KidHeartless
Official BDF member
AGGIE FRIGGIN PRIDE!
Posts: 1,814
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Post by KidHeartless on Aug 15, 2019 11:11:49 GMT -5
My point is...in this day and age, it's hard to remain competitive without resources. It's just like anything else, sports or what have you. We can look back on our band rah-rah days all we want but, it's about resources. Students want to come to A&T no doubt but, they also want resources and if another school can offer more resources than we can, guess what...we lose that student. Plain and simple. Talladega College barely has 3,000 students and no football team with a big azz band, I wonder why...? I will tell you...$$$! Even look at Langston this year.....mannnnn
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Post by marchingband1969 on Aug 15, 2019 15:28:05 GMT -5
Folks, the grass is always greener on the other side of the fence...at least it appears to be greener. The BGMM is doing great... and has been for decades! Could they use more money for scholarships, staff and resources...damn right they could! But let's be realistic, we're an HBCU and that means we have limited funds.
Dr. Martin and his administration has done a lot to support the BGMM. But it's time for the alumni to step up now! If we want to see the BGMM increase their numbers and retain more upperclassmen, the alumni needs to help recruit more band students and donate more scholarship money. Everybody has an opinion about what the BGMM should and shouldn't do but few actually step up to support them when they need it.
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tony
Full Member
Posts: 153
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Band Camp
Aug 15, 2019 16:00:51 GMT -5
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Post by tony on Aug 15, 2019 16:00:51 GMT -5
Folks, the grass is always greener on the other side of the fence...at least it appears to be greener. The BGMM is doing great... and has been for decades! Could they use more money for scholarships, staff and resources...damn right they could! But let's be realistic, we're an HBCU and that means we have limited funds. Dr. Martin and his administration has done a lot to support the BGMM. But it's time for the alumni to step up now! If we want to see the BGMM increase their numbers and retain more upperclassmen, the alumni needs to help recruit more band students and donate more scholarship money. Everybody has an opinion about what the BGMM should and shouldn't do but few actually step up to support them when they need it. Couldn't agree more! I'd hate to follow the Talladega model actually. They were huge when the band started, now they're about our size. And they're loud but don't sound nearly as good. I think they're figuring out what they were doing wasn't sustainable. I'll take what Dr. Ruff is doing any day. But it is up to us alumni to support. Elite 100 was a great idea, except I don't really need the hat. Hopefully we keep it up and grow it.
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Band Camp
Aug 15, 2019 19:45:41 GMT -5
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Post by ohsixrain on Aug 15, 2019 19:45:41 GMT -5
Don't misunderstand my point...I'm not debating whose better or not, I'm just demonstrating a reality in today's world. No need to act as if it doesn't exist or it exists everywhere on earth except at A&T.
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Gator
Official BDF member
Posts: 3,547
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Post by Gator on Aug 15, 2019 19:59:32 GMT -5
Don't misunderstand my point...I'm not debating whose better or not, I'm just demonstrating a reality in today's world. No need to act as if it doesn't exist or it exists everywhere on earth except at A&T. Who's reality?
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VA's Finest
Official BDF member
BDF Riders
Posts: 3,001
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Band Camp
Aug 15, 2019 20:39:42 GMT -5
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Post by VA's Finest on Aug 15, 2019 20:39:42 GMT -5
Just looked at a Langston post in last couple of days, not impressed, large, but sound very elementary.
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Post by marchingband1969 on Aug 15, 2019 21:36:17 GMT -5
I'm sorry but up until about 5 minutes ago, I didn't know who the heck Langston was. So I checked out their YouTube videos and I have just one thing to say... you guys that thought they were good have officially been banned from posting on the "Rocking the Crowd" site for 30 days!
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Post by SixtiesAggie on Aug 16, 2019 0:46:16 GMT -5
My point is...in this day and age, it's hard to remain competitive without resources. It's just like anything else, sports or what have you. We can look back on our band rah-rah days all we want but, it's about resources. Students want to come to A&T no doubt but, they also want resources and if another school can offer more resources than we can, guess what...we lose that student. Plain and simple. Talladega College barely has 3,000 students and no football team with a big azz band, I wonder why...? I will tell you...$$$! Talladega does not have a Thousand Students. It is probably between 700 and 800 students. It is like most HBCUs. Very little money, but they know how to survive on a shoe string budget. They have been doing it for years. I would guess that most of their students are on financial aid. I would also guess that their tuition is around 10k to 12k.
