Pride won't play at November games?

[Jack4Life]

Re: Pride won't play at November games?

Play in blue jeans and yellow & blue t-shirts/sweatshirts/coats. That is a lame excuse for not playing.

I agree, they don't have to do the halftime show, just be in the stands making noise and playing some of the traditional music. Hell, they should all be at the game anyway...

[NightHawk78]

Re: Pride won't play at November games?

Play in blue jeans and yellow & blue t-shirts/sweatshirts/coats. That is a lame excuse for not playing.

All of the band members have their 2008 Rose Parade jackets. I haven't talked to enough Pride members to pass judgment.

[EQguy]

Re: Pride won't play at November games?

The current Pride set-up at CAS and the current size of the Pride make the process of getting positioned for the halftime show (and returning to the stands) a long, drawn-out process that is quite inefficent, but is likely only remedied by a new east-side grandstand and the relocation of the Pride to that side.

I call hooey! They don't leave until 6 min left of the 2 qtr and dont start playing again until the very very end of the 3rd. If it doesn't take that long to get out it can't take that long to get back. Also, they have been offered to move to the other side of the field but have said no. I say it can't be sound because they sound pretty good spread out across the field during performances (and the sound would also echo off the stands during field performances).

I have been told by one Pride member that the logistics for uniform turn-in/dry-cleaning/re-issuance for the California trip would be next-to-impossible if the Pride were to play at the NDSU game. I won't pass judgment on that comment.

Unless you are possibly the most inefficient person alive I can't see how it can take more than a month to return clean and check back out 400 uniforms. I agree with the jeans assessment. Who cares if they march just play. I am not disagreeing that they are awesome and what they do adds to the atmosphere of the game.

[JimmyJack]

Re: Pride won't play at November games?

Or you can write letters to the editor in the register and collegian to let the community know about what their precious "Pride" is doing or not doing for the biggest game of the year. People think the Pride only does good. I have had 50 people in the last couple of weeks tell me the only reason why people come to football games is the Pride. I tell them the only reason I come to a football game is to watch the game and not worry about a band no matter how much hype they have. People get very offended when I tell them I am not a big fan of the Pride. Oh well.

I guess you feel like a big public spectacle will accomplish something. I suppose it might make you feel better, but my understanding of the egos involved tells me it will probably only make things worse. Do you want the Pride to play, or do you just want to make them (and the university) look bad?

[thebluehatman]

Re: Pride won't play at November games?

I guess you feel like a big public spectacle will accomplish something. I suppose it might make you feel better, but my understanding of the egos involved tells me it will probably only make things worse. Do you want the Pride to play, or do you just want to make them (and the university) look bad?

I don't really care if the Pride plays at a single game or not. I'd much rather listen to the drumline play and they are usually more entertaining than the Pride is.

[CatchEmAll]

Re: Pride won't play at November games?

Wow...the anti-Pride sentiment that's popping up is just...wow.

[1stRowFANatic]

Re: Pride won't play at November games?

I guess I just don't get this anti-Pride stuff. As I've said before on this subject, if we are to give the benefit of the doubt to the athletic dept administrators on things we don't agree with (I don't get the hesitance on home TV games), we should give the same deference to the music department. They also have created a student activity that is considered as one of the best in the nation.

I also don't get the arguments on the importance of the Pride being at the games. If someone says they go to the FB game to see the Pride, they get told its a FOOTBALL GAME. But then we also have people saying where would the Pride be without football.

I don't know for sure, but I don't think many of JPSousa's marches were written for football teams. I do know that many were written with patriotic themes and that marching bands have been around a very, very long time. Have things evolved since Sousa's time? Sure, and most marching bands are now closely tied to football. But if the athletic department wants to have control over the band, then they should have to take everything over. I don't think anybody would want that and I think it would be a huge mistake for the athletic department to start acting like it can demand things from other departments.

[JackJD]

Re: Pride won't play at November games?

I have to concur in the sentiments expressed by 1stRow. I think the Pride is part of a great football atmosphere but I'm going to be at the game screaming irrespective of the Pride's presence. I just assume this has been discussed by those in charge and I'll abide by their decision.

I'm there to watch football.

And, hey, I'll be scooping ice cream in the Alumni tent pre-game!

[1stRowFANatic]

Re: Pride won't play at November games?

