Maxell
Official BDF member
Director of BDF Marketing
Posts: 12,444
|
Post by Maxell on Jul 31, 2018 18:11:05 GMT -5
... but it's also about supporting the team. This is not Honda, it's a football game. An important one at that. The Machine has done games with only a post game in the past. Recognize that what you were able to do at Carolina a few years ago was at the very high end of what would be expected. The low end would be not to be invited to set foot into the stadium at all. Maybe we've been reading too many of our own press clippings.
There are several stages to the band experience at an away game. Halftime is only one of them. ECU has more than 6,000 Black students. That's more than half of MEAC schools' enrollments. Don't they deserve to see the line up, the stadium entrance, cold steel, in the stands, the tunnel and a 5th quarter? Not to mention adding to the experience of the high school bandsmen in attendance?
IMO, we're making a selfish mistake if we don't go. Make the decision to go and negotiate the details over the next 30 days.
|
|
|
Post by neighborhoodsuperstar on Jul 31, 2018 18:58:22 GMT -5
HUGE MISTAKE not taking the band to ECU.......HUGE......
I don't care if we don't get a halftime show..... The entrance into Dowdy-Ficklen Stadium (priceless) Playing "I'm so glad I go to A&T" after a TD or FG (priceless) Golden Delight doing their thing in the stands (priceless)
One thing to consider as well......put on a show AFTER THE GAME. We did it at App St, after we went to their tails up in Boone.
I vividly remember the App St game, Gardner Webb game and Charlotte game.......the football team, band and Aggie faithful put forth a presentation that 10 top-of-the-line Aggie powerpoint presentations couldn't have surpassed.
Huge mistake on this one.
|
|
|
Post by neighborhoodsuperstar on Jul 31, 2018 19:22:31 GMT -5
Speaking for myself here.....
Back in the day, I freakin' hated carrying the band to PWC stadiums. The football team would lose by 40-50 points, almost as if we were human sacrifices to White School U. The fans of the other school would view our band as "their entertainment." I freakin' HATED IT!!!! My opinion only.....we used to come off as a bunch of black muses.
Not anymore.
We beat them on the field for 4 quarters (the team)..... We beat them at halftime (the band).... We beat them in school spirit (travelling fans).....
We put on a complete show now. We highjacked Charlotte at their Family Day last year.
You're telling me the same thing couldn't happen at ECU???
FYI, these are the titles associated with our game at ECU: 1)Band Day 2)Agricultural Day
After we play, do you think any aspiring high school student wanting to play in a college marching band will have ECU on their mind? Agricultural Day......remind me again what the "A" in A&T stands for......
We're letting an "ideal day of hijacking" slip through our fingers.
If it was 2007-08......I wouldn't have even let the band off the campus to travel to Greenville. With all the winning we're doing now, the band truly enhances the Aggie experience on the road that, frankly, folks down there have NEVER SEEN......and that includes many black folks down east.
|
|
|
Post by Bornthrilla on Jul 31, 2018 21:08:26 GMT -5
I agree with NSS; we might be overthinking this thing.
Just show up and rock the crowd from the stands. I can live without the halftime show and P-funk.
|
|
|
Post by Blackfoot on Jul 31, 2018 22:11:03 GMT -5
Mi gente, I'll go ahead and add my 2 pesos. I as well get it - never willingly give an opponent any type of advantage. Whether it be perceived or actual. For that I don't fault ECU. Yes it is obviously a calculated move. IMO however, NC schools (i.e. Appalachian, UNC-CH, etc.) seem to like us only from a distance.....as long as we stay in our place and don't outperform them in any aspect. I'm also fairly confident if this game was versus Miami, Florida State, Miss. State or Georgia, the BGMM would be requested and expected. Just my opinion, but... - sitting in carajolandia (nether regions out of sight) at the stadium in Chapel Hill = not an honor but a slight
- doing a shared halftime show = not an honor but a slight
- doing a show after a game is over (Boone or Myrtle Beach) = not an honor but a slight
Anyway, I expect us to play our game and play it well. We're going to be alright. With or without their respect and/or hospitality. ¡Vamos Aggies!
|
|
|
Post by neighborhoodsuperstar on Jul 31, 2018 22:36:43 GMT -5
....I don't believe in sharing a halftime performance with anybody either.... ....playing after a game - I have no problem with.....especially when you can PUSH YOUR "PROPAGANDA."
