FB: Middle Atlantic Conference

[kate]

Gordon, you are so right, from someone actually singing the National Anthem, great cheerleaders, or pep bands - all the hoopla adds so much to a game (not that ALL D3 games aren't fantastic on their own  )!

[kate]

p.s. to the above post, the Del Val stadium decorations looked great; nice to see the Leamers' & Dr. Feldstein, & a gorgeous silver Bentley in the parking lot added to my day, too  !

[G-manWU]

I don't think any MAC schools have a regular pep or marching band.  King's (and perhaps other schools) brings in local high schools, which is a nice touch.

Johns Hopkins had a pep band at Del Val's home opener.  Several years ago Rose-Hulman hosted the Women's Basketball Final Four.  DePauw's band traveled from nearby Greencastle (the Tigers were in the Final Four) and played with RHIT's band.  That was cool.

Gordon, have they let you out of the press box over the last few years?

Since my first season at Wilkes-2004- the Colonels have had a pep band, usually numbering around 15-20 people with various instruments. Not the biggest group, but they do a very good job and since Wilkes pretty much stomped out the music programs when I was there, the dedication and hard work put in by today's pep band players is made all the more impressive.

Around the league, Albright had a little ensemble when I was there, LVC has their famous "Marching 100" or something like that, and how could you forget the electric orchestra at Widener?

[G-manWU]

Which leads me to a great story that I really must share, as a tribute to all of the warmhearted fans at the "other" WU school....

In the fourth game of our 2004 season, the Colonels hit the road to Chester to take on Widener. Now, the previous game at Quick Stadium had been the 3-0 loss to Lebanon Valley in the aftermath of Hurrican Ivan, and we heard rumours that the Widener administration had spent thousands of dollars to get the field (which was grass at the time) back in playable condition.

Long story short, we pulled out a dramatic win- Trichillo ripping off a big run to set up the gamewinning TD, then having John Darrah (one of the most underrated players in recent MAC history) pick off Lomas in the end zone to seal the deal. The whole game, Widener had their fantastic pep bad playing, with electric guitars and all, getitng the crowd and the players on both sides in high gear. It was a fantastic show...and the minute that JD picked off that pass, the band shuts down, parents start packing up their baby bags and strollers, people pick up their seat cusions and head for the exits.....sweet indeed.

If you think I tod all that to be cocky/rude/etc...nothing is further from the truth. It was another fantastic game in the MAC, and to the credit of the Pioneers- as they were then known- the ripped off 4 or 5 straight wins after that game. And the band, in this case, gave the game great atmosphere. Cheers everyone

[G-manWU]

Some reflections on a wet Saturday in Madison, NJ...seems there were some FDU-Florham fans who weren't too pleased that the AU Pep Band made the trip and played at the game. Pep understands. Pep had ill feelings when the Ithaca College Pep Band appeared at Merrill Field and supported the Bombers before AU mustered its own band. Just didn't seem right that the Bombers seemingly had more support (noise) than the home crowd in those days. That certainly contributed to the re-establishment of an AU Pep Band.

Back to FDU, though, according to some members of the band, there were others who were complimentary of the band, its play, and its dedication to the Alfred University football team. Pep is hoping that the band's appearance at Shields Field Saturday would inspire FDU to start a band of its own--rather than have some of its fans direct chants toward the visiting band, "You suck!" Truth be told, it's tough for a musician to get any sound out of an instrument by sucking. 

What MAC schools actually have pep or marching bands?

Pep,

Glad to see you finally on the MAC board! While I have only been registered on here following my graduation from Wilkes in May of 2008, I have been a "lurker" as some may say, since early in the 2005 season. I've long seen you around the boards and admired your pride in your alma mater- which apparently extends to your pep band activities.

