Pep Bands vs. Canned Music at Football Games

DanPadavona · August 25, 2007, 01:08:58 AM

I love pep bands, and really there is room for both the band and canned music. The IC band adds a lot to the atmosphere at Bombers games. Not surprising...it is after all a renowned music school. Cortland put together a pep band about a decade ago which was quite good. Unfortunately it did not stick together long.

Whether a band exists or not, Hells Bells will never get old at a football game!

AUPepBand · August 25, 2007, 01:21:22 AM

Back in I believe 1969, Pep was listening to an Alfred-Cortland game on the radio at his home in Mayberry. Cortland had pretty much dominated the game but led only by 17-13 with but a minute to go. At that time, Pep remembers hearing Cortland's pep band throughout the game and was impressed with their spirit. Pep remembers their one cheer...."Harass them, harass them, make them relinquish the ball!" (repeated).

Current AU Athletic Director Jimmy Moretti was QB for the Saxons, who got one last chance in that particular game from their own 20. He threw the long ball to his favorite target Charlie Young (former Hornell HS basketball coach) who was shoved out of bounds at the Cortland 17 with but seconds on the clock. Next play, Moretti hit Young on a crossing pattern in the end zone and the Saxons stole a game, winning 20-17. Stuff like that deflates even a very good pep band.

rscl70 · August 28, 2007, 11:46:38 AM

Quote from: kickerdad on August 22, 2007, 09:09:29 PM
AUPEP - You would know this better than anyone.......How many DIII schools have full size marching bands and do you know the list off the top of your head?

In the OAC Mount Union, Ohio Northern, and Otterbein have marching bands, all 100+ members. I heard a rumor that Capital may be starting one, but I'm not sure about that. UW Whitewater has a marching band. And Wooster in the NCAC. Beyond that I'm not familiar with any.

BoBo · August 28, 2007, 08:03:24 PM

Quote from: rscl70 on August 28, 2007, 11:46:38 AM
Quote from: kickerdad on August 22, 2007, 09:09:29 PM
AUPEP - You would know this better than anyone.......How many DIII schools have full size marching bands and do you know the list off the top of your head?

In the OAC Mount Union, Ohio Northern, and Otterbein have marching bands, all 100+ members. I heard a rumor that Capital may be starting one, but I'm not sure about that. UW Whitewater has a marching band. And Wooster in the NCAC. Beyond that I'm not familiar with any.

UW-Eau Claire also has a marching band. Read more here: http://www.blugoldmarchingband.com/

AUPepBand · September 02, 2007, 11:45:42 PM

Pep is happy with the results of Saturday's Band Camp, the band's annual music blitz during which the repertoire is established for the season. Pep is also encouraged that a band of eight or more plan to take the road trip to Greenville, PA as the Saxons face Thiel College's Tomcats in their opener.

AUPepBand · September 07, 2007, 01:01:53 PM

Pep is informed that Thiel College hires a DJ to play music at their football games and, in fact, will be playing pre-game tailgating music as well as throughout the game. Pep plans to take said DJ hostage following tailgating, tie him to the bleachers with bungie cords and assign him to cowbell with the pep band.

Stay tuned.... GO SAXONS!!!

Knightstalker · September 07, 2007, 01:31:35 PM

Just for Pep

AUPepBand · September 07, 2007, 03:25:10 PM

You gotta love it....I gotta fever, and the only prescription is MORE COWBELL!

roocru · September 09, 2007, 01:19:51 AM

Pep,

I took notes for you at halftime of UMHB and CNU. UMHB marching band has 30 members and conductor, 8 flag girls and drill team had 10 girls doing high kick routine. Band played medley of funk from "Tower of Power". Who says you can not give a scouting report on bands?

Ralph Turner · September 09, 2007, 03:43:00 AM

McMurry is marching about 54 this year plus another 12 flag and drill members, 11 of whom are also musicians. 65 total in 2007.

The McMurry band has been invited to perform at the big band festival at Fresno State next winter. Really great honor for them.

Band Director Chris Neal really improved the band this year with more percussion and more brass. They had a very full sound.

As an old McMurry band member, I was really proud of their performance tonight! They made a huge difference in the McMurry win!

matblake · September 09, 2007, 02:25:12 PM

Albion College has a band. Since the mascot is the Briton's, their uniforms are similar to the ones those guards wear outside of Buckingham Palace in London. At the Wheaton/Albion game they played a medley from "West Side Story" at halftime.

AUPepBand · September 09, 2007, 09:09:10 PM

Thiel College plays at Albion this Saturday. AU Pep Band was at Thiel's Alumni Stadium this past Saturday as their Saxons won, 34-7. There were 12 in the band, all wearing their white tee-shirts with the pep band logo in front and the "Got Spirit?" on the back. The band got good reviews following the game. Halftime show was "Box Lunch on the Lawn Overlooking the Cemetery."

K-Mack · September 17, 2007, 12:21:29 AM

Pepband,
I fired off a few frames of the Linfield Pep Band in action, so you could compare set-ups and give shouts out to your trumpet-lovin' homies.

If they're not in the official Linfield-HSU gallery, I'll see if I can get them from Pat for you.

AUPepBand · September 17, 2007, 09:11:04 AM

K-Mack:

Thanks for thinking of Pep. Pep was interested to see some folks pointing a digital camera (perhaps with digital video?) in the band's direction while AU Pep Band played the Saxon fight song Saterday. A Saxon mom has started a website, AlfredFootball.com in hopes of other parents and fans downloading photos, etc.

Pep is delighted with the improvement of this year's band over last year's. Word is that the band sounds great. Louder, more confident. We've boosted our lower brass, which makes a big difference. Got an outstanding freshman trombone, a super home-schooled trombone, and another good freshman on trumpet. Pep will definitely check out your Linfield Pep Band frames. Glad to see they're back together.

NCC_alum62 · September 17, 2007, 04:28:24 PM

North Central College's "Red Noise" is really fun at games.

The drumline marches the players onto the field before kickoff which is really cool and they have all the little cheers and song snippets after penalties and timeouts and stuff that really bring a big time college atmostphere. They lead the cheers in the student section.

My buddy is thier conductor this year. I think they have about 50 kids in the whole thing, they don't do much marching and no halftime show, but they realy added another notch to the atmoshere at NCC.