Michigan Marching Band -- 2015 Away Games?

Submitted by ChalmersE on

We know the MMB isn't going to Columbus -- or East Lansing -- or South Bend.  So where will it go this year?  The away games are @Utah (unlikely that early in the season); @ Maryland in October, @ Minnesota at night on October 31, and @ Indiana or @PSU in November. I'd guess the top two choices would be @Maryland (it's essentially DC in the fall) or @PSU (the closest thing to a road rivalry game this year).  Anyone with any insight?

sealedseven

July 17th, 2015 at 3:06 PM ^

I think they might make it to Utah. With it being the kickoff to all of college football season, it'll be a highly watched game that they should bring the band. 

Edit: Sniped by disappointment. 

Bando Calrissian

July 17th, 2015 at 3:20 PM ^

None is the logical answer. PSU is a tricky trip for a number of reasons. There were already hotel and travel arrangements made in 2006 for State College, but the trip got axed for logistical reasons in the stadium itself.

That's just how it is.

Bando Calrissian

July 17th, 2015 at 4:00 PM ^

'01 was a pep band, not the full band (as planned) because the Cold War game in East Lansing was the same day.

The problem with PSU IIRC was/is that they don't let bands sit on the field, and locking down a block of seats for the band requires Michigan giving up allotment tickets, which means a whole hell of a lot of notice and prior planning... Michigan is always a high priority ticket game for PSU, so they're not inclined to give up a bunch of seats for the band.

And there's the fact that it's a long ride by bus. Did it once, glad I never have to do it again.

ThadMattasagoblin

July 17th, 2015 at 4:27 PM ^

Well they're closer to PSU and it's one of their two travel games. We travel to MSU and Columbus every time and they rarely travel to EL. I did the trip by car there from Lansing and it's pretty far for a weekend although not undoable. I think it's more likely we make a bus trip to Indiana with no OSU or MSU on the road.

RGard

July 17th, 2015 at 3:28 PM ^

We're in northern VA and we could help save on hotel costs and fit a few in our house.  I'd wake up extra early that Saturday morning to put on my ancient MMB jacket and drive some folks to shithole Maryland.

MGoBlogIsGreat

July 17th, 2015 at 3:52 PM ^

I believe they should go to all games, but understand why not. That said, they should definitely travel to Utah and Minnesota. Maryland would be another option since it's a prime time game, too.

Bando Calrissian

July 17th, 2015 at 4:03 PM ^

Asking the band to go to Utah for a Thursday night game is basically asking them to axe Band Week in half and pay for a bowl trip out of pocket. Nope.

Asking the band to go to Minnesota requires either sitting on a bus for, what, 30 hours over a weekend, or again, the MMB paying for a bowl trip out of pocket. Nope.

Flying 250-300 people somewhere is hard. And expensive. As is moving their equipment halfway across the country, which is done by truck. There's a reason the bowl truck is packed in early December.

Mark McBoneski

July 17th, 2015 at 8:35 PM ^

I hear the only possible ones are Indiana and PSU. Indiana is iffy (because it's Indiana) and PSU is iffy because it's a hella long drive and because it's the week before OSU.

Remember, the band members are students too. It takes a lot of time and energy away from their studies to go on away trips.

I love hearing The Victors as much as the rest of you, but I don't think any regular season away trips are happening this year.

Wolverine Devotee

July 17th, 2015 at 9:48 PM ^

“The next time I go into a war, I want my band with me!”

-Bo

It's a damn shame they aren't going to be there for Harbaugh's first game. A national TV game where it's the biggest game of the week. And after utah brought their shitty band the previous year.

Maybe some day the band will be at all games, home and road.