Hope you enjoyed your time at Shields Field, and if you got heckled a bit, I can say from my experences of making many trips to FDU that those guys are probably in the very small minority. The athletics administration, coaches, and players at FDU are some of the nicest people you'll find at any D3 school- that includes Coach Mosca, Equipment Man Mr. Ashby, and many others. I've made many friends and have had great times at all the schools represented on here- DVC, Widener, Lyco, King's- but the folks in Madison are some of the best around.

If the Saxons should ever find their way to Wilkes-Barre, I can say with some certainty that the AU Pep Band and whatever entourage you bring would be most welcomed at Ralston Field. At the moment we have a massive visiting grandstand to set up in, and power can be made available if you really need it. Bar in mind that things may change in the near future- esp. if a much-needed stadium rennovation ever takes shape. But we know how to have a good, safe, fun time at Ralston, so be sure to make the trip if Wilkes-Alfred ever resume their series.

[AUPepBand]

Some reflections on a wet Saturday in Madison, NJ...seems there were some FDU-Florham fans who weren't too pleased that the AU Pep Band made the trip and played at the game. Pep understands. Pep had ill feelings when the Ithaca College Pep Band appeared at Merrill Field and supported the Bombers before AU mustered its own band. Just didn't seem right that the Bombers seemingly had more support (noise) than the home crowd in those days. That certainly contributed to the re-establishment of an AU Pep Band.

Back to FDU, though, according to some members of the band, there were others who were complimentary of the band, its play, and its dedication to the Alfred University football team. Pep is hoping that the band's appearance at Shields Field Saturday would inspire FDU to start a band of its own--rather than have some of its fans direct chants toward the visiting band, "You suck!" Truth be told, it's tough for a musician to get any sound out of an instrument by sucking. 

What MAC schools actually have pep or marching bands?

Pep,

Glad to see you finally on the MAC board! While I have only been registered on here following my graduation from Wilkes in May of 2008, I have been a "lurker" as some may say, since early in the 2005 season. I've long seen you around the boards and admired your pride in your alma mater- which apparently extends to your pep band activities.

Hope you enjoyed your time at Shields Field, and if you got heckled a bit, I can say from my experences of making many trips to FDU that those guys are probably in the very small minority. The athletics administration, coaches, and players at FDU are some of the nicest people you'll find at any D3 school- that includes Coach Mosca, Equipment Man Mr. Ashby, and many others. I've made many friends and have had great times at all the schools represented on here- DVC, Widener, Lyco, King's- but the folks in Madison are some of the best around.

If the Saxons should ever find their way to Wilkes-Barre, I can say with some certainty that the AU Pep Band and whatever entourage you bring would be most welcomed at Ralston Field. At the moment we have a massive visiting grandstand to set up in, and power can be made available if you really need it. Bar in mind that things may change in the near future- esp. if a much-needed stadium rennovation ever takes shape. But we know how to have a good, safe, fun time at Ralston, so be sure to make the trip if Wilkes-Alfred ever resume their series.

G-manWU:
Pep found the FDU officials to be just as you described. They were most hospitable, gracious hosts...from the AD to the SID to the Press Box DJ. Pep did not have occasion to meet the coach. Indeed, it was a just a few hecklers...and you'll have that most everywhere.

Thanks for extending an invitation to the band should Wilkes-Alfred ever happen again. Pep has the utmost respect for the Colonels since it was at Wilkes that a 15-game AU win streak was snapped back in 1972(?) as Pep listened to the game at home on the radio, in disbelief, as a 14-0 lead evaporated in a 16-14 loss. Pep doesn't remember Wilkes ever visiting Merrill Field. Then, back in 2005, Wilkes was selected ahead of Pep's Saxons who were regionally ranked (NCAA) ahead of Wilkes and knocked off St. John Fisher (ranked ahead of both) 13-7 to seemingly secure a ticket to the NCAA Playoffs. So a meeting of the Colonels and Saxons certainly would be welcomed from this fan's point of view.

