Sousa out as director of the POSL...

#302
#302
whobethis16 said:
You have a different definition of "sounding good" than I do. Their tone, volume, pitch, etc is incredible. Choice of music, I'll give you. I marched and didn't like that guest performance. But oh well. It happens.
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I enjoyed it as a huge Stan Kenton fan. Lol.
 
#303
#303
whobethis16 said:
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.
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I don't care enough to research it for you but budgets for those years are also a matter of public record. If you are so inclined, I'd suggest your answers lie within those budgets.
 
#304
#304
whobethis16 said:
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.
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But he didn't get fired for "speaking out" and he didn't get fired because the band hasn't traveled as much these days, he got fired because of how he handled trying to change those facts you just laid out. Looking at his quotes, he looked like he didn't care if he got canned. But I'm guessing his quotes were made up by somebody on the UT payroll right?
 
#305
#305
whobethis16 said:
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.
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All I can say is we weren't paying a bunch of ex-Coaches buy outs back in 2006-07.
 
#306
#306
whobethis16 said:
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.
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The policy when I was there was to do two big away games (Florida, Alabama and Auburn, Georgia) plus Vandy for full band. The rest were pep bands away.
 
#307
#307
emzeeee said:
The policy when I was there was to do two big away games (Florida, Alabama and Auburn, Georgia) plus Vandy for full band. The rest were pep bands away.
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That's fine, but if the budget is the same, there's no excuse for any trips without any band, much less a conference game.
 
#308
#308
EnglewoodVol said:
But he didn't get fired for "speaking out" and he didn't get fired because the band hasn't traveled as much these days, he got fired because of how he handled trying to change those facts you just laid out. Looking at his quotes, he looked like he didn't care if he got canned. But I'm guessing his quotes were made up by somebody on the UT payroll right?
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I've said numerous times that I don't agree with the way he handled it. However, based on his no response policy that he lifted, I'm inclined to believe the AD is covering something up.
Posted via VolNation Mobile
 
#309
#309
emzeeee said:
The policy when I was there was to do two big away games (Florida, Alabama and Auburn, Georgia) plus Vandy for full band. The rest were pep bands away.
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Been a long time since I was there, but as I recall, we normally had two away games that were pep band and the rest were full band. Normally anything west of the Mississippi was pep band, unless of course it was a bowl game.
 
#310
#310
whobethis16 said:
I've said numerous times that I don't agree with the way he handled it. However, based on his no response policy that he lifted, I'm inclined to believe the AD is covering something up.
Posted via VolNation Mobile
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:rolleyes: Yes I'm sure Dave Hart is deeply involved in such cloak and dagger skullduggery. Come on man! Hart is way too preoccupied with getting our football program, along with the rest of UT athletics rolling and profitable to be worrying about covering up anything related to the freaking marching band.
 
#311
#311
whobethis16 said:
That's fine, but if the budget is the same, there's no excuse for any trips without any band, much less a conference game.
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I'm a former POTS member myself, but let's face reality. It's not about an excuse. The AD pays to bring the band to away games. They provide for the transportation costs, the lodging, and the per diem every member that goes gets. If they decide they don't want the band there, it sucks, but so be it. Personally, I believe it robs the travelling fans of part of the gameday experience, but let them be the ones to complain if they agree.

As I stated before, I've not met Sousa, but friends that have were not impressed. His actions support their claims that he's pompous and arrogant imo. I've even read where some on here say he had no real liking for the POTS and was more concerned with the concert band. So why speak up now in such a blatant, insubordinate way? Everyone's entitled to their perspective, but sounds to me he's having a good old-fashioned hissy fit.
 
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#312
#312
Brave Volunteer said:
:rolleyes: Yes I'm sure Dave Hart is deeply involved in such cloak and dagger skullduggery. Come on man! Hart is way too preoccupied with getting our football program, along with the rest of UT athletics rolling and profitable to be worrying about covering up anything related to the freaking marching band.
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Apparently you don't understand, Hart and Cheek are destroying UT "brick by brick".

Seriously though, I don't like Cheek and feel he should have been fired well before now. I don't believe he's involved in any wild conspiracy, I just think he does a piss poor job.
 
#313
#313
Brave Volunteer said:
:rolleyes: Yes I'm sure Dave Hart is deeply involved in such cloak and dagger skullduggery. Come on man! Hart is way too preoccupied with getting our football program, along with the rest of UT athletics rolling and profitable to be worrying about covering up anything related to the freaking marching band.
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I don't believe they have conspired to force Sousa out. Sousa's actions caused that. However, I do believe there is more to the story than the AD has let on, or else Sousa would not have removed that policy.
 
#314
#314
Weezer said:
I'm a former POTS member myself, but let's face reality. It's not about an excuse. The AD pays to bring the band to away games. They provide for the transportation costs, the lodging, and the per diem every member that goes gets. If they decide they don't want the band there, it sucks, but so be it. Personally, I believe it robs the travelling fans of part of the gameday experience, but let them be the ones to complain if they agree.

As I stated before, I've not met Sousa, but friends that have were not impressed. His actions support their claims that he's pompous and arrogant imo. I've even read where some on here say he had no real liking for the POTS and was more concerned with the concert band. So why speak up now in such a blatant, insubordinate way? Everyone's entitled to their perspective, but sounds to me he's having a good old-fashioned hissy fit.
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If what you say is true it sounds like his apathy finally took over his tongue and it cost him.
 
