Sousa out as director of the POSL...

#277
#277
whobethis16 said:
That's the thing, it is a "he said, she said" situation. That's why I find it so fascinating that everyone believes those on the AD payroll only.
Click to expand...

This is Volnation. They like authority. Back when Mike Hamilton was AD, he had tons of fans here too. And most insisted that Derek Dooley was an excellent coach even through most of last season. That whole "learn from history or repeat it" thing never really caught on here.
 
#278
#278
Let's see what's happening in this thread.....

3204840swsw.gif
 
  • Like
Reactions: 5 people
#279
#279
airvols said:
airvols wrote: I have been involved in marching band programs most of my life, but not at UT. I am a life long Volunteer and love the university and the Pride of the Southland Band. That being said, I would like to make a few observations . It is obvious the band has been in decline for the last few years. The numbers were down, the music was average and the show presentations have been boring and predictable. While tradition is important, excitement and effect is also important. The marching band needs to be restructured, because there are to many woodwinds, and not enough brass. Students can play more than one instrument. That orchestration creates the sound we we so desperately need. The next thing is song selection, yes ROCKY TOP ALWAYS, but new pop selections that can easily be arranged in house. Keep the tradition of the pre-game, but work with the cheerleaders , and administration to create a game day experience that excites the crowd, and for goodness sake please drop the woo thing, makes us sound like a bunch if crazy hill billies. Modernize the percussion section, the bass drums looks like something out of the 60's. Mallet players can help create hot Latin sounds, and get people on their feet. Yes keep the circle drill it's a classic but you don't have to perform a different show each game, you can change one or two things and it will work just as well. I have a lot of respect for the students who work hard to represent the university, and appreciate their dedication. We should look for a new director that respects tradition, but is open to change and has a proven track record for marching band because that's the face of the university.
Click to expand...

Great Post! I am somebody who really appreciates the band, though I don't have the deep understanding of section sizes and details that you do. It's good to get a calm perspective from a knowledgeable source. As far as my 4 tickets go, i have given them to the girls (Wife, daughter & Friends) to have Girls Day on Rocky Top. I am a little more calm after 24 hours, but I am still amazed that bad things keep popping up in the media about UT. The curse is still alive and well, when can we break it? Kiffin->Dooley->LSU->MusicCity->MoCouch->POSL Band .. sheesh, maybe this things breaks at Bristol in 2016. :)

Go Vols! I ate a snickers and I feel better now, see you guys in Neyland in a couple weeks!
 
#280
#280
Brianchevy said:
Great Post! I am somebody who really appreciates the band, though I don't have the deep understanding of section sizes and details that you do. It's good to get a calm perspective from a knowledgeable source. As far as my 4 tickets go, i have given them to the girls (Wife, daughter & Friends) to have Girls Day on Rocky Top. I am a little more calm after 24 hours, but I am still amazed that bad things keep popping up in the media about UT. The curse is still alive and well, when can we break it? Kiffin->Dooley->LSU->MusicCity->MoCouch->POSL Band .. sheesh, maybe this things breaks at Bristol in 2016. :)

Go Vols! I ate a snickers and I feel better now, see you guys in Neyland in a couple weeks!
Click to expand...

:good!: :) Welcome back.
 
#283
#283
oregonvol said:
He didn't fire Dooley until the last possible moment. Probably should have fired him after the Kentucky game the previous year, when it was obvious that he wasn't going to get it done here. But instead brought him back for another wasted year. Approved the hire of Sunseri after the staff defected. Stuck with Dooley throughout most of last year. Didn't fire him until he absolutely had to (and many reports from behind the scenes indicate that he was trying to bring him back if he could have just won 6 games). Didn't hire a search firm and then set about a coaching search where he didn't leave town to see candidates for weeks and then started off interviewing second tier candidates and guys who were never going to leave their jobs. Stumbled into hiring the coach that he hired. He hadn't even contacted Jones while Jones was considering multiple other job offers and wouldn't have gotten him if he hadn't turned them down. Didn't conduct a process where he really interviewed top candidates and found the best fit, but rather just seemed to be throwing offers at random semi-successful coaches... Has one of the highest athletic department budgets and can't send a pep band to Oregon...really?

On the the other hand, what has he accomplished?
Click to expand...

1. He is already turning the financial situation of the AD around from the terrible position it was in when he took over 2 years ago

2. Hired Butch Jones

3. Just pulled off scheduling the biggest regular season event in college football history that will bring UT unprecedented spotlight and will be extremely lucrative for the whole AD

Then, your gonna sit there with a straight face and complain about the process (which it appears, from your comments, that you have no idea what you're talking about) he used in hiring said coach and that we didn't take a band to an away game. Really?
 
#284
#284
whobethis16 said:
That's the thing, it is a "he said, she said" situation. That's why I find it so fascinating that everyone believes those on the AD payroll only.
Click to expand...

Who cares what was said? Rocky top will still be played, and touchdowns will still be scored.

This idiot spoke out against his employer. Whether it's the truth or not, you don't do that and expect to keep your job.

Meanwhile, South Carolina this weekend...
 
#286
#286
AJeray4TN said:
Who cares what was said? Rocky top will still be played, and touchdowns will still be scored.

This idiot spoke out against his employer. Whether it's the truth or not, you don't do that and expect to keep your job.

Meanwhile, South Carolina this weekend...
Click to expand...

/Thread!
 
#287
#287
whobethis16 said:
That's the thing, it is a "he said, she said" situation. That's why I find it so fascinating that everyone believes those on the AD payroll only.
Click to expand...

