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Post by ibleedblue on Dec 19, 2019 11:39:44 GMT -5
In the final rankings, top bands are N.C. A&T and Winston-Salem State The season is done and so are the ESPN/The Undefeated HBCU Band Rankings for this year, and the top bands are both from North Carolina: North Carolina A&T in Division I and Winston-Salem State in Division II. The final rankings are totaled from performances throughout the season and reflect the judges’ assessment of more than 100 video performances since mid-September. N.C. A&T’s Blue and Gold Marching Machine, which was tops in the September rankings, ended the season No. 1 because of No. 2 ratings in auxiliaries and musicality, No. 3 in percussion, No. 5 in drum majors, No. 6 in drill and design in the cumulative rankings for the season. The Aggies were No. 2 in the preseason rankings and in October, and were never out of the top five during the season. Prairie View A&M, which was No. 1 in the last ranking, ends the season as No. 2 for Division I. The Marching Storm had been ranked No. 2 in September and No. 3 in October. see link for full write up theundefeated.com/features/in-the-final-rankings-top-bands-are-n-c-at-and-winston-salem-state/ |
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oleschoolaggie
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Post by oleschoolaggie on Dec 19, 2019 12:23:11 GMT -5
oh well, i'll take it. but this is "espn", what do they know about hbcu marching bands? to me, goes to show what a very strong "brand" can do for everything related to our university...
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Post by ibleedblue on Dec 19, 2019 12:38:20 GMT -5
oh well, i'll take it. but this is "espn", what do they know about hbcu marching bands? to me, goes to show what a very strong "brand" can do for everything related to our university... the panel that votes for these poll week in and week out are HBCU band directors. (More like a peer view) |
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oleschoolaggie
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Post by oleschoolaggie on Dec 19, 2019 12:53:50 GMT -5
oh well, i'll take it. but this is "espn", what do they know about hbcu marching bands? to me, goes to show what a very strong "brand" can do for everything related to our university... the panel that votes for these poll week in and week out are HBCU band directors. (More like a peer view) well that's pretty cool, and like i stated, i'll take it. but i "honestly" don't believe we're the best hbcu band in the country. i know this is probably not the right message board to say that, but i'm just being honest. i always try to be objective and call things the way that i honestly see it. i think we're perhaps top 5 and if not, most definitely top 10. but i'm no expert on marching bands, that's just my honest opinion of how we stack up against all hbcu bands... |
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Post by ibleedblue on Dec 19, 2019 15:56:00 GMT -5
the panel that votes for these poll week in and week out are HBCU band directors. (More like a peer view) well that's pretty cool, and like i stated, i'll take it. but i "honestly" don't believe we're the best hbcu band in the country. i know this is probably not the right message board to say that, but i'm just being honest. i always try to be objective and call things the way that i honestly see it. i think we're perhaps top 5 and if not, most definitely top 10. but i'm no expert on marching bands, that's just my honest opinion of how we stack up against all hbcu bands... That's the thing about band conversations, they are all objective. If you talk to the right person they would have you believing Howard has the best band in the world. I like the BGMM, and I would put them up against any other HBCU.. But like everyone else, I also believe that it wouldn't hurt for them to make more of an effect in the stands while keeping a strong hold on the half time shows. But by no means would I want them to go back to the "old A&T" |
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oleschoolaggie
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Post by oleschoolaggie on Dec 19, 2019 16:14:03 GMT -5
