Game Day experience

[TheSpa]

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. The point however was something so simple was very exciting. With some creativity, the atmosphere would improve.

I was there, too. It was the entire team because we watched them all go through warms in the field house. The first time they entered the field was when they all came in on the busses, just before kick off. Prior to then, no IU player had been on the field. It was Corso's way of making a grand entrance for his first game.

 

[IUAlum]

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

I'm not understanding this - I thought they were doing more modern stuff with Woodley - that's his bag, arranging pop stuff. The last time I came back for Alumni band 4 years ago or so we played Welcome to the Jungle. Dated, I know, but we never would have played something that modern in the 80's. I thought that Hep had really worked on developing the relationship with the band during the game and 5-6 years ago it seemed to me that the students were supporting the band way more than they did in the 80's when we were admittedly really band geeks.

I know they still do the Swing Swing Swing tune, that's a tradition that started in the 80's and it gives the drumline a chance to do all their monkey drumming stuff that is all the rage. They march like crap and their drill is very park and bark. And I've also got the old timers disease that they warned us about - it was better back in the day!!! LOL! It really was - I got to go to two bowl games! (would have done three but I took the 1986 season off - cost me a pep band spot for '87...still kicking myself over that one but I digress...)

Gotta wonder if all the inside drama I've been hearing about is taking its toll on the band moral. That and Red Hefers...Whoops. I mean Red Steppers.

 

[Big Red Crimson Buffalo]

I'm not understanding this - I thought they were doing more modern stuff with Woodley - that's his bag, arranging pop stuff. The last time I came back for Alumni band 4 years ago or so we played Welcome to the Jungle. Dated, I know, but we never would have played something that modern in the 80's. I thought that Hep had really worked on developing the relationship with the band during the game and 5-6 years ago it seemed to me that the students were supporting the band way more than they did in the 80's when we were admittedly really band geeks.

I know they still do the Swing Swing Swing tune, that's a tradition that started in the 80's and it gives the drumline a chance to do all their monkey drumming stuff that is all the rage. They march like crap and their drill is very park and bark. And I've also got the old timers disease that they warned us about - it was better back in the day!!! LOL! It really was - I got to go to two bowl games! (would have done three but I took the 1986 season off - cost me a pep band spot for '87...still kicking myself over that one but I digress...)

Gotta wonder if all the inside drama I've been hearing about is taking its toll on the band moral. That and Red Hefers...Whoops. I mean Red Steppers.

It's not the song selection necessarily. It's the presentation that stinks.

They look like they are going through the motions. There is absolutely no energy to that band.

 

[Courtsensetwo]

If you had to wear trout fishing waders all day you would not be enthusiastic either.

 

[Big Red Believer]

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 always looked forward to the bison entry video. Thought it was energizing and terrific. Bring it back!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Courtsensetwo]

While we are here bitching...the turf is close to being replaced, but why not spend the money to redo the end zones in advance? I know crimson is a tough color to do with the black pellets but it looks dirty and tired. I would almost prefer them to go to a bright deep red.

 

[TheSpa]

While we are here bitching...the turf is close to being replaced, but why not spend the money to redo the end zones in advance? I know crimson is a tough color to do with the black pellets but it looks dirty and tired. I would almost prefer them to go to a bright deep red.

They solicit proposals for replacement of the entire field. Doing only the end zones would necessitate a second RFP process as well as creating a possible mismatch with the later installed turf that would surround it. The end zones look horrible, that's for sure.

 

[iubud]

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.

I liked the intro last year and was disappointed with what they had this year. I don't want a mascot. I am not sure people will understand the connection between Hoosiers ans bison. I know it is on our state seal, but so is a guy with an ax.

The music was annoying and I was glad when it stopped. It reminded me of our local high school that plays warm up music selected by the team. It is always the worst rap music that goes on and on and leaves you with a headache. Making it loud doesn't make it better.

I don't go to games for the pregame atmosphere, but I would rather them do less than try to entertain me with too much. Having the band and that music on at the same time had me wanting it to all stop.

We can do better than that.

 

[Big Red Crimson Buffalo]

I liked the intro last year and was disappointed with what they had this year. I don't want a mascot. I am not sure people will understand the connection between Hoosiers ans bison. I know it is on our state seal, but so is a guy with an ax.

The music was annoying and I was glad when it stopped. It reminded me of our local high school that plays warm up music selected by the team. It is always the worst rap music that goes on and on and leaves you with a headache. Making it loud doesn't make it better.

I don't go to games for the pregame atmosphere, but I would rather them do less than try to entertain me with too much. Having the band and that music on at the same time had me wanting it to all stop.

We can do better than that.

If they bring out a Bison wearing a Nick's English Hut t-shirt, the connection would be very real.

 

[iubud]

If they bring out a Bison wearing a Nick's English Hut t-shirt, the connection would be very real.

I would come to the game just to see that!

 

[Big Red Crimson Buffalo]

Nick's mascot should be the official university mascot. Nick's is like an IU institution in and of itself. The two go hand in hand.

http://www.bakkentoday.com/event/im...e/Bison at Nick’s English Hut/publisher_ID/1/

 

[IUAlum]

Nick's mascot should be the official university mascot. Nick's is like an IU institution in and of itself. The two go hand in hand.

http://www.bakkentoday.com/event/image/id/323873/headline/Bison at Nick’s English Hut/publisher_ID/1/

True story - I never went to Nicks during the 8 combined years I spent in Bloomington.

Finally went for the first time in 2011 for a party as part of the IUAA leadership conference they have in June every year. It was a pretty good time, drinking beer on IU's dime.

Just got my M100 "Rusty Pipes" Alumni email for homecoming - I can pass along the suggestions about the uniform and lack of energy of the field if you want . I won't be attending this year due to work conflicts, but I make it back for Alumni Band every once in a while.

When I marched I loved the rush of dashing through the tunnel onto the field for pre-game, slamming to a stop all out of breath and crazy tired, popping that horn up and nailing the fight song intro - we didn't have to compete with all the other crap they do now. We were the show back then. It's changed a lot. Even the "tunnels" we used to run are onto the field from our gone now.

I have to say the most exciting thing I ever saw at an IU game was the first home game of the 1985 season - Bill Mallory's first victory - the students tore the goal posts down. It was awesome after sitting through his first season without a win.