Pep is a "townie" sort of turned "gownie." Pep grew up on AU football, following in his father's footsteps (Pep's pops has missed 3 AU home games in 72 years). Pep graduated from SUNY Morrisville in 1976, became employed by AU's Herrick Library beginning in July 2000 and became "honorary alum" in June 2005. Pep started the band with kazoos in 1999 back when AUKaz00 was a senior at AU. It's great to have Kaz00 back in "Mayberry" and back with the band. We had missed our first kazoo!

[BAK4LVC]

I don't think any MAC schools have a regular pep or marching band.  King's (and perhaps other schools) brings in local high schools, which is a nice touch.

Johns Hopkins had a pep band at Del Val's home opener.  Several years ago Rose-Hulman hosted the Women's Basketball Final Four.  DePauw's band traveled from nearby Greencastle (the Tigers were in the Final Four) and played with RHIT's band.  That was cool.

Gordon,

How can you forget the "Pride of the Valley", our sensational band that we have here at LVC?  That's OK, you'll get to see them in about three weeks in what I'm hoping is still a battle of unbeatens to start MAC play. 

Just wondering if there are any other Flying Dutchmen fans on this board, or if I'm going to have to promote our excellent team this year by myself.  With what has been playing out in the first two weeks of the season, it looks like a banner year for the entire MAC!

[gordonmann]

Mmmppfmmpff

That's me talking with my foot in my mouth.  I can't believe I forgot the LVC band (which is very good and adds to a great game day atmosphere) AND the Wilkes band!  And I even broadcasted a full season of home games for the Colonels.  Undoubtedly other places probably have bands, too.  And I should've just kept quiet so people could assume my ignorance instead of posting and removing all doubt.

My apologies.  

[AUPepBand]

Mmmppfmmpff

That's me talking with my foot in my mouth.  I can't believe I forgot the LVC band (which is very good and adds to a great game day atmosphere) AND the Wilkes band!  And I even broadcasted a full season of home games for the Colonels.  Undoubtedly other places probably have bands, too.  And I should've just kept quiet so people could assume my ignorance instead of posting and removing all doubt.
My apologies.  

+K   And the band(s) played on.....

...which makes Pep think of the little orchestra that played during the sinking of the Titanic. Pep just hopes during his days on this good earth, his Saxons stay afloat else Pep will "go down with the ship."

Gordon: That "Mmmppfmmpff" posted above, Pep believes, qualifies you as a legitimate candidate for 2nd kazoo in the AU Pep Band.

[muledaddy]

  Gmann,

Doylestown for a 2nd time this week for the DelVal-Wesley showdown....Hopkins-DelVal perhaps we  finally get  a chance to meet since we missed one another at the DelVal-Hopkins opener........DelVal
has the horses to upset the Woverines, iff the defense plays smart., and fast.

[G-manWU]

  Gmann,

Doylestown for a 2nd time this week for the DelVal-Wesley showdown....Hopkins-DelVal perhaps we  finally get  a chance to meet since we missed one another at the DelVal-Hopkins opener........DelVal
has the horses to upset the Woverines, iff the defense plays smart., and fast.

Muledaddy,

Great to see you'll be at another fine MAC venue this weekend, but I believe you're a bit confused in terms of my affiliations. I'm not a DelVal guy- rather, the "WU" in my name stands for my beloved alma mater, Wilkes University I worked with the Colonels program during my undergrad years- 2004 through 2007 football seasons, and still support the program. I was on here quite a bit during Week 1 since your Mules were playing the Colonels. Great game, and the freshman RB #26 is a heck of a nice guy, and one of the best backs I've seen in six-plus years of D3 football.

Again, sorry for any confusion, but enjoy your time at DelVal- between football and basketball, I visited Doylestown more times (7) over four years than any other school we competed with. And since I remember you said you lived close, see if you can take a shot down when the Colonels visit Work Stadium-should be a good one.