well that's pretty cool, and like i stated, i'll take it. but i "honestly" don't believe we're the best hbcu band in the country. i know this is probably not the right message board to say that, but i'm just being honest. i always try to be objective and call things the way that i honestly see it. i think we're perhaps top 5 and if not, most definitely top 10. but i'm no expert on marching bands, that's just my honest opinion of how we stack up against all hbcu bands... That's the thing about band conversations, they are all objective. If you talk to the right person they would have you believing Howard has the best band in the world. I like the BGMM, and I would put them up against any other HBCU.. But like everyone else, I also believe that it wouldn't hurt for them to make more of an effect in the stands while keeping a strong hold on the half time shows. But by no means would I want them to go back to the "old A&T" hail, i luv the bgmm, i think they're great! that's our band and i support them 100%. yet at the same time, i'm always gonna give my honest opinion. of course i'm biased in favor of a&t, but i'm also objective. as i stated previously, by no means am i a marching band expert. but i do know what entertains me and what doesn't. so i base my opinion "solely" on what entertains me and what doesn't without prejudice. there's a lot of very good hbcu bands in the country and bgmm is definitely one of them, imo. i just don't know that we're the best in the country right now and that's just my honest opinion... |
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Post by codeblu78 on Dec 19, 2019 16:22:17 GMT -5
WOW! either we are getting wayyyyy more than our money’s worth or some of these other schools need to re-evaluate their budget priorities
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Post by marchingband1969 on Dec 19, 2019 18:58:16 GMT -5
WOW! either we are getting wayyyyy more than our money’s worth or some of these other schools need to re-evaluate their budget priorities This is the very reason I am such a fantastic about the BGMM. Our band staff and band students work their asses off to be the best marching band every year. Despite one of the lowest scholarships budgets of D1 HBCUs and the crappiest band complex anywhere! And yet, year after year the BGMM wins national honors and proudly represents A&T. |
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Post by lobengula on Dec 19, 2019 19:26:26 GMT -5
That's the thing about band conversations, they are all objective. If you talk to the right person they would have you believing Howard has the best band in the world. I like the BGMM, and I would put them up against any other HBCU.. But like everyone else, I also believe that it wouldn't hurt for them to make more of an effect in the stands while keeping a strong hold on the half time shows. But by no means would I want them to go back to the "old A&T" hail, i luv the bgmm, i think they're great! that's our band and i support them 100%. yet at the same time, i'm always gonna give my honest opinion. of course i'm biased in favor of a&t, but i'm also objective. as i stated previously, by no means am i a marching band expert. but i do know what entertains me and what doesn't. so i base my opinion "solely" on what entertains me and what doesn't without prejudice. there's a lot of very good hbcu bands in the country and bgmm is definitely one of them, imo. i just don't that we're the best in the country right now and that's just my honest opinion... Well to be real I concur which is not a negative against the band program. Being a former band member not BGMM rather high schools, our band could be much better. I am still concerned about the size of the band which I believe that we could march 350 musicians. Again in terms of finance why can not part of the student activity fees be applied to band students. There are ways and means for the BGMM to be truly competitive with the best. I remember the band program played at UNC-G where they performed well very well as a matter of fact-yet has not been invited back. I say this to say that the potential is there and should be explored. While the BGMM has achieved a lot they should pursue higher heights. In terms of facilities I think that it is an insult to remodel a former factory for a band room where there maybe asbestos present. I just have this thing about being the little outhouse to UNC-G where it appears that some have been co-opted by this concept of East Greensboro. Remember this trajectory that we are on just did not start with Dr. Martin rather it was the push for Excellence that Dr. Dowdy initiated. This we must remember. Dr Martin is merely executing the Vision of Dr. Dowdy. I hope that those here who have eyes and ears to see and hear understand where I am coming from.
