 50 home games?

Maybe I'm just getting old enough to join the "get off my lawn" crowd, or maybe I've just been a regular long enough to be tired of the same-ole, same-ole but there just wasn't anything that made me feel excited like I have always felt on the first game day. Does anyone else share my sentiments or am I just a whiner. Specifically:

1. The new fireworks were a giant "Meh" and I much prefer the music and stampeding buffalo video to Saturday's uninspiring team introduction.

2. "Let's Dig In" leaves me cold.

3. Can we please stop the madness of having the simultaneous blaring of hip-hop music from the on-field speakers, announcements on the video board, and entrance of the Marching Hundred drumline. The period from 35 down to 25 minutes before kickoff was auditory torture. Is there no one who can coordinate these three events so that they don't compete with one another and result in chaotic noise?

4. For the love of God, get rid of "Back Home Again in Indiana". Replace it with anything or nothing. A song with the tempo of a funeral dirge sung by a classical tenor (or baritone - whichever) is the ultimate downer at the moment you would hope the energy would be building. It sucks as a song but more importantly is has zero connection with IU. There are two schools in Indiana situated "on the banks of the Wabash". Neither is IU. Sing it at Purdue. Get rid of it in Bloomington unless it is the uptempo version the pep band plays at basketball games.

5. Just one new song from the band. One. I don't care what it is. Just learn one that hasn't been in the repertoire since the DiNardo era.

6. No more "packing the bags" for a trip to Hoosier Nation or for Hoosier Wipeout. Please. At the very least get rid of the ridiculous script that precedes these annoying tunes if they must be played. I guess I should at least be grateful that I don't have to endure them or the halftime script in an Australian accent. Crikey!

IU is full of creative folks. Surely we can do better. There's enough deja vu watching our defense get scorched. Can we at least create a distraction with something new off the field. Repeated lameness is not a substitute for nostalgia.

Sorry for the rant. I have to go look for my World's Fair spoon. Pass the tylenol

I agree with everything. When I invite friends and family from other schools, I'm embarrassed at the overall amateur production. On the field is one thing...we are trying to fix that obviously. But the other stuff is just basic. If they are thinking about a gimmicky game or basically anything on the video board other than football, when in doubt, leave it out.

It's a football game...we can entertain ourselves. Give me scores, info, highlights, a band, and I'm happy. Strip it down completely for one game. After the game, let's see what We really missed.

Concentrate on a few things instead of screwing up a bunch.

 

[muubell]

My daughter kept asking me when the Bison video would play (she asked at least twice after halftime, even - LOL - She's 8 so I give her a pass)

Why start something and then just get rid of it after a year or two? Ugh

You got it. How can we build ANY tradition this way? They've done the bison video (with modifications) for what, at least five years?

We've mostly lost the "First Down" march (since god forbid our offense can't communicate over the band noise, seems like that would be good practice for playing on the road).

I appreciate the nod to history with the "Dig in" theme, and its great to have George T narrate, but on the intro I couldn't understand a word that was being said. So that kinda blows the whole thing up.

 

[RBB89]

You got it. How can we build ANY tradition this way? They've done the bison video (with modifications) for what, at least five years?

We've mostly lost the "First Down" march (since god forbid our offense can't communicate over the band noise, seems like that would be good practice for playing on the road).

I appreciate the nod to history with the "Dig in" theme, and its great to have George T narrate, but on the intro I couldn't understand a word that was being said. So that kinda blows the whole thing up.

I agree, but the march thing is still done after touchdowns.

As for the atmosphere as a whole, I think the word "bad" accurately sums it up.

 

[SuperHoosier]

I agree, but the march thing is still done after touchdowns.

As for the atmosphere as a whole, I think the word "bad" accurately sums it up.

If only there were a committee to give recommendations....and if only we knew someone on that committee.....

hmmmmmmm


lol

 

[RBB89]

If only there were a committee to give recommendations....and if only we knew someone on that committee.....

hmmmmmmm


lol

Oh believe me, I already sent in my 5000 word email this afternoon. Haha

 

[NatiHoosier]

They're pretty bad about promotions too. My freshman year i recall us putting up like 70 on ISU(2013) and all the students left with a coupon for free pizza. Now, I have faith in this team, but i don't see 70 going on that scoreboard any time soon, sans the buckeyes. If the athletic department would realize what lengths college students will go to for free food, you would see 10,000 students there consistently. I just think for a lot of people, having fun spending time with family/friends in the tailgate fields far outweighs the rewards of watching mediocre football.