Hopefully, I'll get an extra-scoop

[jackmd]

Re: Pride won't play at November games?

Hopefully, I'll get an extra-scoop

We should have a secret SDSUFans sign for "give me an extra scoop, buddy". I like The Pride but would be satisfied with a scaled-down version or "pep-band" if you prefer for later season games. I'll still support the band I just wish they would consider being at all football games is some way, shape, or form. If that means fewer halftime shows earlier in the year, I'm all for that. I sit on the east side and don't watch them anyways.

[MilwaukeeJacksAlum]

Re: Pride won't play at November games?

no anti-pride sentiment from this guy. Just think there is no excuse for them not playing the NDSU game. I think they're a great band and it still gives me goose bumps remembering how great it was to run onto the field to them blasting. For that reason and those I've already stated, they need to be at the game playing. Along that line, the students should be there en mass, the professors should be there, any Jacks fan within a 2 hour drive should be there. Short of a playoff game, this game is what every fan hopes for - a chance to knock off the big dog and push our way into the discussion of best football programs in the FCS.

[SUPERBUNNY]

Re: Pride won't play at November games?

I echo MJA on the no anti-Pride sentiment.

This football game is going to be a huge event for the entire campus! It is important to everyone that SDSU puts on as big of an event as possible.

One aspect that hasn't been talked about here is recruiting. Certainly there will be a good number of prospective athletes in town for the game. It could influence your avereage student who is considering SDSU.

What about recruiting for the band? We all seem to agree on the following:

1. The Pride is one of the best bands in the nation.
2. They are fantastic ambassadors for SDSU.
3. The Pride adds a lot to any home football game.

It just seems to me that the NDSU game would be a great time for The Pride to showcase itself to prospective new members for the following reasons:

1. It's a late season game and high school band members would be able to attend.
2. It's the last chance to march before they head to Pasadena.
3. There is going to be a huge crowd there and the atmosphere will be electric.

The Pride is missing a golden opportunity to showcase itself. If, if the game gets on TV than they are missing that much bigger of an opportunity.

What if a prospective student comes to the game and the only band there is NDSU's? Will they be influenced to say, " I want to play for them, they travel to away games and look they are having a blast."

The game will be fun whether the band is there or not but for SDSU and for The Pride itself, they really should be there!

I know I will there yelling for the Jacks no matter what the weather, band or no band!

SUPERBUNNY

[GoJacks]

Re: Pride won't play at November games?

Rep points on that one MJA. Couldn't agree more. If we want to be a player in the big picture of things, we need the band. I don't think Michigan or Ohio State band would stay home. If we want to be a D1 school, let's look like one.

Maybe the "Pride" is not Division One afterall?

[GoJacks]

Re: Pride won't play at November games?

Why not try to set up an alumni band to play at the NDSU game? The Pride could use it as a fundraiser.

I would not support an alumni band for the NDSU, because it would hard to predict how good it would be. Very little if any organized practice, the potential that the alumni might take it seriously. It has the potential to be disaster. IMO.

A fundraiser? Every home is a fundraiser for the pride. The get the parking revenue at the two or three closest parking lots. "$5.00 Park the Pride" If I was in charge, I would let them man these parking lots and receive the revenue for the last two games.

The Pride also sold "Mustang Raffle Tickets" at the Backyard during tailgating and probably during games. The could have sold tickets at two more games if they didn't decide to raffle it off during the Cal Poly Game. I know why they picked that weekend but still the goal of the fundraiser was to provide the revenue to go the The Rose Bowl. To me fundraising is about fundraising not about "kissing the butt" of the Rose Bowl Tournament committee chair.

Also, I think the SDSU and athletic department need the Pride at these games. As stated they add value to ticket purchased, the game, the team, the fans, and visiting team and fans. The game experience cannot be complete with out the Pride.

[1stRowFANatic]

Re: Pride won't play at November games?

The Pride had all the money prior to any tickets being sold. Each member of the band had to pay up front for the assigned allotment of tickets. The members were then allowed to sell them for what ever they wanted, although if they sold them at, I think it was $10/ticket, it would have covered the members cost. All stubs had to be turned in by a date certain, and if the member had not sold all their tickets, they had to fill them out with someone else's name. I'm guessing most had a parent/grandparent's name on them. Pretty smart way for the Pride to raise money, the student's share of the cost of the trip is now covered and cash has been in hand for some time.