FB: Middle Atlantic Conference

[Dave 'd-mac' McHugh]

They already have plans for the far side of the field... which will include new sand volleyball courts and I believe the plan is to put in stands on the opposite side to make it more of a closed stadium... but I only hear the plans... don't know them or the timeline. Those fields are not used at all for practices at this point in time besides the band. There have been some rare occasions they have been used by other sports, but there is also a grander plan for more athletics facilities which would be part of everything - but those are more long term plans (or at least continue to be long term plans at this point).

[bill]

I think it is in the lines of "sportsmanship" not to keep playing while the guys are at the line to start the play but they do play cheers and stuff in the stands and play every home game and open house the school has.

It's actually more than just sportsmanship - it's against the rules for the band to play as the ball is snapped...that rule went into place some time ago!

[Dave 'd-mac' McHugh]

Yeah in reference... the USC band plays after every single down and is done at the appropriate time. They also play after every scoring play, etc.

[bill]

Yeah in reference... the USC band plays after every single down and is done at the appropriate time. They also play after every scoring play, etc.

You can say that again. They even do it on the road. I've been to two ND-USC games at South Bend, and it never stopped. Luckily, ND won both times so it wasn't too terrible

[Dave 'd-mac' McHugh]

I got to a USC-ND game as well back in the late 90's... unreal experience. They don't ever stop to some extent... though, they do coordinate with the other band as to who plays and when and they all know the rules of when they can't play. USC has specific music per down, whether there is a flag, who has the ball, etc.

[AUPepBand]

RE: Bands playing during a play, Bill knows what he's talking about. Several years back, Pep took the band to Alfred's game at FDU. When the band was in its infancy back in 2000, while setting up before a game against Hobart, officials came to Pep and informed him that the Hobart coach asked them to make it clear to our band that were we playing when the Hobart QB was calling signals, we would be penalized five yards for delay of game. Pep told the band, "We don't want to have to get up and move everyone five yards," so we obeyed the dictate.

Pep lectures the band at each year's Band Camp on the importance of the band "keeping it classy" and not playing songs that are disparaging of the opponent or refs, and certainly NOT playing anything when there's an injury on the field, and certainly when the other team is barking signals.

On Pep's trips to our former Maryland members of the E8, both Salisbury State and Frostburg State's bands purposely played when the Saxons had the ball and our QB was calling signals. This was brought to the attention of the game officials and they refused to do anything about it. Apparently told the AU coach that there were no rules against it that they knew of.

Pep knows for a fact that it is clearly stated in the NCAA Tournament handbook. In regular season games, officials can simply exercise their authority, warn the band that their playing during a play is prohibited and that it results in a delay in the game.

Pep is all about making noise at football games. That's why he has for the past 15 years surrounded himself with students armed with instruments. But the AU pep band plays to support the Saxons, not to distract the opponent. Sportsmanship. It just makes sense.

On Saxon Warriors!

[tweisman5]

They already have plans for the far side of the field... which will include new sand volleyball courts and I believe the plan is to put in stands on the opposite side to make it more of a closed stadium... but I only hear the plans... don't know them or the timeline. Those fields are not used at all for practices at this point in time besides the band. There have been some rare occasions they have been used by other sports, but there is also a grander plan for more athletics facilities which would be part of everything - but those are more long term plans (or at least continue to be long term plans at this point).

Dave, are you referring to their plans for the Rosewood property? I know that when they purchase Rosewood, there are major plans. I heard there will be an ice skating rink built for the hockey team, swimming pool for the swim team, baseball stadium, softball stadium, practice fields for the athletic teams, more dorms, student rec center, new school of education, and much more!

[wone3]

I think it is in the lines of "sportsmanship" not to keep playing while the guys are at the line to start the play but they do play cheers and stuff in the stands and play every home game and open house the school has.

It's actually more than just sportsmanship - it's against the rules for the band to play as the ball is snapped...that rule went into place some time ago!

I knew that just didn't have wording idea then for what I wanted to say

[Dave 'd-mac' McHugh]

They already have plans for the far side of the field... which will include new sand volleyball courts and I believe the plan is to put in stands on the opposite side to make it more of a closed stadium... but I only hear the plans... don't know them or the timeline. Those fields are not used at all for practices at this point in time besides the band. There have been some rare occasions they have been used by other sports, but there is also a grander plan for more athletics facilities which would be part of everything - but those are more long term plans (or at least continue to be long term plans at this point).

