To the MgoBlog Community,
After spending a great deal of time closely reading dozens of posts with regards to the Michigan Marching Band's role in football Saturdays, I can honestly say that I have never felt more disappointed in Michigan. We are all (or have been) fortunate enough to attend one of the best universities in the world, and I'd like to think it isn't by accident; every Michigan student (past, present, and future), truly is among the leaders and best, which is why we are all here. However, after reading some of the published posts, I am no longer convinced that every student really belongs at Michigan because those who truly stand apart as the leaders and best would not go through such great lengths to publish inaccurate truths about the Michigan Marching Band and tarnish its 112 years of dense tradition and history.
To those who think they can fix the band, I recommend learning all about it first before offering suggestions. When I say "learn about it," I'm not just referring to having an ability to recite historical facts or logistical tidbits; my plea is for anyone to dive deeper in order to firmly understand the dedication that its members have to the program, our athletics, and the University of Michigan. To save you some time, I'll offer a few points of interest:
The members of the Michigan Marching Band are among the most committed fans in Michigan history. Current students, if you'd like to dispute, please think about these things first: at the Northwestern Game last year, when did you leave the game? Did you arrive for the pregame show? Did you stay through the final seconds of the 4th quarter? How about any other football Saturday when conditions weren't ideal? Have you left early or arrived late even just one time? The Michigan Marching band hasn't and never will, not because the group is obligated, but because the members of the group are truly committed to the cause.
When you arrive back in Ann Arbor at the end of August, how do you spend your days before the first football game? The Michigan Marching band has 2 weeks of 12 hour practice days to properly prepare for the first game so that they can remain the best college band in the nation.
When our team is losing during a game, or has lost a few games in a row, what group of people strives to bring positive energy to the Michigan Stadium environment? Answer- the Michigan Marching Band.
Anyone can go back and forth discussing the pros and cons of pre-recorded music, anyone can theorize why it's difficult to hear the band at any given time or in any given location, and anyone can offer suggestions on how to improve the overall Game Day Experience.
As a member of the Michigan Marching Band, I personally embrace civil and well-informed discussion that leads to improvement and a better overall experience, but based on what I have previously read, many of you need to step back before insulting the work that goes into countless hours of tiring and sometimes very uncomfortable rehearsals because at the end of the day, students come and go, but the Michigan Marching Band has been and will always be an integral part of Michigan Football.
One last note...are you "All in for Michigan?" Just because it's the "theme slogan" for this year doesn't suggest that being "partially in for Michigan" has been acceptable in the past. The Michigan Marching Band has been all in for 112 seasons and will continue to be "All in for Michigan;" no ifs ands or buts about it!
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