[G-manWU]

Some reflections on a wet Saturday in Madison, NJ...seems there were some FDU-Florham fans who weren't too pleased that the AU Pep Band made the trip and played at the game. Pep understands. Pep had ill feelings when the Ithaca College Pep Band appeared at Merrill Field and supported the Bombers before AU mustered its own band. Just didn't seem right that the Bombers seemingly had more support (noise) than the home crowd in those days. That certainly contributed to the re-establishment of an AU Pep Band.

Back to FDU, though, according to some members of the band, there were others who were complimentary of the band, its play, and its dedication to the Alfred University football team. Pep is hoping that the band's appearance at Shields Field Saturday would inspire FDU to start a band of its own--rather than have some of its fans direct chants toward the visiting band, "You suck!" Truth be told, it's tough for a musician to get any sound out of an instrument by sucking. 

What MAC schools actually have pep or marching bands?

Pep,

Glad to see you finally on the MAC board! While I have only been registered on here following my graduation from Wilkes in May of 2008, I have been a "lurker" as some may say, since early in the 2005 season. I've long seen you around the boards and admired your pride in your alma mater- which apparently extends to your pep band activities.

Hope you enjoyed your time at Shields Field, and if you got heckled a bit, I can say from my experences of making many trips to FDU that those guys are probably in the very small minority. The athletics administration, coaches, and players at FDU are some of the nicest people you'll find at any D3 school- that includes Coach Mosca, Equipment Man Mr. Ashby, and many others. I've made many friends and have had great times at all the schools represented on here- DVC, Widener, Lyco, King's- but the folks in Madison are some of the best around.

If the Saxons should ever find their way to Wilkes-Barre, I can say with some certainty that the AU Pep Band and whatever entourage you bring would be most welcomed at Ralston Field. At the moment we have a massive visiting grandstand to set up in, and power can be made available if you really need it. Bar in mind that things may change in the near future- esp. if a much-needed stadium rennovation ever takes shape. But we know how to have a good, safe, fun time at Ralston, so be sure to make the trip if Wilkes-Alfred ever resume their series.

G-manWU:
Pep found the FDU officials to be just as you described. They were most hospitable, gracious hosts...from the AD to the SID to the Press Box DJ. Pep did not have occasion to meet the coach. Indeed, it was a just a few hecklers...and you'll have that most everywhere.

Thanks for extending an invitation to the band should Wilkes-Alfred ever happen again. Pep has the utmost respect for the Colonels since it was at Wilkes that a 15-game AU win streak was snapped back in 1972(?) as Pep listened to the game at home on the radio, in disbelief, as a 14-0 lead evaporated in a 16-14 loss. Pep doesn't remember Wilkes ever visiting Merrill Field. Then, back in 2005, Wilkes was selected ahead of Pep's Saxons who were regionally ranked (NCAA) ahead of Wilkes and knocked off St. John Fisher (ranked ahead of both) 13-7 to seemingly secure a ticket to the NCAA Playoffs. So a meeting of the Colonels and Saxons certainly would be welcomed from this fan's point of view.

Pep is a "townie" sort of turned "gownie." Pep grew up on AU football, following in his father's footsteps (Pep's pops has missed 3 AU home games in 72 years). Pep graduated from SUNY Morrisville in 1976, became employed by AU's Herrick Library beginning in July 2000 and became "honorary alum" in June 2005. Pep started the band with kazoos in 1999 back when AUKaz00 was a senior at AU. It's great to have Kaz00 back in "Mayberry" and back with the band. We had missed our first kazoo!

Pep,

Great to get a reply from a true Post Patterns legend

Indeed the FDU crowd is a good bunch- many are NY Giants fans, so that explains some of it!! Glad you and your bunch enjoyed your trip to the MAC. A future meeting between the Colonels and Saxons would be most welcomed, esp. since if that 1972 meeting was the last to date, the two teams last met more than a decade before I was born! We diden't play much in football or basketball in NY State when I was at Wilkes, but the Colonels have now scrimmaged Courtland and Hartwick in successive seasons, so perhaps Coach Shep would look upstate in the future..