Dave, are you referring to their plans for the Rosewood property? I know that when they purchase Rosewood, there are major plans. I heard there will be an ice skating rink built for the hockey team, swimming pool for the swim team, baseball stadium, softball stadium, practice fields for the athletic teams, more dorms, student rec center, new school of education, and much more!

yes... the Rosewood property... a process that seems slower than quicksand. They won't have to build a swimming facility as there is already one on the campus (but it needs work)... but new fields for sports that don't have them on campus along with new dorms, new educational buildings, etc. But again... I was told a good long while ago the deal for Stevenson to take over the property was done... and yet nothing has happened which makes me think once again that news was premature or an assumption despite the source.

[tweisman5]

They already have plans for the far side of the field... which will include new sand volleyball courts and I believe the plan is to put in stands on the opposite side to make it more of a closed stadium... but I only hear the plans... don't know them or the timeline. Those fields are not used at all for practices at this point in time besides the band. There have been some rare occasions they have been used by other sports, but there is also a grander plan for more athletics facilities which would be part of everything - but those are more long term plans (or at least continue to be long term plans at this point).

Dave, are you referring to their plans for the Rosewood property? I know that when they purchase Rosewood, there are major plans. I heard there will be an ice skating rink built for the hockey team, swimming pool for the swim team, baseball stadium, softball stadium, practice fields for the athletic teams, more dorms, student rec center, new school of education, and much more!

yes... the Rosewood property... a process that seems slower than quicksand. They won't have to build a swimming facility as there is already one on the campus (but it needs work)... but new fields for sports that don't have them on campus along with new dorms, new educational buildings, etc. But again... I was told a good long while ago the deal for Stevenson to take over the property was done... and yet nothing has happened which makes me think once again that news was premature or an assumption despite the source.

I've been hearing the same thing the past few years. The latest I've heard is the deal is near done. If I had to guess, I'd say it will be announced a done deal within the end of the academic year. I know the issue the entire time has been between Stevenson and the State regarding the responsibility to pay for the clean up of chemicals from the old property. The state years ago said the property should be sold to Stevenson.

[Dave 'd-mac' McHugh]

Pretty much the situation, but the county is involved as well for obvious reasons. The cleanup is a major, major part of it and one that Stevenson really shouldn't have to take on unless they get a massive break on the property. The problem I have with it is simply it is taking too long. I have heard about this development for at least five years - people are dragging their heels and thus I am not convinced it will happen until it actually starts happening (the last I heard was the deal was done - but that was a year ago).

[pg04]

Re: Band during plays.

This actually came up as I was watching some MACtion (oddly enough, the FBS MAC). The Ref had to tell the band to stop playing for the snap! The commentators were confused and thought the ref was crazy but I knew better because of this discussion!

[bman]

Pretty much the situation, but the county is involved as well for obvious reasons. The cleanup is a major, major part of it and one that Stevenson really shouldn't have to take on unless they get a massive break on the property. The problem I have with it is simply it is taking too long. I have heard about this development for at least five years - people are dragging their heels and thus I am not convinced it will happen until it actually starts happening (the last I heard was the deal was done - but that was a year ago).

The town that I live in is a fairly small (very rural) community, but central enough or other larger populations,  that the town and WalMart thought it wise to build at the edge of town.  Once committed, it was thought to be 1 year to the open date.  7 years later, they finally started building...  The reason for the delay?  They found a "Bog Turtle" (endangered) on the property.   The environmentalists sued, and it took 7 years of investigation, committee meetings, and lawsuits to determine that the Bog Turtle was planted, and that the site would not support that species of turtle...

Never underestimate the power of Government and special interest to slow down progress...

[Warren Thompson]

Never underestimate the power of Government and special interest to slow down progress...

Assuming that having a Walmart in one's town is in fact "progress."   

[tweisman5]

Second week of NCAA regional rankings: Albright (2) and Delaware Valley (10). Unlikely the MAC gets two bids into the playoffs. If only the NCAA released the final rankings to get an idea how teams finished the regular season.