After the game, when they give our emcee the stadium microphone, the band needs to be throwing down while the emcee spits facts: 1) Being the biggest HBCU in America 2) Being the leading producer of black engineers in America with Master's and doctorate degrees 3) Being the leading producer of black psychology undergraduates 4) Being the leading producer of minority certified public accountants 5) Being the leading producer of black landscape architects 6) Being the leading producer of black veterinarians 7) Being the leading producer of black agricultural graduates (Remember, it's Agricultural Day at ECU)
We spit these facts while Golden Delight is doing their thing while we form the A/T formation at the 50 yard line........
PUSH OUR PRODUCT.....AND PUSH IT HARD.
C'mon folks, does anyone think ECU has ever seen anything remotely close to what Aggie Nation would bring down there in full force? They wouldn't know what hit em.....
|
|
|
Post by Blackfoot on Jul 31, 2018 23:02:11 GMT -5
Yeh amigo. Push our product. No doubt. Experiencing the Aggie Nation in all its glory is a serious matter. Quite possibly sensory overload.
|
|
|
Post by ibleedblue on Aug 1, 2018 10:41:45 GMT -5
Seems like I'm one of the few that support Dr. Ruff and his decision. The BGMM works extremely hard to produce some of the most innovative,and captivating halftime shows the collegiate band world have seen in awhile. I dont think it's fair to our students to have them parade into the stands, play one or two times a quarter, then possibly performer a show that took days to learn, send money out of a limted band budget,just to say we were there. At this point A&T has nothing to prove to any PWI. Its not a privilege to go and just sit in the stands, the Aggie brand is bigger than that.. Dr. Ruff has drawn a line in the sand as he should...all we can do is support the decision, or petition ECU to change their mind about halftime. Our fans will support our team regardless if the band is there or not.
|
|
|
Post by DOOMS on Aug 1, 2018 10:45:18 GMT -5
Man, great arguments on both sides on this one....
|
|
919aggie
Official BDF member
Posts: 2,499
|
Post by 919aggie on Aug 1, 2018 10:55:26 GMT -5
Seems like I'm one of the few that support Dr. Ruff and his decision. The BGMM works extremely hard to produce some of the most innovative,and captivating halftime shows the collegiate band world have seen in awhile. I dont think it's fair to our students to have them parade into the stands, play one or two times a quarter, then possibly performer a show that took days to learn, send money out of a limted band budget,just to say we were there. At this point A&T has nothing to prove to any PWI. Its not a privilege to go and just sit in the stands, the Aggie brand is bigger than that.. Dr. Ruff has drawn a line in the sand as he should...all we can do is support the decision, or petition ECU to change their mind about halftime. Our fans will support our team regardless if the band is there or not. But, I thought that the band was there to support the football team? That would seem pretty selfish if they arent going due to no performance at halftime. Im sure hearing the band from the stands would be beneficial to the football team and to the fans as well.
|
|
|
Post by Bornthrilla on Aug 1, 2018 11:01:03 GMT -5
The Machine considers themselves to be their own major brand right now, independent of the football program.
Chancellor Martin could put an end to this issue in about 2 seconds by simply picking up the phone and telling Ruff to have the band ready for ECU and Jacksonville.
|
|
VA's Finest
Official BDF member
BDF Riders
Posts: 3,017
|
Post by VA's Finest on Aug 1, 2018 11:23:10 GMT -5
I think the point is being missed here, I was under the assumption the band is like the cheerleaders, there to support the football team.