As for the NCAA bid, I'll be the first to admit that there were several teams well-deserving of a playoff trip, with Alfred very much being one of the group. But I'll also admit that, IMHO, we were just as deserving as anyone else..putitng up a 8-1 record in a very tough MAC, with the only loss being on the road on a last-second field goal to a powerhouse DVC team that was on it's way to a second straight 12-1 campaign. I still remember being there, camera in hand, when the lecture hall we were watching in exploded in cheers and the like on selection sunday.

To close out, I must tip my hat to the Alfred faithful who posted up at that time, including you I presume. I remember walking back to my dorm after the show thinking "Those Alfred fans are going to rip us big time on the D3 boards" but by the middle of the next week, there were several respectful and well-intentioned posts from Saxon fans, wishing us well and offering congrats on the bid. That's what you call good sportsmanship and class- honestly, I remember reading it all and thinking "I really hope those guiys win their ECAC game... "

Three cheers my friend-rock on with your pep band!!!!

[G-manWU]

Mmmppfmmpff

That's me talking with my foot in my mouth.  I can't believe I forgot the LVC band (which is very good and adds to a great game day atmosphere) AND the Wilkes band!  And I even broadcasted a full season of home games for the Colonels.  Undoubtedly other places probably have bands, too.  And I should've just kept quiet so people could assume my ignorance instead of posting and removing all doubt.

My apologies.   

Gordon,

The Colonels called...we want our old radio guy back Just kididng of course with the press box comment- I don't know if the Wilkes ensemble was plaing back when you would have been there. But they do a good job now, esp. since there isn't a big music program at Wilkes anymore to draw from. The band makes it fun for everyone- can't beat having the national anthem played in person before a contest.

To be honest, I almost forgot about LVC's "Marching 100" myself, since on my first trip for a game in Annville (2006) the school was on break and the band diden't play   But the next season I did see the halftime show and it was a good deal. 2006 was also my only trip to Albright to date and they had a small pep ensemble going also. 

And because I exibit the class and thoughtfulness preached in Wilkes Athletics, I'll even give my props to the MAC castoffs Juniata was the only recent MAC venue we diden't play at, and Moravian I was only at once, in a rainstorm. But Susquehanna...not only a very good band, but some very pretty young ladies manning the ranks Indeed, for as much as I loved rolling in there wearing the blue and gold and doing my part to represent WU, I was always a bit reluctant to board the bus back to Wilkes-Barre at the end of the game....

Cheers to pep musicians everywhere- keep the show going

[PBR...]

  Gmann,

Doylestown for a 2nd time this week for the DelVal-Wesley showdown....Hopkins-DelVal perhaps we  finally get  a chance to meet since we missed one another at the DelVal-Hopkins opener........DelVal
has the horses to upset the Woverines, iff the defense plays smart., and fast.

Muledaddy,

Great to see you'll be at another fine MAC venue this weekend, but I believe you're a bit confused in terms of my affiliations. I'm not a DelVal guy- rather, the "WU" in my name stands for my beloved alma mater, Wilkes University I worked with the Colonels program during my undergrad years- 2004 through 2007 football seasons, and still support the program. I was on here quite a bit during Week 1 since your Mules were playing the Colonels. Great game, and the freshman RB #26 is a heck of a nice guy, and one of the best backs I've seen in six-plus years of D3 football.

Again, sorry for any confusion, but enjoy your time at DelVal- between football and basketball, I visited Doylestown more times (7) over four years than any other school we competed with. And since I remember you said you lived close, see if you can take a shot down when the Colonels visit Work Stadium-should be a good one.

actually gman-wu your a little confused muledaddy was referring to gordonmann a.k.a. gmann (notice 2 n's)....no worries though 

[gordonmann]

Muledaddy:

Cool.  I'll wear the Tigers hat a la Magnum PI.  No Hawaiian shirt though.