http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CAGQH1IDc5U#t=1m23s
Ladies and Gentlemen, the Michigan Marching Band. (Just imagine Carl Grapentine said it.)
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1974 MMB plays Yakety Sax
April 13th, 2011 at 8:46 PM
#1
1974 MMB plays Yakety Sax
April 13th, 2011 at 8:56 PM
#2
Not to be picky
But why is it that Carl just says "Ladies and gentleman, presenting the Michigan Marching Band" now? I always looked forward to when he said "Ladies and gentleman, presenting the two hundred thirty-five member, Michigan Marching Band". Is there more than 235 members now?
April 13th, 2011 at 9:36 PM
#3
I think the new band staff
I think the new band staff decided to omit it. There have always been more than 235 members (since they've been saying 235 members), it's just that the other ~70-100 don't march pregame. It seems silly to say something that insinuates that 70+ members aren't members.
April 13th, 2011 at 10:39 PM
#4
Well, if they don't "March"
Are they really part of the "Marching Band", and not just the band (which includes the Basketball Pep Band, etc.)? I figured that those others were usually underclassmen (though I could be wrong), and they earned their way up to marching. So it's not a slight to the rest, but an honorific. Plus it just makes the band sound emmense and cool.
April 13th, 2011 at 10:57 PM
#5
The marching band is composed
The marching band is composed of 300+ members (includes flags) but due to the specific dimensions and coordinates of pregame, there can only be a specific amount marching during pregame. for halftime, there is also a specific number of members allowed to march (i'd assume to not clutter the field and make it look neat unlike some southern schools that let everyone on at one time). if you look at the stands where the band sits during both pregame and halftime, there are band members sitting there.
Everyone does have to earn their spot on the field but sometimes get to act out characters for the skit shows (ala Cody Martin's Day Off, a "shadow" was dressed as the dm, in the stands
April 13th, 2011 at 11:18 PM
#6
The block is also very fluid
The block is also very fluid since the band auditions for each home game (except homecoming when everyone marches) and all away trips and the bowl game. Some people march in halftime but not in pregame. Some people march in halftime one week, pregame and halftime the next week, and neither the following week. Is a member part of the band one week but not the next?
To me, it would be like announcing the 24-member Michigan football team despite all of the subs and backups since only the starters earned their way up to the top of the depth chart.
April 14th, 2011 at 1:30 AM
#7
The analogy is VERY accurate.
The analogy is VERY accurate. The MMB reserves are like the "second string" players, if you will. Someone gets injured, a reserve goes in. It can happen even when we're waiting in the tunnel, even if they haven't marched the spot all week. This I have seen happen.
April 14th, 2011 at 12:50 PM
#8
So why not then just announce
The number of total members in the band (since the other guys and gals will be coming out into the stands anyway) when doing the announcement?
I mean, are they afraid people will count them? "233, 234, 235, 236....HEY, there aren't 312 out there!!"
April 14th, 2011 at 3:06 PM
#9
Because it should be fairly
Because it should be fairly obvious that what is on the field is significantly smaller than what they're announcing. It just hinders the aesthetic. Better just not to announce it. I personally think it just sounds smoother as is now.
April 14th, 2011 at 1:28 AM
#10
Some students graduate
Some students graduate without marching pregame. They are part of the marching band, because they spend their time during rehearsals marching. They might not perform, but they are marching.
Folks on here don't seem to know a great deal about the MMB, which is understandable. The way we do it is that we re-challenge every week. Pretty much everyone (rank leaders excluded) auditions every week for a spot in the performance block. There are two separate portions to the half time because there are two separate performance blocks: pregame and halftime. Pregame is smaller, more physically demanding, and longer. Halftime is less physically demanding and more musically demanding. The performance block is larger. So people make halftime who don't make pregame. Every once in a blue moon, someone makes pregame that doesn't make halftime, but it's very, very rare and the stuff of legend. Class standing comes into play more frequently for trips, like @OSU, @MSU, @ND, bowl games, etc.
tl;dr: the MMB is more meritocratic than that. Anyone who is an established marcher can make the performance block and perform on saturdays, regardless of class standing.
April 14th, 2011 at 12:24 AM
#11
Yeah, it started in
Yeah, it started in 2008.
Still sounds weird as hell to me, but... That's their call.
April 13th, 2011 at 11:17 PM
#12
I agree
I agree. I would strongly prefer the full introduction. They are introducing the band as it is being presented during pregame. If 235 member is about right, use it. It is tradition, and we're moving back to that these days.
Btw, although I have noticed the 235 member total used in the last 10-15 years (until they stopped referring to the size at all), I remember 225 members being mentioned back when I was a student (79-87, including grad and law school). I am I just remembering it wrong, or did the size of the [pregame] band increase at some point?
April 13th, 2011 at 11:20 PM
#13
The block size has increased.
The block size has increased. I've heard old recordings announcing the size as 215.
April 14th, 2011 at 12:27 AM
#14
It went 215 to 225 ~mid
It went 215 to 225 ~mid nineties? when they redesigned pregame, then it got bumped up to 235 in the centennial year, I think?
Way back in the day, when there weren't reserves, or women, Carl announced the exact number of "Marching Men of Michigan" for that year. Like, totally not-rounded-off, "184 Marching Men of Michigan!"
April 14th, 2011 at 12:55 AM
#15
Furthermore
The number changes from year to year dependent on the number of twirlers on the field during pregame. 235 is just not accurate. Beyond that, I do believe that it is also a tip of the hat to the reserves who are also members of the MMB but aren't participating in pregame.
April 13th, 2011 at 9:03 PM
#16
+ 1 google points to you sir
and now we know what will be played as the historical soundtrack for last year's Purdue game, no?
April 13th, 2011 at 10:48 PM
#17
Can someone with the skills
Can someone with the skills please mix this with the Jimmy Clausen yakety-sax highlight reel? That would definitely be front page material.
April 14th, 2011 at 9:51 AM
#18
Max Bielfeldt
Just made it official. I can't make a thread so yeah.
