Pep Bands vs. Canned Music at Football Games

[AUPepBand]

Glad to hear of Linfield's pep band revival...and that it was well received. It really takes a student leader to make it happen. Sounds like you found her.

While AUPepBand serves as a facilitator (sending weekly e-mail about coming game, ordering shirts, etc.), it really takes student leaders to make it fly. AU Pep Band has been blessed with some outstanding student leadership over the past five years....kids that are sold on AU football and sold on having fun at games.

Without a music major at AU, it seems engineering majors have kept the band going. Engineering students who play instruments are good candidates for pep band because they like to play but may not want the time commitment required by other instrumental groups. AU Pep Band builds a repertoire of easy, fun, upbeat tunes with which folks can groove. If the band can't make it sound good, it's not used.

AUPepBand had a great year, playing at 9 of 11 Saxon games, with participation ranging from 3 (believe it or not) to 15 band members. But AU's 40-34 OT win over the University of Rochester in the ECAC Northwest Championship was a memorable finish to a fine season.

Any other pep bands out there in D3 football land?

[cawcdad]

The last game of the year was at Lewis and Clark in Portland. They have just brought back football after only playing 4 games last year. No pep band, but they did bring in a High School from the area to play. Great idea, and was fun for the kids I'm sure.

And that high school band sounded really good. But their bus driver, well. . . . 

[AUPepBand]

What was the deal with the bus driver? ...did he have gas? ...tooting out of tune?

[Ralph Turner]

UMHB had about 40 members marching on Saturday!

They had a good drum line!

[Toby Taff]

UMHB had about 40 members marching on Saturday!

They had a good drum line!

They need more low brass, but thats the opinion of an old fat tuba player. 8)

[gordonmann]

I was very impressed by Widener's pep band this year.

They played good versions of songs by the Commodores (Disco), Ozzy Osbourne (heavy metal) and the Basement Jaxx (techno) which is no easy feat.

[AUPepBand]

Wow! Impressive. Would love to hear the Widener band. Large group? AU Pep Band plays the easy stuff. We did attempt "Bang the Drum All Day" and "25 or 6 to 4" during Band Camp, but kids never felt confident enough to play it at games.

[HoosierQBScout]

AU-PEP BAND----
Good post---real bands (even pep) are much better. Without question.

[WLCALUM83]

Any other pep bands out there in D3 football land?

Wisconsin Lutheran College has a pep band that plays for home football games, the "Band of Warriors." 

[ScheckDiesel]

UW-Whitewater has a 85? member marching band, plus a color guard.  The whole band plays during timeouts and will throw out the occasional "Charge!"
Overall, I prefer canned music during timeouts and breaks in play. 

[MusicHawk]

Spent my time at UW-Whitewater in the marching band, who's membership averages around 100+. The marching band performs at all regular season home games and the occasional Packers half-time show. During the playoffs, the marching band turns into a volunteer pep band. Here's some examples of the Warhawk Marching Band in action:

http://academics.uww.edu/cac/music/marchingband/Videos/ThrillerDance.mpg

http://academics.uww.edu/cac/music/marchingband/Videos/MidVoyage.mpg

http://academics.uww.edu/cac/music/marchingband/Videos/tb-lambeau.mpg

[AUPepBand]

Wow. UW-Whitewater Marching Band rocks! Outstanding performances! AUPepBand assumes Whitewater offers music major, right?

The AU Pep Band, in stark contrast to UWW's outstanding marching band, is a small group of students/alums who provide in-game cheers and time-out entertainment, numbering from as few as 4 to as many as 15. AUPepBand is told the band makes AU football games a lot of fun.

[K-Mack]

How about the best band to go on the field of play before the final play is whistled dead?

That would the same band that is most likely to get suspended / reprimanded for insulting an entire state and religion.

UVa.'s pep band did a not-so-nice sendup of West Virginia that drew the attention of the WV governor. He was not pleased.

[Ralph Turner]

I am watching the pre-game festivals of the Ohio State-Florida game.

As a former Double B-Flat Bass player in Prof Bynum's McMurry Indian Band, it was gratifying that the on-field microphone picked up the bass part of the Ohio State fight song.

It was truly an example of "musical excellence", the Ohio part notwithstanding. 

[K-Mack]

I am watching the pre-game festivals of the Ohio State-Florida game.

I was watching it and wondering if AUPepBand is watching and enjoying or thinking "D3 can do better!"