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Post by ohsixrain on Aug 29, 2018 15:22:30 GMT -5
Boo-Yow!!! It starting to smell bad up in here!!! Hey folks...Battle of the Bands "pay" bands to participate. Let me repeat that for you folks... if you attend a Battle of the Band, the sponsors provide some funds to the participating bands. ESPN was paying nothing to participate last weekend (approximately $70,000 travel cost). I too, believe in the band staff competence BUT, if you are trying to sell me on they are too broke to make the trip to ECU then, sorry I'm not buying that one. My only point is/was, it's just a missed opportunity.
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Post by Bornthrilla on Aug 29, 2018 15:39:55 GMT -5
What facts?
The band has all the money and resources it needs to travel to ECU.
It chose not to because it didn't like the restrictions that ECU was going to place over them as part of Friends and Family Day.
The Machine could easily attend the game, play in the stands, and support the team after touchdowns and throughout the contest.
However, because they could not be the center of attention at halftime for 7 minutes, they basically decided to take their ball and go home.
In the process, they chose to leave their football team and fans high and dry ... for the second week in a row.
Fans on this board are making more of a sacrifice to support the football team in Greenville than the band is.
Those are the facts.
Tell me where you see a lie.
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Post by ibleedblue on Aug 29, 2018 15:47:15 GMT -5
I fulling support Dr. Ruff and his staff's decision, however, seeing a player tweet kinda hits me in a soft spot.. We all understand that our team is doing something special. And I not talking about playing ECU, this is bigger. This is about building a legacy for our University, and if the team wants the support of the band, I think some road blocks should be moved. I have one think we can win this game, but it will be a dog fight, and if playing "smash somethin" in the 3rd can help our boys get 5 more yard, lets try it...
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Post by aggie2039 on Aug 29, 2018 16:01:58 GMT -5
I fulling support Dr. Ruff and his staff's decision, however, seeing a player tweet kinda hits me in a soft spot.. We all understand that our team is doing something special. And I not talking about playing ECU, this is bigger. This is about building a legacy for our University, and if the team wants the support of the band, I think some road blocks should be moved. I have one think we can win this game, but it will be a dog fight, and if playing "smash somethin" in the 3rd can help our boys get 5 more yard, lets try it... I agree, the band is forgetting why they exist. No football no marching band.
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Post by DOOMS on Aug 29, 2018 16:14:11 GMT -5
It's probably not correct to say "the band" is the culprit, even though I'm not privy to the internal discussion. I would assume that the majority of the band members would love to make the trip as well. It most likely falls on band leadership.
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Post by Bornthrilla on Aug 29, 2018 16:20:07 GMT -5
It's probably not correct to say "the band" is the culprit, even though I'm not privy to the internal discussion. I would assume that the majority of the band members would love to make the trip as well. It most likely falls on band leadership. Dont make me post that ESPN 30 for 30 meme again. I am trying to be civil here.
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Maxell
Official BDF member
Director of BDF Marketing
Posts: 12,469
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Post by Maxell on Aug 29, 2018 17:38:37 GMT -5
MB69, Independent of the band politics, do you PERSONALLY in your hearts, think that not going to ECU is the right thing to do for the UNIVERSITY? YES or NO Yes! I think that not going to ECU is the right thing to do! I've spent the better part of 50 years supporting, following, funding and cheering for the A&T Band. I regularly drop in at practices and talk with the staff, current band members and alumni band members as much as possible. I frequently drive 180 miles round trip to participate in Band Booster meetings and when I can get my hands on band financial information, I study them. So when this band staff makes a decision not to attend a certain game, I have more than a casual "spectator's opinion" about it. When I heard the reasons for not attending the games, I was in complete agreement with the decision. When someone has shown me over the years that they know what the hell they are doing, I tend to trust their decisions. What really amazes me is everytime this conversation comes up, there appears to be a belief that somehow our band leadership is incapable of making a competent decision. That our band leadership may know how to get kids to march in a straight line and play instruments but not how to make the really important decisions like which games to attend. The decision not to attend these games was made by the same band staff that has spent the past decade making decisions that has elevated the A&T Band to one of the premier bands in the nation. And all of a sudden, folks that a few years ago could care less if the band showed up or not, now think that the band leadership is not capable of making decisions about the band. I think you miss the point entirely(again). This is not about decision making for the band. Ruff has done a fantastic job. IMO, for this particular game, in this particular year, for this particular team, for this particular opponent, for the A&T brand, it should be a UNIVERSITY DECISION not just a band decision. If Chancellor Martin comes out with a statement about why we should not go or a statement of agreement with Ruff's decision, I WILL BE SATISFIED !!! Until then I will continue to think it's a bad decision. We did a post game at App State several years ago. What's different? Other than our opinion of ourselves.