The objective data detailing game day play time and actual budget cuts are what hurt his credibility. At best, he was involved in hyperbole, at worst, outright dishonesty.
 
Last edited:
  • Like
Reactions: 2 people
#289
#289
txbo said:
The objective data detailing game day play time and actual budget cuts are what hurt his credibility. At best, he was involved in hyperbole, at worst, outright dishonesty.
Click to expand...

I've never said that I don't disagree that his approach was wrong. However, the "objective data" comes from who? The AD and those on the payroll. If anybody really understood how much Sousa lived by his no response policy, you'd see why there are so many questions about this whole thing.
 
#290
#290
whobethis16 said:
I've never said that I don't disagree that his approach was wrong. However, the "objective data" comes from who? The AD and those on the payroll. If anybody really understood how much Sousa lived by his no response policy, you'd see why there are so many questions about this whole thing.
Click to expand...

I'm not going to mince words. The band sucked, period! It had been dull and lifeless for several years prior to this one. My guess is that Heart and staff was well aware of this and in light of recent events, this was the window of opportunity they needed to get rid of him and bring in some fresh blood. The band desperately needs it!
 
  • Like
Reactions: 2 people
#291
#291
airvols said:
airvols wrote: I have been involved in marching band programs most of my life, but not at UT. I am a life long Volunteer and love the university and the Pride of the Southland Band. That being said, I would like to make a few observations . It is obvious the band has been in decline for the last few years. The numbers were down, the music was average and the show presentations have been boring and predictable. While tradition is important, excitement and effect is also important. The marching band needs to be restructured, because there are to many woodwinds, and not enough brass. Students can play more than one instrument. That orchestration creates the sound we we so desperately need. The next thing is song selection, yes ROCKY TOP ALWAYS, but new pop selections that can easily be arranged in house. Keep the tradition of the pre-game, but work with the cheerleaders , and administration to create a game day experience that excites the crowd, and for goodness sake please drop the woo thing, makes us sound like a bunch if crazy hill billies. Modernize the percussion section, the bass drums looks like something out of the 60's. Mallet players can help create hot Latin sounds, and get people on their feet. Yes keep the circle drill it's a classic but you don't have to perform a different show each game, you can change one or two things and it will work just as well. I have a lot of respect for the students who work hard to represent the university, and appreciate their dedication. We should look for a new director that respects tradition, but is open to change and has a proven track record for marching band because that's the face of the university.
Click to expand...

Agreed! And while were at it, could they possibly march like a modern marching band? I understand marching and facing the same direction while doing circle drill and pre-game, but there is no reason to do it all the time.

Also, the Percussion program needs to be looked at. There is A LOT of talent in the east tennessee high schools that are going to other colleges because of UT's lack of a decent marching percussion and front ensemble section... (myself included)
 
#292
#292
Brave Volunteer said:
I'm not going to mince words. The band sucked, period! It had been dull and lifeless for several years prior to this one. My guess is that Heart and staff was well aware of this and in light of recent events, this was the window of opportunity they needed to get rid of him and bring in some fresh blood. The band desperately needs it!
Click to expand...

They just want a complete Yes Man.
 
  • Like
Reactions: 3 people
#294
#294
whobethis16 said:
I've never said that I don't disagree that his approach was wrong. However, the "objective data" comes from who? The AD and those on the payroll. If anybody really understood how much Sousa lived by his no response policy, you'd see why there are so many questions about this whole thing.
Click to expand...

The budget numbers are a matter of public record. It appears that he has embarrassed respected alumni as well as students when the real cuts were compared to his hyperbole.
 
  • Like
Reactions: 1 person
#295
#295
Souza was butthurt because of the one incident where GA players were leaving the field.
He went public with his gripes, and was caught ginning up some numbers to aid his cause. No surprise; he got canned.

I love the POTS, but it only makes sense that they march to the beat of the football program/AD inside Neyland Stadium. I would assume they are similarly restrained at Inaugurations and the various parades they are privileged to participate in.

If the band requires total autonomy, then let them go build their own concert hall or stadium and charge whatever admission that suits them.
 
  • Like
Reactions: 1 person
#299
#299
Brave Volunteer said:
Their halftime show at the games I attended last year was awful!
Click to expand...

Who outside of people like me (people who have marched before/parents of marchers etc.) watch the halftime show? The answer is not many. People on here were dogging that Stan Kenton show 2 weeks ago. That show was really really well done. Halftime shows aren't for everyone and they shouldn't be. It's the one time for a marching band to actually play what they want and to a different audience.
 
#300
#300
txbo said:
The budget numbers are a matter of public record. It appears that he has embarrassed respected alumni as well as students when the real cuts were compared to his hyperbole.
Click to expand...

Ok, explain this then. 2006: full band went to every away game, minus Arkansas where a 30 member pep band went. 2007: 30 member to Cal, 60 to Miss. State, full band every where else. 2008: 30 to UCLA, 60 to USC, full the rest. 2009: 30 to Ole Miss, 60 to UK, full the rest. But in the last few years, there have been games where NO members went? Even as far as deciding a measly 2 weeks prior to the last trip to Arkansas? Hmmm? Also, it is fascinating that the ADs of the SEC have met to reduce the travel of visiting bands. And then Sousa speaks out, and he's put on leave. Doesn't seem coincidental to me.
 
  • Like
Reactions: 6 people
New posts
You must log in or register to reply here.

VN Store



Back
Top