 

[turney333]

They're pretty bad about promotions too. My freshman year i recall us putting up like 70 on ISU(2013) and all the students left with a coupon for free pizza. Now, I have faith in this team, but i don't see 70 going on that scoreboard any time soon, sans the buckeyes. If the athletic department would realize what lengths college students will go to for free food, you would see 10,000 students there consistently.

maybe give the coupons out after the game

 

[NatiHoosier]

maybe give the coupons out after the game

I'm not even kidding, thats exactly what i mean. If you give them out as people walk in, they will turn right around and leave. But if you say "at the end of the game there will be coupons for free pizzas, etc" it will get people in their seats. I actually wrote a recommendation report last year on this exact topic for a class, and the most consistent response we got from students were something to the effect of "better team, more promotions/coupons, more engaging events."

 

[Jfats]

I remember a game where a bus load of players arrived via an English double decker bus (the rest of the team ran out to greet them). The crowd went wild; the team on the emotional high scored on its first possession. I think we lost anyway
!), but the point is that something as an unusual entry has stuck with me for years - it was a Corso thing I think. It should be fun to tap into creativity and make the games more fun.

 

[turney333]

I'm not even kidding, thats exactly what i mean. If you give them out as people walk in, they will turn right around and leave. But if you say "at the end of the game there will be coupons for free pizzas, etc" it will get people in their seats. I actually wrote a recommendation report last year on this exact topic for a class, and the most consistent response we got from students were something to the effect of "better team, more promotions/coupons, more engaging events."

True, I was at IU when the first chipotle opened, and remember waiting in line for almost 2 hrs for a free burrito

 

[Tillman1]

My daughter kept asking me when the Bison video would play (she asked at least twice after halftime, even - LOL - She's 8 so I give her a pass)

Why start something and then just get rid of it after a year or two? Ugh

Agree!! My son said the same thing. It was the ONE thing that he really looked forward to and enjoyed. Thus, it made me want to get into the game prior to kickoff.

 

[turney333]

Agree!! My son said the same thing. It was the ONE thing that he really looked forward to and enjoyed. Thus, it made me want to get into the game prior to kickoff.

The bison video could have used an update, but getting rid of seems strange. Was it replaced by the lets dig in video? I like the video, but I don't think it's pregame worthy.

 

[stripetology]

The bison video could have used an update, but getting rid of seems strange. Was it replaced by the lets dig in video? I like the video, but I don't think it's pregame worthy.

So agree. Spot works for TV but not for a game. I think they were a bit too enamoured with the "gem" of a find and took concept a bit far. On the plus side, having a fan board is good feedback for them. They will get the message. They say a team improves most from week one to the second week. How about marketing?

 

[IUAlum91]

So agree. Spot works for TV but not for a game. I think they were a bit too enamoured with the "gem" of a find and took concept a bit far. On the plus side, having a fan board is good feedback for them. They will get the message. They say a team improves most from week one to the second week. How about marketing?

I thoroughly agree and speaking of marketing! I am a travel professional and they had a stupid game on the board about airport codes and one of the airport codes I had never even seen before and the kid said "Atlantic City" for AIC and he got it "right"...well, I hate to tell the Marketing Department that they got that wrong too...always and forever I have been sending people to ACY for their NJ Boardwalk experience...

 

[GoBigRed1983]

maybe give the coupons out after the game

Maybe a 2 partcoupon with 1/2 given out at the beginning and 1/2 at the end.

 

[Lujo1986]

Maybe a big win or two would work.

 

[Chriselli]

I have to admit that I was really disappointed in the pre-game and in-game stadium atmosphere Saturday. It felt to me like the promotions folks just mailed it in. Is this really the best we can do for a home opener? I know that people should primarily come for the game, but a little pageantry wouldn't hurt for the first game. The freshman field-run was good and I enjoyed the features on the "soldier of the week" and "alumni couple" but everything else was stale. How about a flyover or a pre-game tribute to some noteworthy achievement by some alumnus or something a bit different from the last 50 home games?

Maybe I'm just getting old enough to join the "get off my lawn" crowd, or maybe I've just been a regular long enough to be tired of the same-ole, same-ole but there just wasn't anything that made me feel excited like I have always felt on the first game day. Does anyone else share my sentiments or am I just a whiner. Specifically:

1. The new fireworks were a giant "Meh" and I much prefer the music and stampeding buffalo video to Saturday's uninspiring team introduction.

