Marching Band Has 406 Members This Year
The MMB just posted on Facebook that auditions are complete, and there are 406 members of the band this year.
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August 1st, 2015 at 11:26 PM ^
We had the "Glock bus" which had song books, but it was pretty tame compared to the WSJ article about OSU. Our major crime was drinking on trips. My freshman year I woke up after a trip from Wisconsin in a parking garage. I had my uniform on and my spats on my head. There was a couple watching me who were relieved that i wasn't dead. I only felt dead.
What happens on the Glock Bus, STAYS on the Glock bus.
I heard it was Holodomor.
In other news, the Ohio State band just completed their tryouts.
M-dog, that photo is from the companion to the secret song book, the secret choreography book, it's the diagram for doing their script sieg heil
You know, I am just going to start telling people that I have three great uncles and one grandparent that spent the better part of four years fighting the Ohio State Marching Band, even having one of those great uncles have to dodge tasteless parody to estalish a beachhead in northern France on a rather historic day.
But the everyone knows it was the Russians that did all the real fighting against the Ohio State Marching Band.
I actually Laughed out Loud
Can't stand Urban Meyer.
August 1st, 2015 at 11:49 PM ^
Ein QB! Ein Buckeye! Ein Meyer!
406 is positively insane.
Obligatory "band was better when I was in it"
I think the past couple of years, band membership has hovered around 400, so 406 isn't much of a surprise.
As far as travel goes, the band isn't scheduled for any away games (http://mmb.music.umich.edu/public-calendar/2015-10) . While it would be great to have the band's support at Utah, there just isn't time (or probably money) for it. I hear that the 2012 trip to Dallas was a CF. They flew down and back all in one day, with very little sleep. Luckily, they had the day after the game off to recuperate. So if the band were to go to Utah, they would lose two days of critical band week rehearsal if they flew to the game, and more if they drove. If I were the band's staff, based on that and the Dallas experience, I wouldn't take the band to Utah.
Bring the band to Utah! If it's the best band in the nation, the nation has to see it! It is so amazing to hear the Victors after a touchdown on the road. After the touchdown there is silence from the home crowd, only to be broken by a thunderous rendition of the Victors as the maize and blue celebrate.
I don't want to hear that the band are students too who don't want to go to away games, instead spending time with homework. If i were in the band, it would be amazing to travel to different stadiums each year with the best band in the country. With a 400+ member band this year, we should be able to afford a few members staying home if academics do get in the way.
As for budget problems, bringing the band should be a priority. Especially with no trips to East Landfill or Columbus this year, two new games should be chosen. I think Utah and Penn State would be great options.
You want to pay for it?
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we had Subs..It was Great!
When I began announcing for the band in 1970, the opening announcement was "Presenting the 194 Marching Men of Michigan!"
The last all-male band (1972 Rose Bowl) was "215 Marching Men of Michigan."
The "225-member Michigan Marching Band" started with the 1972 season; there were six women marching.
It rose to as many as "The 250-member MMB" in 1975. When travel became much more expensive--oil prices rising in the 1970s--the university was a little diffficult about sending the entire band. That's when a standard size for performing and travel was established. The size has grown over the years. But pre-game size has remained unchanged.
For decades now, we have marched 235 for pre-game. As some one on this thread noted: "Think of the Block M. It can't get any bigger." But we may march as many as 100 more for half-time. That's why Dr. Boerma decided to drop the number 235 from the announcement. He felt it gave the impression that the band was significantly smaller that is (usually) is--at least for halftime.
The large number of "reserves" dwindles as the season goes on--especially when some come to the conclusion that they're never going to be good enough to make it into the block. So that "406" will definitely shrink.
Travel.
It's been 15 years since the MMB has traveled anywhere other than Michigan State, Ohio State, and Notre Dame--with the one exception of the Alabama game three years ago.
With the change in the Big 10 schedule putting MSU and OSU both at home or both on the road, the pattern has been changed. Last year, all three rivalry games were on the road and the MMB traveled to all three! This year--without ND--both rivalry games are at home so the band has no trips planned. The Athletic Department would have to deem one of the away games important enough to pay for the band to travel there.
Any other questions?
You won't get a more thorough, accurate accounting of the MMB over the years than from Mr. Grapentine! Thanks Carl, and Go Blue!!
August 2nd, 2015 at 11:08 AM ^
Why do some people think there is no way the band goes to Penn State this year?
I would really be sad if our band didn't go on the road to at least one venue. And Indiana would be terribly lame (and much more so during a heavy exam period).
I know it's farther than rival schools, but six hours really isn't terrible, especially for a 3:30 PM game (which it seems like it will be). I'm driving out and back with some friends, and we're all students as well. That half week prior to Thanksgiving is usually one of the most relaxed workload-wise of the semester for most people.
Penn State and Wisconsin are both about 6 hours, and I'd hope that we can do at least one of them in years when they're away and MSU/OSU are home.
I truly hope they can figure it out. But it isn't like deciding Thursday to go Up North this weekend.
Lots of logistical issues, not the least of which is where the hell do you PUT 275 people for the night? Before the MMB shows up, there's a shortage of hotel rooms in Happy Valley. If history is a guide they will make it a night game which means either accommodations or driving home all night. Also, depending on game time, they probably have to go the night before -- same problem. The easy part is the 6 busses, load truck, and figuring out a show to perform (you can do one of your home shows...).
Regardless of the logistics, it is a funding issue. The athletic department hasn't seen fit to pay for many more trips in the past. Hopefully this changes.
I don't believe it will be a night game, as both BTN and ABC have announced all their Big Ten night games. It's too late in November (November 21st) to make it an attractive option.
Penn State has done 5PM games often in the past, so this game will either be at 3:30 or 5PM.
I don't think you need any hotels. It just requires getting home late and leaving early.
August 2nd, 2015 at 10:16 PM ^
It's a 400-mile trip. Six buses and an equipment truck don't move as fast as a single automobile. And there's only one road into State College, PA. If they don't leave Friday and stay overnight, they're looking at leaving at Ann Arbor at 3am! They have to leave time for traveling, meals, setting up equipment, a quick rehearsal, etc. And that would also mean performing on no sleep. That won't work.
... and taking the Band by air into University Park Airport is a non-starter ... short main runway would probably require two aircraft ... plus still moving equipment by tractor trailer.
