It's uncommon for the Michigan DM to screw up the backbend. At least, I've seen it happen very rarely, but it does happen once in a blue moon.
Not to be completely petty, but I've seen the MSU DM falter twice. The crowd cheers when that happens, but I feel bad for them. The backbend is difficult physically and mentally, especially in the heat of the moment when people are watching. Adding a loud, racous away crowd makes it even tougher.
@Corey, I don't recall Nix himself making the hatless backbend mandatory in 2007. I think it just kind of happened that way because the DMs starting taking the hat off all the time. Mind you, at the time, a few folks opposed the very idea of a hatless backbend. I remember Karl saying that technically removing the hat is removing part of your uniform during a performance, which is an interesting way of looking at it. He was partially joking, but you know how old, stodgy Michigan alumni can be. At anyrate, it's awesome.
I remember the audition process. It's incredibly physically and mentally taxing. Best of luck to everyone trying out.
Yes, the Strokes are that good. I'm eagerly waiting for the new album. Based on "Under Cover of Darkness" I'm excited, but I was a bit worried after "You're So Right." "Life is Simple in the Moonlight" wasn't too shabby on SNL.
As of today, I'm now funemployed. Well, heck, lets enjoy this. Anyone interested in traveling to East/South East Asia in late February or early March? Perhaps some back packing? It would be a great way to do something interesting in the long off season.
Bando: I think you are correct about Mark Brown being the first ever to do the backbend, but I'm not sure if Pickus was the first to go hatless. I seem to recall a picture in the shrine at Revelli Hall that showed a drum major in an older uniform doing it. I could be mistaken though. Correct me if I'm wrong here.
I think the process of going hatless for every game is pretty recent, and it really depends on the DM. Some DM's prefer to wait until the opening of conference play to remove the hat. Several other drum majors in the conference also have some kind of band bend type move in their pre-game routine; I believe only Michigan and sometimes Iowa go hatless. I've heard some traditionalists say that removing the hat is not classy because technically the DM is removing part of their uniform during a performance. Personally, I always thought the hatless backbend was pretty cool.
I have played diplomacy. I have wasted many hours at the office playing the game. We usually play through http://gamesbyemail.com/, but I'll give your link a shot.
Persian. My folks immigrated to the U.S. from Iran in 1975, several years prior to the revolution. When things took a turn for the worse, they stayed, and somehow the clan ended up in Michigan.
By the way, this is a great OT question. This makes the long off season feel not so bad.
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Yup, its for M's MBA program in LA. Saw it last week.
It's uncommon for the Michigan DM to screw up the backbend. At least, I've seen it happen very rarely, but it does happen once in a blue moon.
Not to be completely petty, but I've seen the MSU DM falter twice. The crowd cheers when that happens, but I feel bad for them. The backbend is difficult physically and mentally, especially in the heat of the moment when people are watching. Adding a loud, racous away crowd makes it even tougher.
@Corey, I don't recall Nix himself making the hatless backbend mandatory in 2007. I think it just kind of happened that way because the DMs starting taking the hat off all the time. Mind you, at the time, a few folks opposed the very idea of a hatless backbend. I remember Karl saying that technically removing the hat is removing part of your uniform during a performance, which is an interesting way of looking at it. He was partially joking, but you know how old, stodgy Michigan alumni can be. At anyrate, it's awesome.
I remember the audition process. It's incredibly physically and mentally taxing. Best of luck to everyone trying out.
Yes, the Strokes are that good. I'm eagerly waiting for the new album. Based on "Under Cover of Darkness" I'm excited, but I was a bit worried after "You're So Right." "Life is Simple in the Moonlight" wasn't too shabby on SNL.