[Blue & Gold]

We haven't visited this topic in a while, but, to anyone in the marching band, and everyone part of the ZipsNation, what pregame plans is the university putting together? We'll be opening the Info before we know it, so I'm assuming our athletic department has spent countless hours, and many sleepless nights, researching, brainstorming and planning the entire game day experience, right?

Pregame band session in the JAR? Military-style, drum-cadence-driven parade from the JAR to the Info?

Anything?

Again, I haven't heard a peep on this subject in a very long time and the silence has me more than a bit concerned.

[Dave in Green]

More cowbell!

OK, now seriously, everything around a football game should complement football and put fans in the mood for supporting their team. There's nothing like traditional, upbeat marching music with flair -- gut-wrenching drumming with lots of syncopation and a wall of brass that brings fans screaming to their feet with tears in their eyes.

The purpose of football is not to bring out crowds to appreciate fine music. The band is there to fire up the fans to fire up the football team. Period. Save the concert music for the concert hall, where people politely applaud after each number.

On the football field, the band should make the fans explode with passion that carries over into a guttural roar for the offense and defense every time the ball is snapped.

[Blue & Gold]

More cowbell!

OK, now seriously, everything around a football game should complement football and put fans in the mood for supporting their team. There's nothing like traditional, upbeat marching music with flair -- gut-wrenching drumming with lots of syncopation and a wall of brass that brings fans screaming to their feet with tears in their eyes.

The purpose of football is not to bring out crowds to appreciate fine music. The band is there to fire up the fans to fire up the football team. Period. Save the concert music for the concert hall, where people politely applaud after each number.

On the football field, the band should make the fans explode with passion that carries over into a guttural roar for the offense and defense every time the ball is snapped.

Wow, well said!

Btw, did anyone else notice the distinct aroma of charcoal outside the Stile Field House today? It was great! I remember going to Camden Yards in Baltimore and before the game there were all sorts of street-side food vendors set up between the baseball stadium and the right field warehouse. It smelled great. I've been told that Fenway Park in Boston is the same way. Maybe we can get a handful of food vendors to set up shop around the Info - make it almost like a mini-county fair food scene? Ribs, sausage sandwiches, elephant ears, lemonade, gyros, etc. The entire stadium area should smell of a boutique of mouth-watering aromas. When the aroma of polish sausage & charcoal drifts into & fills the Info, all the better! That couldn't help but drive concession sales inside the Info as well. Mmm. People will know that they are at an event!

Also, a few guys in my tour group were wondering about alcohol sales. (It was the first question that was asked. Lol.) The answer was that that the board of trustees haven't made up their minds yet.

I don't drink. But I think that they should sell beer @ the games. That's just seems to be a big part of the American sports scene experience. And why not? They always make a killing on those $6 beers.