Michigan Marching Band to attend season opener in Dallas.
per Nick Baumgardner's (AA.com) Twitter.
Nick Baumgardner @nickbaumgardner
Michigan marching band received a letter today from Dave Brandon informing them that they will be heading to Dallas for the 2012 FB opener
Hell. Yes.
Its about time DB listened to reason.
When a decision results in three consecutive days of RAGE threads, you know it will be overturned.
Note: DB is watching.
This is sad and unfortunate news. My thoughts and prayers to all those instruments that will be banged and spit into and mistreated. Vote Shiny Brass in November.
Maybe I'm wearing a tin-foil hat but doesn't this just seem like Brandon forcing the issue of getting donors to back the band's trip down? It was clear that having the Million Dollar Band in their tacky glory unopposed by the MMB could not abide. So it was a little theatrical maybe, but he got it done.
it doesn't seem like that. it IS like that.
Brandon does indeed know this fan base and alumni very well and is adept at manipulating us. I feel like David is trying to say something with that smile of his. . . oh yeah, I see it now.
Manipulating is such a harsh word. Dave BRANDon prefers "spin".
to stir the pot and keep the story alive....From what Ive read the reaction was overwhelming and immediate...Brandon obviously got the message....
Close one.
Sweet!
Band is going to be busy this Fall practicing shows for all home games, road trips to Dallas, South Bend and Columbus plus a bowl game. Get your rest, band. You're only going to have 3 Saturday's off once football season arrives.
Your post brought back memories of hearing The Victors" in the wee hours of the morning from my South Quad dorm room back in the day. Part of me wanted to punch them for waking me up, the other part felt warm and cozy having been awoken to such a sweet, sweet sound.
With concert stuff and the normal home game schedule, 3 Saturdays off is actually a luxury. Last year they had 5 home games straight. Bad time for me to graduate.
Dave Brandon is a genius.
congratulations internet!
So... was this a decision that Dave Brandon made, and then, thanks to the uproar that was caused, he was forced to reverse himself, and find a solution (in which case, yay us!)?
Or, was this his plan all along, to make the announcement, knowing the uproar it would cause, and then to use that uproar to get someone else to pony up the cash (in which case, we've been used)?
Obviously Door #2.
Yes, these are my questions ultimately leading to - what finally happened to make DB change his decision?
Doing things to deliberately cause an uproar among people so that you can use it to manipulate them later?
You stay Klassy, DB.
Thrilled for the current band members. Pissed that DB played chicken with the fanbase/alumni an that he got at least part of what he wanted by having donors contribute.
But thrilled for the current band members, and for the fans who will get to hear M Fanfare live in Dallas. Go Blue!
that the whole band will go:
...we do not yet know exactly how many students and staff will go...
I really hope they don't send a pep band. That might be almost as bad, if not worse, than not sending the band at all. A pep band is significantly smaller, and as a result, the sound won't carry as well. In addition, they won't be able to perform pre-game or a half-time show. Hopefully they've found enough funds to get at least enough band members to perform pregame (235 + twirlers + drum major).
There was never any indication or expectation the entire band (as in the block plus all of the reserves) would go. You can bet on about 99.999% certainty this will be a smaller-budget bowl trip-sized band, meaning the pregame and halftime block, likely with only enough reserves to hold the ladders (if that).
The Ann Arbor Pitchfork & Torch has been forced to downgrade its earnings projections for Q2.
YES!!!
Rumor has it that they are traveling to Dallas via Domino's delivery cars. Going to be a huge convoy of Honda Accords and Chevy Corsicas.
You're not from around here, are you?
April 24th, 2012 at 11:17 PM ^