2. "Let's Dig In" leaves me cold.

3. Can we please stop the madness of having the simultaneous blaring of hip-hop music from the on-field speakers, announcements on the video board, and entrance of the Marching Hundred drumline. The period from 35 down to 25 minutes before kickoff was auditory torture. Is there no one who can coordinate these three events so that they don't compete with one another and result in chaotic noise?

4. For the love of God, get rid of "Back Home Again in Indiana". Replace it with anything or nothing. A song with the tempo of a funeral dirge sung by a classical tenor (or baritone - whichever) is the ultimate downer at the moment you would hope the energy would be building. It sucks as a song but more importantly is has zero connection with IU. There are two schools in Indiana situated "on the banks of the Wabash". Neither is IU. Sing it at Purdue. Get rid of it in Bloomington unless it is the uptempo version the pep band plays at basketball games.

5. Just one new song from the band. One. I don't care what it is. Just learn one that hasn't been in the repertoire since the DiNardo era.

6. No more "packing the bags" for a trip to Hoosier Nation or for Hoosier Wipeout. Please. At the very least get rid of the ridiculous script that precedes these annoying tunes if they must be played. I guess I should at least be grateful that I don't have to endure them or the halftime script in an Australian accent. Crikey!

IU is full of creative folks. Surely we can do better. There's enough deja vu watching our defense get scorched. Can we at least create a distraction with something new off the field. Repeated lameness is not a substitute for nostalgia.

Sorry for the rant. I have to go look for my World's Fair spoon. Pass the tylenol

I totally agree with everything you said. It was a get-me-over fastball from marketing. That was the worst hype video I have ever seen. The MC does seem clueless. I wonder if 5 people actually text which played out song they want the band to play. The crowd was treated to nothing from marketing/final product and, in turn, provided nothing to the team. Therein lies the real importance and purpose of gameday promotions. And they failed badly. If I didn't LOVE IU football I would not go out of my way to attend that product. Poorest effort in the Glass era.

PS I hate this format, and my use of this site has dropped 60%. For what it's worth.

 

[Vididiot]

I remember a game where a bus load of players arrived via an English double decker bus (the rest of the team ran out to greet them). The crowd went wild; the team on the emotional high scored on its first possession. I think we lost anyway
!), but the point is that something as an unusual entry has stuck with me for years - it was a Corso thing I think. It should be fun to tap into creativity and make the games more fun.

It was Corso that did that. Say what you want about his coaching, but the guy was a showman.

 

[Vididiot]

The band can, if used properly, help in creating a good atmosphere for the games. The major problem with the band is the band director. His music is stale, the shows are stale, and the consequences are people leave at halftime and never come back in. He is like some tenured instructors who have used the same lesson plans for years. I played one year in the band for the best band director IU has had in my lifetime, Dr. Ronald D. Gregory. The band always looked good, the music and arrangements were outstanding, and the crowd always stayed for the show. Unfortunately, the director of bands is part of the school of music and I dont know how much power the athletic director has with the school of music dean. David Woodley has outlived his usefulness in his current capacity and should be replaced.

I agree. About 30 years I was at the IU Wisconsin game at Bloomington. Wisky's band was there and they were very loose. The band uniforms were fairly simple. Simple hats without that stupid thing on top that looks like a goldenrod or some kind of weed. They played the Budweiser song and then would fall down and shake their feet in the air (I guess you had to be there). But it was obvious that they were having fun. They would march around, but not in gaudy uniforms and so stiff they looked like they had corncobs up their butts. I don't stick around at halftime to see the band. Just not interested. They need to trash the band concepts and start over from scratch.

 

[Vididiot]

I have to admit that I was really disappointed in the pre-game and in-game stadium atmosphere Saturday. It felt to me like the promotions folks just mailed it in. Is this really the best we can do for a home opener? I know that people should primarily come for the game, but a little pageantry wouldn't hurt for the first game. The freshman field-run was good and I enjoyed the features on the "soldier of the week" and "alumni couple" but everything else was stale. How about a flyover or a pre-game tribute to some noteworthy achievement by some alumnus or something a bit different from the last 50 home games?

