High Notes 2014 Week 5

If I were a conspiracy theorist, I'd postulate that the notoriously SEC-leaning ESPN protects their investment by miking SEC bands better than others. A lot of the time, though, they're just that damn good.

Still though, this week's high notes citation comes not from a college stadium in the deep south, but from a pro stadium just outside the Big Apple. Syracuse took on Notre Dame at Met Life Stadium, and the Pride of the Orange was putting in work, even as the gray-clad orange fell to the Fighting Irish. The Band of the Fighting Irish didn't make the trip to the first game of their ACC-adjacent slate, but Syracuse more than held it down.

In other orange news: I've been waiting for the announcement of gametime, and it's here. I'm headed to Louisville at Clemson Saturday after next, and it'll be a 3:30 game. This is exactly what I was hoping for - it gives me plenty of time to get down there from Greensboro and get back up the same night. Death Valley, here I come!

BOTR Game of the Week 2014 Week 5

It's perhaps a bit imprudent to post the game of the week after a good chunk of the week's action has already begun, but I assure you there were enough possibilities to go around. One, in fact - a dual Sudler matchup - would be quite late, as the Goin' Band from Raiderland visited Oklahoma State in a Thursday night game. Elsewhere in the former Southwestern Conference, Arkansas and Texas A&M are kicking off as I type this in the home of Arkansas alumnus Jerry Jones in Arlington, but I've given the Aggies their fair share of burn in the past week or so.

Instead, I'm going to head to the midwest, where Cincinnati will leave Kentucky travel across the state to Ohio State in what may be the best chance of late for an in-state school to get the best of the flagship. It hasn't happened in 93 years, and though I left the "we all we got" mantra in the former Big East, it would be a great win for the American.

Cincinnati:


Ohio State:

Amazing Happens Every Saturday

Sometimes, things just get by you, and that's the case with the first Amazing Happens Every Saturday entry of 2014. It turns out that cool new uniforms weren't the only star-spangled addition in College Park as the state of Maryland and the nation celebrated the bicentennial of the National Anthem. The Mighty Sound of Maryland and the Pride of West Virginia joined forces (and yes, normally I hate mass bands) to reenact the bombardment of Fort McHenry during the Battle of Baltimore, the battle that ultimately spawned the poem that would become the Star-Spangled Banner. Take a look:


The second has been well trumpeted throughout the past week, and while it's not actually marching/athletic music, it's a kindred sports-adjacent in the team that cares for Reveille, Texas A&M's mascot. As an SMU player came careening towards Reveille on the sideline, sophomore handler Ryan Kreider throws a block that could earn him a walk-on spot.


What it did earn him, however, was his senior boots bought by the Commandant of the Corps of Cadets. Not bad for doing your job, but that block's likely to be legendary in Aggie lore.

High Notes - 2014 Week 4

After recruitment spoke for a few consecutive weekends, this past weekend was a bit closer to normal, at least in terms of getting to see a bit more football. 

This week's high notes citation goes to Georgia Tech, whose Yellow Jacket Marching Band made the trip with the team to Blacksburg. Back when I shed some light on High Notes, I mentioned that Victory was among the Vs that could lead to recognition, and the football team gave the band plenty of reason to strike up on the road. Georgia Tech has always impressed me anyway; they're not afraid to remind you that they're rooted in the A, and I've heard them break out Jeezy and Mykko Montana on separate occasion. This time, however, it was Up With the White and Gold and Ramblin' Wreck that got them (w)rec(k)ognized.

BOTR Game of the Week: 2014 Week 4

Sorry I shorted you last week; busy-ness at work continued with IFC fraternity recruitment. Partially as makeup and partially because I became aware of one of these late, I've got two for you this week.

In the first, the Fightin' Texas Aggie Band heads to the Big D for an out-of-conference matchup against SMU's Mustang Band. SMU is sporting a shiny new band room and sure to bring their A game against one of the state's big boys.

Texas A&M:

SMU:

I also just became aware that the UMass Minuteman Band is making the trip south to Happy Valley to take on Penn State's Blue Band. The Power and Class of New England's trip makes this a dual Sudler matchup, and it's also Band Day in Beaver Stadium, so it should be a good one.

UMass:

Penn State:

Off the Dot

There were a few things that related to college marching band over the past nearly two weeks that I found worth noting. I had intended to include the first as an 8vb footnote to last week's high notes. Sunday before last, Bethune-Cookman's Marching Wildcats performed at halftime as the Carolina Panthers visited the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. While I don't know what caused the timing issue, the band was ultimately on the field with only a few minutes remaining of halftime, a time typically reserved for kickers to take practice shots at the field goal. Panthers kicker Graham Gano was not deterred by the band on the field, going so far as to shove a trombone player out of the way to get position for a kick, which caused a sax player to move to avoid catching a football to the instrument.

In the time that followed, there was a good deal of "I wish a kicker would," particularly from HBCU bandsfolk. I applaud the Marching Wildcats for keeping their composure. I've stated before that I'm irked even when kickers "share" the field with a smaller band - I've seen this in action with Duke and Wake Forest's bands - but to kick from within the organization, much less to put your hands on a college student as a professional athlete, is unacceptable. Still, Gano did at least call the player in question, Marquel Ballard, and apologize, even offering tickets and sideline passes as the Panthers play the division rival Falcons, Ballard's team.

As for the second: At some point or another, I'm sure most folks with an affinity for marching bands have wished, silently or aloud, for more coverage. I'll note that when requesting such to whomever in your cosmic sphere, one must realize that it doesn't mean the people talking about it will be the most knowledgeable. This past weekend was alumni band day at Ohio State, and despite not typically being band friendly, ESPN has always loved to showcase the Script Ohio. With alumni in the house, they executed a quad Script Ohio. Matt Millen was on the call for the game, and referred to TBDBITL as "the most athletic band in all of college football".