I love the BGMM, and understand it is a showstyle/showcase band. Just hope they dont forget their main purpose is support of Aggie athletics.
I would like for them to be at every event but if I had to choose, Savannah State would definitely be off the list and add Jacksonville State.
Now as I saw this morning when purchasing my ECU tickets there are limited seats available in the stadium mostly in the upper bowl. So I can understand the band but being able to attend, no seats available.
This is the same way I was cool with UNCC charging for our band to attend last year. They have seats to sell and dont wont to dole out free seats to a visiting band, they at least recovered some of the funds by charging the student rate.
This is similar to those that still to this day disagree with the game zone. We can all agree that was missed revenue by our athletic dept prior to its implementation.
HBCUs unfortunately dont come close to selling out their facilities so of coutse letting a visiting band attend for free is an easy choice (not loss revenue). FBS schools even as evidenced again if you look right now at seats available for the ECU (single game fix went on sale today at 9am) they plan on selling out most if not all contests. Can't argue with not wanting to give out free seats for 400 folks (guessing band travel party) that's loss revenue. Now I know not a lot but if account for that when budgeting than you may not want to take that hit multiple times during year.
Something tells me, if we consistently sold out our stadiums and 500 people (BCU or FAMU) want to come and sit in our stadium for free, now we have 500 paying customers that wont get in. Let that be one of us and see how that goes over.
Again I hope there can be a way to at least get the BGMM to Jacksonville State, got my tickets for that to only $20 for I think GA, we sit on thg west side of the stadium for those planning on attending.
|
|
B&GMM 80
Official BDF member
An Official Blue Death Family Member
Posts: 1,097
|
Post by B&GMM 80 on Aug 1, 2018 13:57:01 GMT -5
I am wondering with Band Camp beginning on July 30, 2018 why so earlier unless you're attending one of the FIRST TWO GAMES! Almost a Month and TWO WEEKS before the 1st performance being 1ST HOME GAME SEPT 8, 2018 vs GARDNER WEBB! That doesn't make sense, to have about 200-300 KIDS on Campus that early that you have to House and Feed 3 weeks prior to start of the Fall SEMESTER and your FIRST PERFORMANCE ISN'T UNTIL SEPTEMBER 8, 2018.
|
|
|
Post by neighborhoodsuperstar on Aug 1, 2018 14:25:32 GMT -5
Seems like I'm one of the few that support Dr. Ruff and his decision. The BGMM works extremely hard to produce some of the most innovative,and captivating halftime shows the collegiate band world have seen in awhile. I dont think it's fair to our students to have them parade into the stands, play one or two times a quarter, then possibly performer a show that took days to learn, send money out of a limted band budget,just to say we were there. At this point A&T has nothing to prove to any PWI. Its not a privilege to go and just sit in the stands, the Aggie brand is bigger than that.. Dr. Ruff has drawn a line in the sand as he should...all we can do is support the decision, or petition ECU to change their mind about halftime. Our fans will support our team regardless if the band is there or not. If ECU gave us, after the game, time to perform, would you be okay with that? “The Aggie Brand is bigger than that”.....if you look at my last few posts, everything I talk about is about promoting the Aggie brand. Quality team + Supportive fans + Quality band = The best of the Aggie brand. The last time I remember A&T remotely going this Far East in State was during the Billy Hayes years when we went to Fayetteville State. Greenville is even further east than Fayetteville, with ECU being the center of academics and athletics in that part of the state. I just don’t think we can’t afford to bring every aspect of Aggie Nation to Greenville. This game is a big deal, on and off the field. This is a part of the state where we’ve never ventured....pull out all the stops and leave as powerful an Aggie impression you can.
|
|
|
Post by Bornthrilla on Aug 1, 2018 15:04:46 GMT -5
This is not a decision you let the leaders of the marching band make. Chancellor Martin should make the final decision on what games the band need to attend.
|
|