Some people just don't know how to take "yes" for an answer.
Sir, you should be aware that the desire for Band representation at all away games has been the subject of intense debate on many occasions over on the Premium board and your comment above has been copied there and generated widespread anticipation of your final decision. Sure hope you can deliver.Commandant79 said:
I appreciate everyone's input and recommendations. I believe we will have a solution for an Aggie Band presence at away games next season. More to follow, but we are currently looking at options, and I am confident we will have a solution for next season.
Thanks again to all for your love and support of Texas A&M, the Corps of Cadets, and the Fightin' Texas Aggie Band!
Gig 'em! and beat the Hell Outta South Carolina!
We've only been in the SEC for 5 years, so you can't expect to rush these decisions74OA said:Sir, you should be aware that the desire for Band representation at all away games has been the subject of intense debate on many occasions over on the Premium board and your comment above has been copied there and generated widespread anticipation of your final decision. Sure hope you can deliver.Commandant79 said:
I appreciate everyone's input and recommendations. I believe we will have a solution for an Aggie Band presence at away games next season. More to follow, but we are currently looking at options, and I am confident we will have a solution for next season.
Thanks again to all for your love and support of Texas A&M, the Corps of Cadets, and the Fightin' Texas Aggie Band!
Gig 'em! and beat the Hell Outta South Carolina!
Quote:
Another potential wrinkle could be the Southeastern Conference Championship game, which is on Dec. 3 in Atlanta, the same day as the holiday parade. Texas A&M is currently 2-0, ranked No. 17 in the country and begins SEC play on Saturday against Auburn. Since joining the SEC, Texas A&M has not been to the SEC Championship game.
Rodriguez later said the city asked A&M about this and was assured the band would be coming no matter what.
What the actual F...They can go to McAllen for a parade, but can't go to away games or even the SEC Championship??? Wow.ABATTBQ87 said:
It hasn't been posted here but the Aggie Band is making a trip on December 3rd, and that's to the McAllen's December holiday parade!!
Don't worry about that being the same day as the SEC championship game:Quote:
Another potential wrinkle could be the Southeastern Conference Championship game, which is on Dec. 3 in Atlanta, the same day as the holiday parade. Texas A&M is currently 2-0, ranked No. 17 in the country and begins SEC play on Saturday against Auburn. Since joining the SEC, Texas A&M has not been to the SEC Championship game.
Rodriguez later said the city asked A&M about this and was assured the band would be coming no matter what.
380 mile bus ride, maybe one night in a motel, if that. Versus weekend trips on airplanes and multiple night stays. I understand how that happens.AFDave13 said:
What the actual F...They can go to McAllen for a parade, but can't go to away games or even the SEC Championship??? Wow.
I could rant...but it's not worth it.
The band has to back on Sunday December 4th for the Bryan Christmas paradeCanyonAg77 said:380 mile bus ride, maybe one night in a motel, if that. Versus weekend trips on airplanes and multiple night stays. I understand how that happens.AFDave13 said:
What the actual F...They can go to McAllen for a parade, but can't go to away games or even the SEC Championship??? Wow.
I could rant...but it's not worth it.
So if 1/2 the band can march in parades, couldn't they also do it at away football games? I know it's a totally different marching orientation, but I feel is a fair question given the exorbitant demand for the band at away games.Commandant79 said:
GranMaq has it right: IF Texas A&M plays in the SEC Championship Game on 3 December, the Aggie Band will go to the game.
IF Texas A&M does NOT play in the SEC Championship Game, then 1/2 the Band will go to McAllen for their Christmas Parade on the night of 3 Dec, and the other half of the Band will stay in CS to participate in the Bryan Christmas Parade on 4 Dec.
Unlike what others may have posted on this thread about what they THINK is happening that weekend, what I have just told you is the TRUTH.
Beat the hell outta Alabama!
Agree to a certain extent, but the other crowds always love the BQs (other than the students) and the drills are being streamed live on ESPN apps now, so.....Quote:
the drill is never shown on TV, so such limited exposure is not worth the expense or the academic impact on cadets--particularly since so many SEC venues are so far away.