Maybe I'm just getting old enough to join the "get off my lawn" crowd, or maybe I've just been a regular long enough to be tired of the same-ole, same-ole but there just wasn't anything that made me feel excited like I have always felt on the first game day. Does anyone else share my sentiments or am I just a whiner. Specifically:

1. The new fireworks were a giant "Meh" and I much prefer the music and stampeding buffalo video to Saturday's uninspiring team introduction.

2. "Let's Dig In" leaves me cold.

3. Can we please stop the madness of having the simultaneous blaring of hip-hop music from the on-field speakers, announcements on the video board, and entrance of the Marching Hundred drumline. The period from 35 down to 25 minutes before kickoff was auditory torture. Is there no one who can coordinate these three events so that they don't compete with one another and result in chaotic noise?

4. For the love of God, get rid of "Back Home Again in Indiana". Replace it with anything or nothing. A song with the tempo of a funeral dirge sung by a classical tenor (or baritone - whichever) is the ultimate downer at the moment you would hope the energy would be building. It sucks as a song but more importantly is has zero connection with IU. There are two schools in Indiana situated "on the banks of the Wabash". Neither is IU. Sing it at Purdue. Get rid of it in Bloomington unless it is the uptempo version the pep band plays at basketball games.

5. Just one new song from the band. One. I don't care what it is. Just learn one that hasn't been in the repertoire since the DiNardo era.

6. No more "packing the bags" for a trip to Hoosier Nation or for Hoosier Wipeout. Please. At the very least get rid of the ridiculous script that precedes these annoying tunes if they must be played. I guess I should at least be grateful that I don't have to endure them or the halftime script in an Australian accent. Crikey!

IU is full of creative folks. Surely we can do better. There's enough deja vu watching our defense get scorched. Can we at least create a distraction with something new off the field. Repeated lameness is not a substitute for nostalgia.

Sorry for the rant. I have to go look for my World's Fair spoon. Pass the tylenol

I arrived just before kickoff so I missed some of what you speak. What really bothered me was the right side of the scoreboard. Last year it was used to keep a running total of statistics for both teams, i.e. first downs, yards passing, yards rushing, total yards. It also showed scores from other games. This year it is mostly all advertisements with the rare statistical summary. Some of this is now displayed on the ribbon board, but not as frequently, and that board is also loaded with ads. If you're not looking at just the right time, you can miss scores and statistics because they're gone. I liked it up on the scoreboard with the score, and you could follow the statistics throughout the game. This reminds me of the commercialization instituted by Brandon at Michigan. The Michigan stadium and game became one big advertisement. It pissed a lot of people off and, with their obvious other problems, led to his downfall. There doesn't have to be an advertisement in every direction that you look.

 

[Vididiot]

My daughter kept asking me when the Bison video would play (she asked at least twice after halftime, even - LOL - She's 8 so I give her a pass)

Why start something and then just get rid of it after a year or two? Ugh

The bison video was the best pregame thing that they had done in years. So it figures they would trash it.

 

[Big Red Crimson Buffalo]

Our band is absolutely one of the worst I have seen. This is a music school.
Someone needs to get the South Carolina State band back up here and get da funk going again!!
I want to see energy, not the freaking walking dead out there.

 

[Courtsensetwo]

Our game day experience was excellent. Could not care less about videos, music, or fireworks. The tailgates were hopping and outside of the defensive failure, I enjoyed the game.

 

[Courtsensetwo]

Our band is absolutely one of the worst I have seen. This is a music school.
Someone needs to get the South Carolina State band back up here and get da funk going again!!
I want to see energy, not the freaking walking dead out there.

A world-class music school is part of the problem. Top shelf musicians but most feel marching bands are beneath them. Ohio. State makes a huge honor of their band and the results show...lesser quality musicians but more emphasis and glory.

I have not given a rat's about any band since forever and that is a result of IUs "Tribute to Cole Porter" approach. If I were a O$U fan (shudder) I would be into the band.

 

[TheSpa]

I remember a game where a bus load of players arrived via an English double decker bus (the rest of the team ran out to greet them). The crowd went wild; the team on the emotional high scored on its first possession. I think we lost anyway
!), but the point is that something as an unusual entry has stuck with me for years - it was a Corso thing I think. It should be fun to tap into creativity and make the games more fun.

It was the entire team, not just some of them. It was Corso's first game at IU. IU went up 14-0 but lost 28-14 to Illinois.

