My email and reply from Dr Gates. He sums it up well and seems like he is in our corner.
Mr. Caraway,
The problem is that at K-State, Colorado, Missouri and one other school
(I don't remember which), there is no track separating the stands from
the visiting team's bench. At those places, I'm told the bands'
behavior has been pretty bad.
I was not present when this was discussed by the Big XII Presidents, and
I have let Kevin Weiberg know that I want to re-visit the issue. There
seem to me to be two alternatives. One would be to enforce current
rules regarding fan behavior. The other would be to measure distance
from the bench to the Band and set a minimum distance. If it were 30
feet or so, we would not have to make a change. If it were slightly
more, we'd just move the Band back a few rows, but not change their
location between the 30 and 50 yard lines.
We are not required to make a change until fall 2007, so we have some
time to try to get this fixed.
If, in the end, we must move the Band, my inclination would be simply to
have the Band and the Corps trade places.
RGates
-----Original Message-----
From: Crawford, Sandy L
Sent: Friday, July 28, 2006 8:03 AM
To: Gates, Robert M
Subject: FW: Aggie Band Seating
-----Original Message-----
From: Comment From Home Page [mailto:caraway@consolidated.net]
Sent: Thursday, July 27, 2006 7:29 PM
To: Crawford, Sandy L
Subject: Aggie Band Seating
EMAIL FROM:: Chris Caraway
message: Dr Gates,
Below is my email to Kevin Weiberg and his response regarding the band
seating in the Big 12. I think you will agree that we have the Best
Band, period, and the Aggie Band has done nothing to justify its being
moved from the seating area it's enjoyed as long as I can remember. Is
this being done for financial reasons because of the location of the
seats, or is it because bands are a distraction to the opposing team?
If that is the case, as long as the band does not play as per the rules,
(when the opposing team is on offense)what is the real problem? Isn't
there such thing as home field advantage? How has college football
survived this long so successfully without this rule?
I'm sure I'm not the only one asking this question. Are we really
getting this soft? Is this political correctness or financially driven?
Either way, it's wrong.
I anxiously await your reply.
Respectfully,
Chris Caraway
Aggie Bandsman
Class of 1988