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KidHeartless
Official BDF member
AGGIE FRIGGIN PRIDE!
Posts: 1,814
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Post by KidHeartless on Aug 16, 2019 1:47:02 GMT -5
Just looked at a Langston post in last couple of days, not impressed, large, but sound very elementary. For the majority to be freshmen, I'll revisit their program in a few years and hope they'll sustain.
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Post by ohsixrain on Aug 16, 2019 8:25:50 GMT -5
My point is...in this day and age, it's hard to remain competitive without resources. It's just like anything else, sports or what have you. We can look back on our band rah-rah days all we want but, it's about resources. Students want to come to A&T no doubt but, they also want resources and if another school can offer more resources than we can, guess what...we lose that student. Plain and simple. Talladega College barely has 3,000 students and no football team with a big azz band, I wonder why...? I will tell you...$$$! Talladega does not have a Thousand Students. It is probably between 700 and 800 students. It is like most HBCUs. Very little money, but they know how to survive on a shoe string budget. They have been doing it for years. I would guess that most of their students are on financial aid. I would also guess that their tuition is around 10k to 12k. Well, that further proves my point. 700-800 students with a big azz band, we're the largest HBCU in the country and we can't get folk to march.
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Post by ohsixrain on Aug 16, 2019 8:27:44 GMT -5
Don't misunderstand my point...I'm not debating whose better or not, I'm just demonstrating a reality in today's world. No need to act as if it doesn't exist or it exists everywhere on earth except at A&T. Who's reality? Not sure I understand your question but, the point is...in today's world the money talks, the rest walks. We try and make the assumption because we are "A&T" that doesn't apply to us. That reality!!
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Post by blessedaggie84 on Aug 16, 2019 9:20:33 GMT -5
When I was in Greensboro Thursday I went to see the band and they will be fine. They will have good field show like all the previous years. Some sections are smaller then before but again it will be fine. Hopefully by the middle of the season the bands sound will mature more. All I want from the band is to be apart of the game day experience more.
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Post by ohsixrain on Aug 16, 2019 10:46:16 GMT -5
When I was in Greensboro Thursday I went to see the band and they will be fine. They will have good field show like all the previous years. Some sections are smaller then before but again it will be fine. Hopefully by the middle of the season the bands sound will mature more. All I want from the band is to be apart of the game day experience more. I agree...like I said, our staff makes lemonade out of lemons. I have no doubt they will put a good to great product on the field this season. I know someone posted a picture of the visitor side of the stadium at College of Charleston. Initially, I thought the band would take the whole side, well maybe not now.
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Post by marchingband1969 on Aug 16, 2019 11:00:24 GMT -5
Talladega does not have a Thousand Students. It is probably between 700 and 800 students. It is like most HBCUs. Very little money, but they know how to survive on a shoe string budget. They have been doing it for years. I would guess that most of their students are on financial aid. I would also guess that their tuition is around 10k to 12k. Well, that further proves my point. 700-800 students with a big azz band, we're the largest HBCU in the country and we can't get folk to march. ...and no football team! So take all the money you would be spending on football player scholarships, coaches salaries, uniforms, equipment, travel, insurance and stadium maintenance and give it to the band program. If we had that kind of money, every band member would get some scholarship money. And here's another small detail...with no football team and no games, they don't have to work as hard or long hours practicing. They prepare only have to prepare one halftime show and do it whenever they get an invitation to play. Fewer shows means less time on the practice field and that means a lot less work for their band members.
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Post by ibleedblue on Aug 16, 2019 11:02:06 GMT -5
I think the Dr. Ruff and his staff have proven time and time again that the band deserves more funding. I don't believe that the University's administration is willing withholding resources form the band. This is a matter of prioritizing limited resources, while still trying growing the notoriety of the University. It's clear that the Administration has made some good investments in the band over the last few years,and plans for better facilities have already been announced. But, even with all that there is a gap, between what the Administration can do for the band and the student-body at this time, and what we would like to see the band do for our entertainment. So the question really is how do we / who will fill the gap? My answer is alumni dollars.
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