 

[IU40IU]

I have to admit that I was really disappointed in the pre-game and in-game stadium atmosphere Saturday. It felt to me like the promotions folks just mailed it in. Is this really the best we can do for a home opener? I know that people should primarily come for the game, but a little pageantry wouldn't hurt for the first game. The freshman field-run was good and I enjoyed the features on the "soldier of the week" and "alumni couple" but everything else was stale. How about a flyover or a pre-game tribute to some noteworthy achievement by some alumnus or something a bit different from the last 50 home games?

Maybe I'm just getting old enough to join the "get off my lawn" crowd, or maybe I've just been a regular long enough to be tired of the same-ole, same-ole but there just wasn't anything that made me feel excited like I have always felt on the first game day. Does anyone else share my sentiments or am I just a whiner. Specifically:

1. The new fireworks were a giant "Meh" and I much prefer the music and stampeding buffalo video to Saturday's uninspiring team introduction.

2. "Let's Dig In" leaves me cold.

3. Can we please stop the madness of having the simultaneous blaring of hip-hop music from the on-field speakers, announcements on the video board, and entrance of the Marching Hundred drumline. The period from 35 down to 25 minutes before kickoff was auditory torture. Is there no one who can coordinate these three events so that they don't compete with one another and result in chaotic noise?

4. For the love of God, get rid of "Back Home Again in Indiana". Replace it with anything or nothing. A song with the tempo of a funeral dirge sung by a classical tenor (or baritone - whichever) is the ultimate downer at the moment you would hope the energy would be building. It sucks as a song but more importantly is has zero connection with IU. There are two schools in Indiana situated "on the banks of the Wabash". Neither is IU. Sing it at Purdue. Get rid of it in Bloomington unless it is the uptempo version the pep band plays at basketball games.

5. Just one new song from the band. One. I don't care what it is. Just learn one that hasn't been in the repertoire since the DiNardo era.

6. No more "packing the bags" for a trip to Hoosier Nation or for Hoosier Wipeout. Please. At the very least get rid of the ridiculous script that precedes these annoying tunes if they must be played. I guess I should at least be grateful that I don't have to endure them or the halftime script in an Australian accent. Crikey!

IU is full of creative folks. Surely we can do better. There's enough deja vu watching our defense get scorched. Can we at least create a distraction with something new off the field. Repeated lameness is not a substitute for nostalgia.

Sorry for the rant. I have to go look for my World's Fair spoon. Pass the tylenol

Agree 100% with your post. I could not believe they got rid of the bison video. That was definitely a highlight and got the crown fired up. Very disappointing

However, even more disappointing is our band. I've been saying it for years. They suck. Same script every single game for years. No originality. Just awful.

And why in the world is our team on the east side of the stadium? Make the visiting team have to deal with our students and make the visiting team have to look directly into the sun. Little things maybe, but seems logical, yes?

 

[IUAlum]

A world-class music school is part of the problem. Top shelf musicians but most feel marching bands are beneath them. Ohio. State makes a huge honor of their band and the results show...lesser quality musicians but more emphasis and glory.

I have not given a rat's about any band since forever and that is a result of IUs "Tribute to Cole Porter" approach. If I were a O$U fan (shudder) I would be into the band.

Seriously. Let's scrap that world class music school for the sake of the Marching 100. :::::rollingmyeyesoutofmyhead:::::

Two IU music degrees. 4 years in the M100. And you are correct. The quality of the M100 is way beneath my skills, but I did it anyway.

Every B1G marching band has a thing they do - Ohio State is all silver brass and the script O-H-I-O. MSU does this dumb little stutter step when they march. IU does the "chair step" which is a modified ankle knee, but ya gotta kick the foot out when you bend at the knee. Very tricky, but if you don't know how to march correctly it can mess your chops up pretty bad.

Just an FYI - the music school requires all instrumental Music Ed majors to be in the M100 for two years. Sometimes those music ed majors are orchestral players and have never been in a marching band - and then they have to try to march a chair step. Then you have the kids that were total marching band geeks in high school which equates to a drum & bugle corps style. You don't get that experience in the M100 because of the B1G marching band tradition, so they don't want to do it.

Besides, the football team sucks. Who wants to be in the marching band for a crap football team anyway.

 

[Flooded Timber]

Seriously. Let's scrap that world class music school for the sake of the Marching 100. :::::rollingmyeyesoutofmyhead:::::

Two IU music degrees. 4 years in the M100. And you are correct. The quality of the M100 is way beneath my skills, but I did it anyway.