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919aggie
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Post by 919aggie on Dec 19, 2019 19:37:00 GMT -5
hail, i luv the bgmm, i think they're great! that's our band and i support them 100%. yet at the same time, i'm always gonna give my honest opinion. of course i'm biased in favor of a&t, but i'm also objective. as i stated previously, by no means am i a marching band expert. but i do know what entertains me and what doesn't. so i base my opinion "solely" on what entertains me and what doesn't without prejudice. there's a lot of very good hbcu bands in the country and bgmm is definitely one of them, imo. i just don't that we're the best in the country right now and that's just my honest opinion... Well to be real I concur which is not a negative against the band program. Being a former band member not BGMM rather high schools, our band could be much better. I am still concerned about the size of the band which I believe that we could march 350 musicians. Again in terms of finance why can not part of the student activity fees be applied to band students. There are ways and means for the BGMM to be truly competitive with the best. I remember the band program played at UNC-G where they performed well very well as a matter of fact-yet has not been invited back. I say this to say that the potential is there and should be explored. While the BGMM has achieved a lot they should pursue higher heights. In terms of facilities I think that it is an insult to remodel a former factory for a band room where there maybe asbestos present. I just have this thing about being the little outhouse to UNC-G where it appears that some have been co-opted by this concept of East Greensboro. Remember this trajectory that we are on just did not start with Dr. Martin rather it was the push for Excellence that Dr. Dowdy initiated. This we must remember. Dr Martin is merely executing the Vision of Dr. Dowdy. I hope that those here who have eyes and ears to see and hear understand where I am coming from.
Totally agree with your assessment! I wonder if our students would vote “yes” on a proposal to add a band fee to their tuition. I think currently southern, bethune, prairie view, Jackson state, talladega, famu, aamu, and txsu..all have 250+ bands. With that measly 100k budget I’m starting to think the administration don’t see the band as “important”...Or maybe we are just broke🤷🏾♂️ |
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Post by lobengula on Dec 19, 2019 21:16:24 GMT -5
Well I was not thinking about a "tax"/fee on the students I was thinking about having some of the monies from the total student activity fee allocated to the band budget. I remember back in the in the SGA we were surprised about the student activity fee budget surplus funds etc. Just think about it it can be done all is required is that will do attitude.It is time for our deeds to match our mantra largest HBCU in the country by presenting a program of Excellence in all things Ayanntee period. When we travel first class no half stepping faking the funk.
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Freeze
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Post by Freeze on Dec 19, 2019 22:37:14 GMT -5
A&T needs a moment to shine in American popular culture. I know for a while, there were a LOT of people who thought Atlanta A&T from the Drumline movie was our band and school. Outside of performing in the Macy's parade several years ago, when has our band entered into the national conversation? As I mentioned before, Lizzo (arguably the hottest pop star in the country) featured Southern in her latest video. FAMU performed with Prince in the Super Bowl several years back. Grambling was featured in one of the latest Coke commercials. Even Norfolk was featured in a cool music video last year: www.youtube.com/watch?v=l8NHebm4nTYSo if A&T is the best band in the land and A&T is the largest HBCU in the country.....how can we increase our brand and become a household name? Don't get me wrong, I think we are on the cusp of doing this, but we need the perfect opportunity to really launch us to the next level. Being featured once again in the Celebration Bowl is always a PLUS. And congrats to the band. |
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Post by ALLnAggie on Dec 20, 2019 8:52:37 GMT -5
I think that you have to understand that the things that "The Undefeated" are grading on are the things that are not valued by the casual fan. What the acknowledgment shows is that A&T is a complete band, strong drum majors and percussions, precise auxiliary performances, and consistent musicality. The SWAC as a whole focuses on "Cranking", (overpowering and many times out of key brass tones) at the expense of woodwind players. Cranking plays well in the stands but it doesn't demonstrate musicality and would stifle the versatility that you see with BGMM.
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Maxell
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Post by Maxell on Dec 20, 2019 21:06:26 GMT -5
I think that you have to understand that the things that "The Undefeated" are grading on are the things that are not valued by the casual fan. What the acknowledgment shows is that A&T is a complete band, strong drum majors and percussions, precise auxiliary performances, and consistent musicality. The SWAC as a whole focuses on "Cranking", (overpowering and many times out of key brass tones) at the expense of woodwind players. Cranking plays well in the stands but it doesn't demonstrate musicality and would stifle the versatility that you see with BGMM. I agree and ... we should be able to do BOTH with equal results. That is the complete HBCU band. The ability to be true to the craft while entertaining our audience on the field AND in the stands. That would put us head and shoulders above the rest. This ranking is a glowing testament to our superior halftime shows. LOYALTY! |
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