Watched by no one but a few Ags, so the additional exposure is still negligible. Believe me, I'd prefer the Band drill at every game, but I've come to believe that the long travel time and increased expense to reach distant SEC away venues has made that unrealistic, particularly when you consider the academic wear and tear on the student cadets in the Band.CanyonAg77 said:Agree to a certain extent, but the other crowds always love the BQs (other than the students) and the drills are being streamed live on ESPN apps now, so.....Quote:
the drill is never shown on TV, so such limited exposure is not worth the expense or the academic impact on cadets--particularly since so many SEC venues are so far away.
I'm afraid you may be correct. The fartherest we ever went was Tech, Arky, Liberty Bowl, Sun Bowl. Most games were 90 to 200 miles away.Quote:
I've come to believe that the long travel time and increased expense to reach distant SEC away venues has made that unrealistic, particularly when you consider the academic wear and tear on the student cadets in the Band.
In the SWC days, not really. Since they were Corps Trips, that usually meant a Saturday morning parade, so unless you were gung-ho enough to get up at 3am Saturday morning to drive to Dallas, you were probably spending Friday night.74OA said:
Most SWC and Big 12 away games were out and backs, not requiring an overnight by the Band
CanyonAg77 said:I'm afraid you may be correct. The fartherest we ever went was Tech, Arky, Liberty Bowl, Sun Bowl. Most games were 90 to 200 miles away.Quote:
I've come to believe that the long travel time and increased expense to reach distant SEC away venues has made that unrealistic, particularly when you consider the academic wear and tear on the student cadets in the Band.
Lots of pressure for non-game events, too. BQs go to every yell practice and Crapper Grand Opening on campus.
Update?Commandant79 said:
Thanks Quito, for your very professional and respectful post. Greatly appreciate your comment and the mature manner in which you presented your disagreement.
There are several factors that go into deciding what games the Aggie Band goes to and what games they don't go to. When I became Commandant, the Aggie Band was marching at 10 of the 12 games the team played each year. We have pretty much maintained that same record in the almost 6 years that I have been here.
As I have already stated, a new factor that has arisen since we joined the SEC was that many SEC schools now do NOT allow visiting bands to march at halftime. Given who the Aggie Band is, and what they are known for at halftime, we have basically said that if we can't march at halftime, then we won't waste the cadets' time by making them travel to an away game only to sit in the stands without the opportunity to march at halftime.
In addition, we also have to keep in mind that our cadets in the Aggie Band need the opportunity to have some time off for academics, just like the other cadets in the Corps. I'm not saying that away games are the only opportunity, but it does provide some time for the Band cadets to take some time off, just like the other cadets do.
I know there are those that disagree with this policy, and want the Aggie Band to travel to every away game, even if they can't march at halftime. I respect the fact that they don't agree, and fully understand why they want the Band at every game. As a former BQ, I completely understand, believe me!
While I won't promise anything for next season, I WILL say that I really like your idea, and will discuss it with the leadership of the Aggie Band at the end of this season. We will look at all options for the Aggie Band next year, including maintaining the current policy, but I must admit, I do like your idea and appreciate you sharing it with me. I can promise you that we WILL look hard at what you recommended in your post for next season. I will let you know what we decide for next season once we have had the chance to sit down and discuss at the end of this season.
Thanks again for your post, Quito. I appreciate your candor, your professionalism, and your willingness to discuss with me. I can assure you that I will look at what you presented for the Aggie Band next season.
Thanks for your support of our Corps! Gig 'em! And Beat the Hell Outta Arkansas!
I checked with my friend who works with the UCLA Band and you are correct about the pep band. He said they will only have a pep band for the Texas A&M game. He also told me that it's pretty easy to get tickets to the game because their football team is terrible right now.McInnis80 said:
It would love to see the band at the Rose Bowl in September. I know there will be issues with the a trip so close to FOW, but it would be cool to pull this off. I am also afraid if the FTAB does not make the trip, halftime would be quiet since I doubt the UCLA band will be marching as they game is three weeks prior to be start of classes in Westwood.
Last year UCLA only had a pep band for their week 2 home opening game.
The good news is that most early games will game times will be set in June. I am guessing that the game will kickoff at either 1:00 or 5:00 (PDT) on FOX.