Every B1G marching band has a thing they do - Ohio State is all silver brass and the script O-H-I-O. MSU does this dumb little stutter step when they march. IU does the "chair step" which is a modified ankle knee, but ya gotta kick the foot out when you bend at the knee. Very tricky, but if you don't know how to march correctly it can mess your chops up pretty bad.

Just an FYI - the music school requires all instrumental Music Ed majors to be in the M100 for two years. Sometimes those music ed majors are orchestral players and have never been in a marching band - and then they have to try to march a chair step. Then you have the kids that were total marching band geeks in high school which equates to a drum & bugle corps style. You don't get that experience in the M100 because of the B1G marching band tradition, so they don't want to do it.

Besides, the football team sucks. Who wants to be in the marching band for a crap football team anyway.

Well there is the answer and the changes needed. Marching 100 only for those who want to be in the marching
band and update to something more modern. If there are not enough students who want to be in a marching band for "a crap football team" then do away with the band, or at least its participation in football games. Problem solved

 

[Big Red Crimson Buffalo]

Two IU music degrees. 4 years in the M100. And you are correct. The quality of the M100 is way beneath my skills, but I did it anyway.

Every B1G marching band has a thing they do - Ohio State is all silver brass and the script O-H-I-O. MSU does this dumb little stutter step when they march. IU does the "chair step" which is a modified ankle knee, but ya gotta kick the foot out when you bend at the knee. Very tricky, but if you don't know how to march correctly it can mess your chops up pretty bad.

Is it too much to ask that the M100 not look like a group of propped up corpses?

C'mon. Wisconsin has always had an entertaining band loooooong before they got better in football.

The performance of the band and the team can be mutually exclusive.

And, to compare the OSU band with ours is insulting....to Ohio State. But, I'm sure as you said, the only differences between any of the school bands is just some little variation they do with their leg "kick outs."

 

[Courtsensetwo]

Seriously. Let's scrap that world class music school for the sake of the Marching 100. :::::rollingmyeyesoutofmyhead:::::

Huh? What??

 

[IUAlum]

Agreed - musicians should not be forced to be in the M100. The band should be more modern.

In the 80's we had these hideous bell bottomed pants - the uniforms were horrible AND we had to march chair step the entire game - pregame AND halftime. :::shudder::: Bill Cook offered to buy the band new uniforms and percussion equipment if they would switch to corps style marching for halftime so that change was finally made.

They eliminated the flag corps a while back because they claimed they couldn't get a staff person to commit to teaching it. They play more popular oriented music now - I remember going back to grad school in the 90's and hearing that the band was playing "Cheeseburger in paradise" and I threw up a little in my mouth.

You're in love with OSU, I get it, but to someone like me, they all suck. Intonation to a trained ear is horrible, The marching is sloppy, it might look good from far away, but up close technique sucks. You might think a band like Wisconsin is entertaining, but I would be embarrassed to perform in a group that is that casual. "They played the Budweiser song and then would fall down and shake their feet in the air (I guess you had to be there). " Yeah - I guess you would have to be there. 30 years ago I probably was....and I don't remember the Wisconsin band coming to a game. but those brain cells could be long gone.

I'm not going to get into a lot of detail, but the band department has been mailing it in for years. Weak hires. Lots of drama behind the scenes. The current directors health is not great. They were practicing in the parking lot of the football stadium for a while, but now they may have their own practice facility again.

"Advance. Advance. Ambulate over the turf."

 

[Courtsensetwo]

Keep waiting for Lawrence Welk to step out and lead the MH. Glass could buy the worlds largest bubble machine.

 

[Big Red Crimson Buffalo]

Keep waiting for Lawrence Welk to step out and lead the MH. Glass could buy the worlds largest bubble machine.

That would be fitting considering Welk is dead and our band goes through it's routine like something out of the walking dead.

 

[Jfats]

It was the entire team, not just some of them. It was Corso's first game at IU. IU went up 14-0 but lost 28-14 to Illinois.

Not to belabor the point, but I was there and the bus only held some players (vast minority, as no bus could possibly hold the entire team anyway) of the team. Once it curved down the old road on the north side of the field and the players ran out, the rest came out of the tunnel. Reports saying the whole team packed on the bus are not correct. The point however was something so simple was very exciting. With some creativity, the atmosphere would improve.