#315
#315
Weezer said:
I'm a former POTS member myself, but let's face reality. It's not about an excuse. The AD pays to bring the band to away games. They provide for the transportation costs, the lodging, and the per diem every member that goes gets. If they decide they don't want the band there, it sucks, but so be it. Personally, I believe it robs the travelling fans of part of the gameday experience, but let them be the ones to complain if they agree.

As I stated before, I've not met Sousa, but friends that have were not impressed. His actions support their claims that he's pompous and arrogant imo. I've even read where some on here say he had no real liking for the POTS and was more concerned with the concert band. So why speak up now in such a blatant, insubordinate way? Everyone's entitled to their perspective, but sounds to me he's having a good old-fashioned hissy fit.
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I've never felt that way. Is he arrogant? Yes, but up until now I've never felt he overstepped with it. If anything, it made the Pride perform better with that attitude.

I feel he finally got pushed over the edge by whatever happened (what is not being said) by the AD, and he said "Screw my policy, I'm letting my students who are there every game, doing all these things to support the crappy product on the field, loose to voice their opinion".
 
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#316
#316
whobethis16 said:
I've never felt that way. Is he arrogant? Yes, but up until now I've never felt he overstepped with it. If anything, it made the Pride perform better with that attitude.
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You should have marched under Doc. No way in hell could Sousa even hold that man's jockstrap. The devil himself is probably intimidated by Dr. W J Julian.
 
#317
#317
Brave Volunteer said:
If what you say is true it sounds like his apathy finally took over his tongue and it cost him.
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The part about his love over concert band being much greater than his love for the POTS was gathered from posts I read on here a year ago made by former POTS members who marched during Sousa's time there. Just want to clarify that as I have no first-hand knowledge of the situation itself.
 
#318
#318
Weezer said:
You should have marched under Doc. No way in hell could Sousa even hold that man's jockstrap. The devil himself is probably intimidated by Dr. W J Julian.
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Same issue as those who hate Kesling. The guy doesn't suck, but followed a legend and everybody expects him to be Julian. He's not. He loves the band, the University, the traditions, but most importantly his students. This is the guy that forced the AD to move the March to the Stadium back to the original time so the Pride could keep the same route instead of going around the stupid art on the pedestrian walkway. He did that even with the Prodigal Son (Kiffin) as head coach. The guy will go to war for the members.
 
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#319
#319
Weezer said:
The part about his love over concert band being much greater than his love for the POTS was gathered from posts I read on here a year ago made by former POTS members who marched during Sousa's time there. Just want to clarify that as I have no first-hand knowledge of the situation itself.
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The same can be said for most of the music majors who are forced to march 3 years. Most I know prefer concert instead of marching.
 
#320
#320
whobethis16 said:
The same can be said for most of the music majors who are forced to march 3 years. Most I know prefer concert instead of marching.
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Yeah I don't think that opinion is uncommon with band directors either. My brother in law (R.I.P.) was a band director and he was the same way. He hated marching band! To him that was the "job" and concert band was his real passion. Actually kids were his passion but he took much more pleasure in concert band than he did marching band.
 
#322
#322
whobethis16 said:
The same can be said for most of the music majors who are forced to march 3 years. Most I know prefer concert instead of marching.
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This can be said of music majors everywhere. This saxophonist included but marching band holds a special place In my heart nonetheless.
 
#323
#323
whobethis16 said:
Same issue as those who hate Kesling. The guy doesn't suck, but followed a legend and everybody expects him to be Julian. He's not. He loves the band, the University, the traditions, but most importantly his students. This is the guy that forced the AD to move the March to the Stadium back to the original time so the Pride could keep the same route instead of going around the stupid art on the pedestrian walkway. He did that even with the Prodigal Son (Kiffin) as head coach. The guy will go to war for the members.
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Technically, he followed an embezzler. Sparky was a "legend" in his own mind, but certainly no where near the real thing.

And though this will get a laugh from those who don't understand, Doc is to the band what the General is to football. Hell, Doc even served in WWII. He was U.S. Navy and his ship was sunk by a kamikaze. And though I've never seen confirmed reports of what happenned after the sinking, I've heard stories that Doc helped save several lives. Just a little historical rambling at the end. Even band geeks can be heroes. :p
 
#324
#324
whobethis16 said:
The same can be said for most of the music majors who are forced to march 3 years. Most I know prefer concert instead of marching.
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True, but Sousa wasn't hired to be first and foremost the director of concert bands. He knew that taking the job. Anyone coming in to be director of bands knows the POTS takes top billing because they are the part of the music dept most visible. I'm not taking away from those in concert band, I did both myself, but the audience for our concerts were far less than the audience we had on gameday. When you're doing a job, business comes first, before passion.
 
#325
#325
Weezer said:
Technically, he followed an embezzler. Sparky was a "legend" in his own mind, but certainly no where near the real thing.

And though this will get a laugh from those who don't understand, Doc is to the band what the General is to football. Hell, Doc even served in WWII. He was U.S. Navy and his ship was sunk by a kamikaze. And though I've never seen confirmed reports of what happenned after the sinking, I've heard stories that Doc helped save several lives. Just a little historical rambling at the end. Even band geeks can be heroes. :p
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Hopefully this will be the next band "geek" hero

photo-butch-jones-senior-picture-goes-viral-complete-with-him-holding-trumpet
 
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