Pep Bands vs. Canned Music at Football Games

[cave2bens]

Pep paid a visit to Wooster pre-season a couple years back and noted the vast seating marked in the stands for the bagpipers and band and imagined they instill a real festive atmosphere to John P. Papp. While there, a physical plant employee told Pep of the bagpipers and band's pre-game rituals. Woo-hoo to Wooster.

Limited "Woo-Hoo" though, Pep.  FAMU-type gyrations in those kilts may land some participants in the Wayne County pokey - Amish/Mennonite sensibilities and all - unless COW masquerades as a Rumspringen sanctuary. 

Safe travels to Rochester - please provide a signature shout out for the video camera! 

[AUPepBand]

Pep paid a visit to Wooster pre-season a couple years back and noted the vast seating marked in the stands for the bagpipers and band and imagined they instill a real festive atmosphere to John P. Papp. While there, a physical plant employee told Pep of the bagpipers and band's pre-game rituals. Woo-hoo to Wooster.

Limited "Woo-Hoo" though, Pep.  FAMU-type gyrations in those kilts may land some participants in the Wayne County pokey - Amish/Mennonite sensibilities and all - unless COW masquerades as a Rumspringen sanctuary. 

Safe travels to Rochester - please provide a signature shout out for the video camera! 

Pep neglected to give a shout out to the video camera....so sorry. But Pep was told the radio announcers mentioned the Pep Band! While only an eight-piece band with 3 trombones, 2 trumpets, a baritone sax, 2 on drums....and two on kazoos, the band made some sweet sweet music.

The nicest thing about taking the pep band on the road is that AU fans being in unfamiliar surroundings results in their connecting with the band and actually joining in with cheers, clapping with the fight song, etc.

Pep was told it seemed that Alfred fans were making a lot more noise than Fisher's. AU Pep Band gives AU fans a familiar outlet for expressing their support for the Saxons, whereas, Fisher's 20 cheerleaders and the faculty rock band that was set up there really didn't.

[AUPepBand]

Pep was never so proud as when the band received an "Alfie" Award last month for "Most Campus Spirit by a Student Organization." Pep is pumped for the coming season as Pep has landed some low brass recruits that will add some depth to the Sound of the Saxons!!

Stay tuned!

On Saxon Warriors!

[AUPepBand]

Pep was never so proud as when the band received an "Alfie" Award last month for "Most Campus Spirit by a Student Organization." Pep is pumped for the coming season as Pep has landed some low brass recruits that will add some depth to the Sound of the Saxons!!

Stay tuned!

On Saxon Warriors!

A tuba and a sousaphone make a nice foundation for a pep band. For the first time in Pep's ten years with the band, AU Pep Band has TWO of those big intruments in the band, kicking off the season at 12 noon.

On Saxon Warriors!

Any new pep bands making their debut today?

[dahlby]

Pep, your enthusiasm is fantastic!! Although it does seem at times that you are talking to yourself.

Chapman University out in California organized a "Chapman Spirit Band" a few years ago. They, along with our cheer squad has really picked up the spirit. It is non-stop music, cheering and fan participation throughout the contest. Sometimes it is more fun watching and listening to them, and I find myself turning around and looking up in to the stands.

Keep that enthusiasm.

Here's a karma for you................my first one given out.

[AUPepBand]

Pep, your enthusiasm is fantastic!! Although it does seem at times that you are talking to yourself.

Chapman University out in California organized a "Chapman Spirit Band" a few years ago. They, along with our cheer squad has really picked up the spirit. It is non-stop music, cheering and fan participation throughout the contest. Sometimes it is more fun watching and listening to them, and I find myself turning around and looking up in to the stands.

Keep that enthusiasm.

Here's a karma for you................my first one given out.

+K back at ya with many thanks!

Pep has failed to mention that Alfred University now has a cheerleading squad and Pep believes there were a dozen at Saturday's game. The group had representatives at our Band Camp and have worked up moves to most of our tunes. One student who sat at the front of the stands just above the cheer squad remarked to Pep that their dances were perfectly in step with the band's songs. She said that it was pretty cool.

[dahlby]

PEP!

Proud to announce that for the last two home games our "Pride of Chapman Band" has performed on the field at halftime!!!!!!!!! (All 21 of them, drum line and all. I hear them practicing at the other end of campus 2-3 hours before game time. When not playing during the game, they are continually cheering our Panthers on, whether the team is leading or trailing.

Our cheerleaders also do routines on the field at halftime.

I bring our cheerleaders treats and water for every game, and next time I will be shopping for the band as well. Our fans, (students, parents and locals) all support both squads by contiinually making noise.

Someday when I learn how, I will film both groups and email you a copy. Maybe in a decade or so, our two teams will play and we can do a "who's the best"
contest. We are probably not at your level yet.

Every school should push for more spirit thru the presence of these type of groups. Even our frats and sorities are face painting, dressing up (or down with painted chests)...we are getting total school iinvolvment now.

[dahlby]

Pep,
Do both your cheer squad and band go to away games?

[AUPepBand]

PEP!