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Post by marchingband1969 on Aug 29, 2018 18:37:39 GMT -5
Yes! I think that not going to ECU is the right thing to do! I've spent the better part of 50 years supporting, following, funding and cheering for the A&T Band. I regularly drop in at practices and talk with the staff, current band members and alumni band members as much as possible. I frequently drive 180 miles round trip to participate in Band Booster meetings and when I can get my hands on band financial information, I study them. So when this band staff makes a decision not to attend a certain game, I have more than a casual "spectator's opinion" about it. When I heard the reasons for not attending the games, I was in complete agreement with the decision. When someone has shown me over the years that they know what the hell they are doing, I tend to trust their decisions. What really amazes me is everytime this conversation comes up, there appears to be a belief that somehow our band leadership is incapable of making a competent decision. That our band leadership may know how to get kids to march in a straight line and play instruments but not how to make the really important decisions like which games to attend. The decision not to attend these games was made by the same band staff that has spent the past decade making decisions that has elevated the A&T Band to one of the premier bands in the nation. And all of a sudden, folks that a few years ago could care less if the band showed up or not, now think that the band leadership is not capable of making decisions about the band. I think you miss the point entirely(again). This is not about decision making for the band. Ruff has done a fantastic job. IMO, for this particular game, in this particular year, for this particular team, for this particular opponent, for the A&T brand, it should be a UNIVERSITY DECISION not just a band decision. If Chancellor Martin comes out with a statement about why we should not go or a statement of agreement with Ruff's decision, I WILL BE SATISFIED !!! Until then I will continue to think it's a bad decision. We did a post game at App State several years ago. What's different? Other than our opinion of ourselves. So you really didn't want my opinion. I'm sorry but I thought you had asked me what I thought..my mistake. Your complaint isn't with the band staff but with Chancellor Martin and how he runs his departments. I'd suggest you take this discussion up with Chancellor Martin.
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Post by aggie2039 on Aug 29, 2018 19:07:06 GMT -5
The complaint is with band leadership not swallowing their pride and caring more about themselves than the university image, football team and Aggie fans.
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Post by Bornthrilla on Aug 29, 2018 20:13:28 GMT -5
I respect marchingband1969 for sticking to his guns.
Yall know how I feel about the situation, but MB1969 is a stand-up guy for going down with the ship on this one.
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Post by ohsixrain on Aug 29, 2018 21:53:27 GMT -5
See, it's getting close to game day and it's causing dissension within the ranks as a university/school. Especially, when it all could be avoided. Now, what good comes from this by the band not going...? So, if there isn't a change of heart, I see this matter getting worse before it gets better. You will have folk questioning the band's loyalty, the very thing they have written across their chests on their band tee shirts.
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Post by ibleedblue on Aug 30, 2018 8:43:10 GMT -5
See, it's getting close to game day and it's causing dissension within the ranks as a university/school. Especially, when it all could be avoided. Now, what good comes from this by the band not going...? So, if there isn't a change of heart, I see this matter getting worse before it gets better. You will have folk questioning the band's loyalty, the very thing they have written across their chests on their band tee shirts. I wouldn't go that far...Being that we are this close to game day and nothing has changed, lets you know that Chancellor Martin supports Dr. Ruff and his band staff's decision.. After seeing the team tweet, I kind of wish things were different, however better people than me make this decisions. Now Its up to the Fans to support the team and keep this train moving. Come next Wednesday this won't even be a conversation and if we win ( which I think we can ) no one will even think about the band past Sunday. Lets just put the ball down, and play Aggie Football! # AggiePride #Celebrationbowl2018
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Post by ohsixrain on Aug 30, 2018 8:57:52 GMT -5
Just remember: You don't have to agree with every decision in order to support a program. This is a decision I just don't agree with at all. We should leap at the opportunities to put A&T on display, it only supports the overall mission of the university. But, anyways, it matters not at this point.
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Post by Bornthrilla on Aug 30, 2018 9:51:18 GMT -5
You know what's sad? The Blue & Gold Marching Machine's official twitter account was one of the folks who liked this tweet:
Even the kids in the band know better and realize Dr. Ruff made a selfish decision.
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Post by ibleedblue on Aug 30, 2018 13:00:54 GMT -5
You know what's sad? The Blue & Gold Marching Machine's official twitter account was one of the folks who liked this tweet: Even the kids in the band know better and realize Dr. Ruff made a selfish decision. Yet, it's a decision that the University didn't over turn... so it's about time to turn our attention to the team, bring an extra cow bell, and make sure the team knews we're there..
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