Band not going to Alabama game
Saw this on Twitter. Can anyone in the band confirm? Would be awful if true.
So, the @umichband won't be traveling to Dallas for the "home game" against Alabama? That's completely unacceptable @DaveBrandonAD.
EDIT: Now confirmed. What a joke.
Stephen J. Nesbitt @stephenjnesbitt
Alabama's band, though, will be on hand at Cowboy Stadium. Members of the MMB that I've heard from are none too happy with the decision.
The Michigan Marching Band has been informed by the Athletic Department that it will not be travelling to Dallas for Michigan/Alabama.
With the marching band, rivalry games have been automatic road trips since the beginning of time and we have games at South Bend and Columbus this year. I don't think the band has ever made 3 regular season road trips. That would be very costly.
It will suck not having the band for the Bama game but I'd rather have them be at Notre Dame and OSU anyway.
I think the only way the band could go to the Bama game is if some rich guy makes an insane donation for that specific purpose like when OSU took their band to Texas in 06.
While all these things are true, they are also probably things Brandon should have thought of before signing away a home game for a cash grab in Texas. Or at least should have made the cash grab include enough money to pay for the band to travel.
Yes. This is only an away game BECAUSE DB MADE IT AN AWAY GAME. If there is not enough upside giving away a home game then don't do it.
Who exactly is this intended to benefit? It's clear it's not the fans. I guess we know where we stand in the DB regime. Another finger poke in the eye. Because he can.
However, the band funds those trips to OSU and Notre Dame itself, not the athletic department.
Now THAT I did not know.
We play at MSU in odd numbered years and at OSU and ND in even numbered years. In the past during odd numbered years or when ND was off the schedule, the band got surprise trips to Illinois, Northwestern and usually Penn State. But then the PSU game got moved a year off so trips to Happy Valley had to stop.
Regardless, I think this will be too big of an issue for Dave Brandon to ignore. There's plenty of time to raise money or have doners step up to pay the way for the band to be at this game...which they should. But at the same time, I don't want the trips to South Bend and Columbus to be sacrificed either. It is essential for the band to be at those games.
I understand the norm, but this isn't a normal game. We're making a lot of money off of this game that we don't make when we travel to Big Ten sites.
There is no excuse not to bring the band to this game. No acceptable excuse whatsoever.
It is what I just did. Ha, the wonderfulness of social media biting Brandon in the ass. But seriously lets make sure he understands what Michigan fans want and expect. This shouldn't be his football program, it is our football program.
Perhaps this will change Dave Brandon's mind:
That image demonstrates the power of perception. The # at the very top of the image is the same size as the one at the very bottom.
As a twirler in the band, I am pretty disappointed the MMB will not be traveling to Dallas to support our players. It will be my senior year and my last year with the MMB. However, I'm down to road trip down there and if someone wants to throw me down on the field, I will do an impromtu halftime show complete with fire batons.
You are awesome and we will as a whole throw you down there after each touchdown. Maybe Jerry would be so kind as to blast The Victors on the PA as courtesy. Southern hospitality is in order.
Sounds about right!
I mean, with enough outrage, Brandon will have no choice but to make this happen. Unless this is all actually just a ploy to get people talking when in reality they will send the band to Dallas.
I'd rather they were there than not, but it's a huge expense to transport, house, and feed such a large group. It seems like an expensive luxury.
This isn't a bowl game, it's just a really far away non-conference game. Dallas that time of year is not much fun to visit. Brandon isn't robbing these kids of a significant experience. As for atmosphere, this is a generic giant stadium where the MMB's charms are going to be underappreciated anyway. If there is a choice between this game and a conference road game, I'd choose the conference game without question.
This is exactly my take as well. Dallas is not a cool place, and taking the band along entirely defeats the purpose of playing this game there.
Dave Brandon is a troglodite*
"At some point during [the 2007 Rose Bowl], I decided that Michigan's fight song is my favorite college fight song, [...] You can hear the Michigan song 200 times in three hours (and we did) and it never gets old." - Bill Simmons
Dave Brandon is the Nick Saban of ADs. If he can make, or save, $1 by doing something he'll do it.
Thanks a whole lot, Mr. Brandon. In the interests of keeping costs down (never mind that you got the band seats per the contract) and spirits high, I will help out with the music then...
I can offer some level of guitar skill. If I can get another guitarist, a bassist, a drummer, possibly a keyboardist and someone with pipes, we can form the MICHIGAN RAWK BAND. We can play rock arrangements of "The Victors" and other songs. Most importantly, we can cover "Seven Nation Army" (and "In the Big House" with a majority vote). AND we will be so much cheaper than the MMB, so DB can still save money. He will have to pitch in for a new amp, because mine's not big enough to fill the stadium with sound.
I"m sure the higher-ups in the administration, most of the athletic department people, and the trustees will be attending, courtesy of the University of Michigan. I'm really glad to see David Brandon demonstrate, once again, that tradition and the student body are both so important to him.
So who wants to drive me to Dallas? I'm small.... I can fit in your trunk.
You guys (gals) are doubly screwed, because you also didn't have any idea that you'd have to buy tickets to get in when they went on sale. Super-fail.
Missouri State Patrol will not be happy to discover you twirling fire-twinged batons in my trunk.
They ain't gotsta know about it
Those of us in the band were informed today that we are not going. Needless to say, I am very disappointed.
It's a very different story, but bands don't die you can't kill them and you can't stop them from coming. Band that wouldn't die Baltimore Colts. For some reason embed not working.
http://youtu.be/E-e1wqXx9B8
Well, the MMB didnt attend the first two games of the 1989 Hoops Tournament, so maybe this sets up some good history repeats itself material
Stop trying to find a silver lining in this black cloud.
/s
April 19th, 2012 at 10:47 PM ^
Brandon will prob have them play on the big screen via skype
Too bad the Cowboys stadium is enclosed or else I'd just jetpack in to the middle of the field during halftime.
Brb, gotta go practice my jetpacking skills now. Who's gonna hold my batons?
Haha does this have anything to do with the fact that I said I'd ride in someone's trunk to Dallas?
That shit ain't right. Sh'aint right at all.
it was only kinda a home game for Alabama, now its is pretty much a home game for them...just move it to Bama and get a home and home series and get this Dallas shit out of here.