Proud to announce that for the last two home games our "Pride of Chapman Band" has performed on the field at halftime!!!!!!!!! (All 21 of them, drum line and all. I hear them practicing at the other end of campus 2-3 hours before game time. When not playing during the game, they are continually cheering our Panthers on, whether the team is leading or trailing.

Our cheerleaders also do routines on the field at halftime.

I bring our cheerleaders treats and water for every game, and next time I will be shopping for the band as well. Our fans, (students, parents and locals) all support both squads by contiinually making noise.

Someday when I learn how, I will film both groups and email you a copy. Maybe in a decade or so, our two teams will play and we can do a "who's the best"
contest. We are probably not at your level yet.

Every school should push for more spirit thru the presence of these type of groups. Even our frats and sorities are face painting, dressing up (or down with painted chests)...we are getting total school iinvolvment now.

Glad to see activity on this thread! Pep hasn't been here in awhile because of the inactivity.

"Sounds" like you've got it "rockin' 'n' rollin'" at Chapman. The AU Pep Band has never performed on the field at halftime and, should it ever attempt such a feat, it would likely have comedic results. Nevertheless, the band, Pep believes, has helped to create an atmosphere at games whereby AU fans are more involved...face painting, body painting, groups wearing identical t-shirts, etc. Games are way more fun and festive than pre-band history.

AU Pep Band has been together for 10 years now. AU once had a tiny cheer squad (3-5 girls) for a year or two, then there was none. Last year, a new cheer squad was formed and performed at AU basketball games. About a dozen of them now perform at AU football games, having choreographed some of the AU Pep Band music and also lead their own cheers when the band isn't doing so.

As for travel to away games, Pep owns a couple of old vans. Early in the week of away games, Pep sends an e-mail to the pep band members and inquires whether any want to take a road trip. If Pep gets 3 or 4 members who want to go, Pep drives the "band" to away games....sometimes 1.5 hours, sometimes 5 or 6 hours and, last year, even a two-van 8-hour overnight trip (hosted by the family of one of the band members). Sometimes, Pep is reimbursed for gas. The band has about $200 in its annual budget and operates as a student organization, not part of the performing arts division.

Folks at the games are amazed that Alfred brings a band to its away games. Pep doesn't see it as a big deal but knows the players appreciate the support. Unfortunately, with Mid-Semester Break this past weekend, the band did NOT make the 3-hour trip to Oneonta for the Saxons' 35-14 win over Hartwick in E8 Conference play. But Pep set up the webcast in the library and was pleased to hear the Hartwick Pep Band play during the time-outs.

On Saxon Warriors!

[Ron Boerger]

Texas Lutheran had a decent-sized stand band on Saturday (maybe 40-50 kids) and I was surprised they didn't do a halftime show. 

[ADL70]

CWRU halftime last Saturday from The Observer:

the marching band performed a stellar halftime show, featuring a break-out dance session during the jazzy "Hey Pachuco," and a medley of Billy Joel songs. The band also played on the Homecoming theme "Dream Beyond the Possible" with a rendition of "When You Wish upon a Star," wowing the crowd as they morphed into a giant star.

[AUPepBand]

CWRU halftime last Saturday from The Observer:

the marching band performed a stellar halftime show, featuring a break-out dance session during the jazzy "Hey Pachuco," and a medley of Billy Joel songs. The band also played on the Homecoming theme "Dream Beyond the Possible" with a rendition of "When You Wish upon a Star," wowing the crowd as they morphed into a giant star.

Gosh, the last time Alfred played at Case Western, it rained the entire game and the CWRU marching band was nowhere to be seen. Pep had been looking forward to seeing their performance. Meanwhile, stadium policy dictated that no umbrellas, shelters or big hats could be used in the grandstand, and was strictly enforced. Despite transporting an EZ-Up to the game, the four-member AU Pep Band was obligated to sit alone in the Visitor Section throughout the game in an unyielding steady downpour.    If it's any consolation, AU won, 14-0. 

(Okay, maybe big hats weren't prohibited, but all attempts to clear with authorities use of an EZ-Up in an empty section of the stands were denied.)

On Saxon Warriors!

[dahlby]

Pep,

I am sorry to see our home football season end with only 2  away games left. The cheer squad travels, but not our "Pride of Chapman" band. They were all great this year. And after our last game they went down to one of the end zones and played for the team after the game. The team came over and congradulated the members of the band and thanked them for all their support. What a touching show of graditute.

But, never fear, I have it from a very reliable source that for the 2nd year in a row our band will be performing at the home basketball games.

So, as they say....the band will play on, or something like that.

Good luck to your pep band. This is a trend that should be expanded everywhere to increase student spirit. It does work.


3 toots to your AU group.

[dahlby]

HEY PEP:

60-00!
Don't put those instruments away yet.
Congradulations!

[seventiesraider]

I am glad that over the last few years the NCAA eased their prohibition on bands at playoff games. Nothing like sitting in the freezing cold for 20 minutes with nothing happening on the field.

Dave Ross voice of the Mogadore High School Marching Band