Kansas State suspends band director for Kansas game, will pay $5K fine

Submitted by Marley Nowell on

We all saw this coming. Band director claims it was just the Star Trek Enterprise. Info courtesy of CBS Sports:

Kansas State announced self-imposed sanctions for the school and its marching band as a result of the controversial halftime show performance on Saturday.
The penalties imposed by Kansas State:
1. A self-imposed $5,000 fine to be paid to the Big 12 for violation of league sportsmanship policy
2. A single-game suspension for the university director of bands. The suspension will take place for the game against Kansas on Nov. 28.
3. Prior approval for all content in the band's halftime shows by representatives of the Office of Student Life and the Athletic Department.

MGoViso

September 8th, 2015 at 2:30 PM ^

Looking at the marching diagrams used to plan the show, I am surprised they took this action. In the software, it really looks like the Enterprise, and the joke makes sense. I mean, this isn't the OSU band...

Unless they have info they're not taking public (maybe comments from band leaders that everyone knew it would look phallic), this seems like they're making him a scapegoat for an honest mistake because of fear of the PC police. Yes, I know what it looked like is not any old sensitive PC concern, but given that the plan seemed unaware of the resemblance, I am disappointed they won't stand by their guy. To make an analogy, this reminds me of Hoke apologizing for the spike in the Spartan turf.

the real hail_yes

September 8th, 2015 at 3:19 PM ^

You don't see the joke because its not there. It was a big, erect penis... thats it. 

Besides, its not like Captain Kirk ever stopped the Klingons by ramming the Enterprise headfirst into their ships. Although, now that I think about it the visual of a couple 'torpedoes' being launched all over the bird's face would have been pretty funny too.

I'm going to go grow up now...

Wendyk5

September 8th, 2015 at 2:39 PM ^

I can see making a public apology for the unintentional formation - obviously the band wasn't up to snuff that day. But a suspension seems way over the top. It doesn't even look that phallic. 

 

And if he did do it intentionally, he should probably lose his job. It's pretty much an all or nothing proposition. 

LSAClassOf2000

September 8th, 2015 at 2:38 PM ^

As for the fine and approval checks moving forward, it stinks that K-State's band won't be able to surprise the school as easily with clever presentations but that can be chalked up to a privilege lost with Saturday's misstep.

It still doesn't stop them from handing the diagrams over to the AD one week in a neatly bound book which is ostensibly titled, "John Holmes: The Rise And Fall Of A Legend", and then "Just kidding!" on the second page. 

Above and Beyond

September 8th, 2015 at 3:04 PM ^

I cannot believe they ever thought they would get away with this, unless they honestly said, "Yeah, we're going to get in trouble for this, so let's make a statement and do it anyway."

What morons.

M Fanfare

September 8th, 2015 at 3:16 PM ^

If a couple of sections botching their marching formation is grounds for suspension, then a lot of band directors nationwide should be serving similar suspensions this season.

I 100% believe that the formation is the Enterprise and I 100% believe that the students who were to form the engineering hull unintentionally screwed up their intended shape.

I'll bet in future that the Kansas State band spends a lot more time doing "how to guide a line" lessons.

uminks

September 8th, 2015 at 6:33 PM ^

with training wheels. I think the band was doing this as a joke! Most thought it was funny but any type of sex jokes in KS will ruffle feathers!