Why is the band so dayum quiet in the stands??

[Bornthrilla]

When I first got to A&T in the mid 90s, the machine would rock in the stands all game long - win, lose or draw. Now, the only time you barely hear a peep out of them is after a touchdown or during halftime.

Is it Dr. Ruff's philosphy that a HBCU marching band should be seen and not heard?

[Bigboy]

I remember at the game in Winston against Wake Forrest Renick confronted Ruff about the band not playing and not trying to pump up the fans. I don't know what his story is.

[krazykev]

Cause Dr.Ruff does not like to Play at other bands. He is not a fan of the fifth quarter and is ready to leave after playing the Alma mater. Plus the guys that are on the current staff are not sports fans and do not pay to much attention to the game. That is why you only hear them when we score a touchdown. In the Past the Band cheered for the team, did chants to get the crowd up and played while the opposing team had the ball. Not anymore

[Aggie Monster]

Sad....just sad with what's happening to my machine. Dayum. dooms where the liquor at? I'm hanging with you this year.

[DOOMS]

I gave up drinking (to excess). I can't take the hangovers anymore. Now I generally just don't go to the games.

[Bornthrilla]

There's gotta be two sides to this story. The Blue Death Report might need to stop by Dr. Ruff's office in the upcoming weeks get the full lowdown on what's going on.

[blessedaggie84]

Sad but true KrazyKev...Dr. Ruff loves to leave after the Alma mater...he wants to eat that was always the case on away trips...We knew that we would play 3 songs and that was it..because some buffet line was waiting on the band to get there...the band didnt care about food at the time, they wanted to play..but over time the band accepted the fact that he (Dr Ruff) was not going to change.

The reason that the band was told many times that they could not play was because of Dee Todd and athletics. Dr Ruff was told of a rule were the band could play when A&T has the ball but they could not play if the team was in front of the band..The band could not play when the other team has the ball..He has said many time that he will always follow the rules and i guess he sticks by that. I know many accounts where the other band would play when they felt like it..it felt like we were the only band worried about some rules.

Another reason that I can think of that the band is so quiet in the stands is because the band does not care to help the crowd or the football team get hype. The band is always in the what have you done for me lately mode. they do stuff because they are obligated to not because they want to support the team. Most of the band members could care less about the football game or team they just want to battle.

I hope this helps explain something...I speak from what I witness and learned while in the band.

[Gator]

Looks like there is a preception issue in terms of band being a sport or not.

[da1andonle]

ok I'wv never been a big fan of the "band being a sport argument" as a former football player I'd love to see drummers play while trying to avoid blocker and what not, but whatever. SOmbody needs to tell the people who think that its a band show with a football game in between that nobody shows up to see the the band either when the football team sucksmaybe because the student section is right there they get fasle sense of full ness cause the rest of the stadium is empty.

[DOOMS]

People (well, black people) do show up to see the band. That's why as soon as halftime's over the crowd (well, the hbcu crowd) heads for the tailgate no matter how well the team is doing.

Now, a real negra like myself couldn't give two ishts about the band as long as they ain't embarassing. We ain't got a band like Southern or FAMU or Cookman so ain't no point in pretending. We hold our own against the other MEAC bands and we're better than ciaa bands. What more can we ask for when we don't give scholarships?

[aggie75]

I agree Dooms, but the thing that bothers me even more is the fact that at times we can't even get a pep band to show up at a basketball game.

[Maxell]

Ruff is the wrong guy for this job, period. He needs to conduct the symphonic band and give this job to someone else. Hell, I'd do it for free.

[Gator]

To me this is just a case of a few disgruntled people. The director has some solid credentials. My take on it is that he's clamped down on things that a lot of you don't like. Just because he's not doing things that were done before doesn't make him a bad director. As for showing up to see the band, look at the attendance stats from last year. I'd like to think they go hand in hand.

[econgrad71]

gator2 said:

To me this is just a case of a few disgruntled people. The director has some solid credentials. My take on it is that he's clamped down on things that a lot of you don't like. Just because he's not doing things that were done before doesn't make him a bad director. As for showing up to see the band, look at the attendance stats from last year. I'd like to think they go hand in hand.

NEGRO...PLEASE!

[blessedaggie84]

gator2 said:

To me this is just a case of a few disgruntled people. The director has some solid credentials. My take on it is that he's clamped down on things that a lot of you don't like. Just because he's not doing things that were done before doesn't make him a bad director. As for showing up to see the band, look at the attendance stats from last year. I'd like to think they go hand in hand.

Gator, Yes he has solid credentials but not for a HBCU marching band. When he was a directing before he came to A&T he was at white middle and high school and that was helping out with color guards and formations on the field. He is a good symphonic band director but Marching band aint for him...he told us time and time again that he likes marching band but he loves concert band season..Hearing that, that proves to the whole band that he is not 100% into this.

Gator what are something that you see that he has clamped down on that we would not like?