Wait, what?

Understand that no shade is mean to Ohio State, but I'm not sure I'd give them that distinction in their own state or their own conference. While athleticism may be difficult to objectively quantify, range of motion is a good place to start. And while the traditional step and the ramp entrance at 180 put them at least above a good deal of corps style units (sorry not sorry), I think Ohio University's Marching 110 and Wisconsin's Badger Band out-athlete them handily, and those are just two that came immediately to mind. Continue the conversation with HBCUs and Millen's statement very easily becomes a clown one. That's not to say that they're not amazing at what they do, but his quote had no basis in logic.

I know I shorted y'all on a Game of the Week this past week; this time through it was recruitment for the men of the InterFraternity Council. I hope to get back on track shortly!

High Notes - 2014 Week 2

As I'm sure I've mentioned before, I work professionally in fraternity and sorority life. This past week was Panhellenic sorority recruitment, making my high note of the week Bid Day. As a corollary, I didn't watch a whole lot of football this past weekend. This weekend I find myself in a similar situation, with IFC fraternity recruitment; that event wraps up on Saturday, but after that is some much-needed family time, so I may or may not find myself in front of a TV at all this Saturday.

That said, there's some good stuff out there. It's likely you've caught Ohio State's TV Land show form this past weekend, which impressed amidst a losing effort from the football team, and there's a good deal else out there as well. With each passing week and year, there are folks who are more on point about sharing what marching/athletic music has to offer, and for someone who isn't in a stadium nearly as often as I'd like, I certainly appreciate it.

Defence Of

This isn't the first time I've been in the corner of UnderArmour and the University of Maryland, College Park on a uniform, and it probably won't be the last. But the "1812" uniform that will be worn this weekend as the Terps take on WVU may be instant one for the ages.

This coming college football weekend - the one that sits closest to September 11 - has for years been one that has invoked patriotic-inspired uniforms in teams. UnderArmour has often been the supplier, and at times the culprit of ill-advised uniforms. Here, they went a slightly different route with their flagship program, and the result is nothing short of amazing. This weekend also commemorates the 200th anniversary of the Battle of Baltimore during the War of 1812; it is this battle that inspired Francis Scott Key to write the poem "Defence of Fort McHenry," which would ultimately become the Star Spangled Banner, our national anthem. The uniform features the text of the poem on its sleeves, helmet, and cleats. Players will wear a red belt reminiscent of those worn by American military officers of the day, and the helmet logo is a star-spangled outline of Fort McHentry, which conveniently resembles a turtle. UnderArmour took what had become an old meme in uniforms and gave it a refresh that's positively Maryland, and I love it.

BOTR Game of the Week 2014 Week 2

Week 2 of the college football season is always the subito piano to week 1's sforzando. After some high caliber band and football matchups, not to mention five straight days of the stuff. If week 1's a loaded buffet, week 2's a meager salad bar. And on the Band on the Road front, there are only two confirmed FBS trips this week.

One answer would be easy. I'm steeped in east coast bias, and have a strong proclivity for traditional style marching and Sudler Trophy winners. Add the history of the final consecutive running of the rivalry and the rare night game beneath Touchdown Jesus, and Michigan-Notre Dame's the obvious choice. Except that I remembered, correctly, that they occupied this spot last year.

Perhaps it's just a step above "by default", but I'm instead taking it out west, where the Spirit of Troy will travel to take on the Leland Stanford Junior University Marching Band as USC clashes with Stanford in one of this weekend's matchups of ranked teams.

USC:


Stanford:

High Notes 2014 Week 1

Really, is there any higher note than the return of football itself? I'd offer that there isn't.

I'm in a different situation this year as it relates to college football viewing. My wife and I got rid of cable about a year and a half ago, so I'm now entering my second football season without it. That said, until recently I had a *ahem* situation that at least allowed me access to ESPN content. This since has dried up, leaving me access to only those games that are televised on the major networks. It's not a horrible deal; I get the big game on ABC, SEC on CBS, home Notre Dame on NBC, and whatever Fox shows, plus typically ACC action on local TV here in NC. I can also still watch the internet/WatchESPN-based ESPN3, which boded well for me this weekend as USF's game was on it.

On the marching side of the equation, I'm fortunate that, above and beyond what I can glean from stands performances while watching games, more and more spaces online are sharing great marching content in near-real time. NBC Sports was quick to highlight the Band of the Fighting Irish, and Southern's Band on the Road performance at Louisiana was available quickly as well. Outlets like Eight to Five Entertainment improve their offerings year to year and week by week, and College Marching is, like myself, amplifying whatever is out there.

For Week 1's High Notes citation I head down to Brighthouse Networks Stadium in Orlando, FL. While the home team was off in Ireland, the cable box played host to the MEAC/SWAC Challenge, typically held in the Citrus Bowl which is currently under renovation. Being in Greensboro, I'm used to A&T's particular brand of excellence, but I don't get nearly the same look at SWAC schools on a regular basis, and the Marching Maroon and White came to play as well. The folks over at Eight to Five were all over the coverage there, so I got to see both bands show up and show out.

Quick note for the coming weekend of action: For my day job - you know, the one that pays me - I work in fraternity and sorority life, and this week is Panhellenic recruitment on my campus. As such, I don't know how much I'll have to contribute this coming weekend, since I know I won't get much viewing in. Thanksfully, sources like those pointed out above make it a bit easier to see what's going on, even if it's not live.