UTAD cutting band funding/involvement? (Merged)

#727
#727
This argument is becoming increasingly convoluted.

The "tradition" that people speak of needs to be put in context.

1)the tradition is important to people because it is connected to a history of winning. The pageantry didn't become a beloved tradition because it made the football team win. In fact the truth is the exact opposite of that.

2)Name a "tradition" and you will find it isn't that old, in context. Running through the T, and checkerboard end-zone began in the mid sixties. In fact, at that time some other teams had patterns in their end-zones and we did not (diamonds, "X"s, etc). We borrowed that. As we did the Vol Walk. "Down the field" is Yale's fight song that we borrowed. Several other schools use it too. Even "Rocky Top" is a borrowed and perpetually licensed blue grass song.

The only "tradition" that originated at UT is Smokey and that is because we wanted a dog as a mascot (original, right?) and chose the blue tick hound over other breeds because he howled when the crowd cheered.

The bottom line is that our only real tradition is that we evolve over time. What you see as a knock on tradition now might be beloved and defended by future fans with the same passion that change is being shunned here. It is time to become something other than a mediocre football team with a big stadium that argues about clinging to tradition.

Personally I find the hubris of the band in this situation to be shocking delusions of grandeur. People love the band because of the traditional connection to the pageantry of winning football. It is no secret that the past decade has seen a sharp decline in both the quality of football and the POTS.
I wonder how many people complained the first time Rocky Top was played?
 
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#728
#728
daj2576 said:
This argument is becoming increasingly convoluted.

The "tradition" that people speak of needs to be put in context.

1)the tradition is important to people because it is connected to a history of winning. The pageantry didn't become a beloved tradition because it made the football team win. In fact the truth is the exact opposite of that.

2)Name a "tradition" and you will find it isn't that old, in context. Running through the T, and checkerboard end-zone began in the mid sixties. In fact, at that time some other teams had patterns in their end-zones and we did not (diamonds, "X"s, etc). We borrowed that. As we did the Vol Walk. "Down the field" is Yale's fight song that we borrowed. Several other schools use it too. Even "Rocky Top" is a borrowed and perpetually licensed blue grass song.

The only "tradition" that originated at UT is Smokey and that is because we wanted a dog as a mascot (original, right?) and chose the blue tick hound over other breeds because he howled when the crowd cheered.

The bottom line is that our only real tradition is that we evolve over time. What you see as a knock on tradition now might be beloved and defended by future fans with the same passion that change is being shunned here. It is time to become something other than a mediocre football team with a big stadium that argues about clinging to tradition.

Personally I find the hubris of the band in this situation to be shocking delusions of grandeur. People love the band because of the traditional connection to the pageantry of winning football. It is no secret that the past decade has seen a sharp decline in both the quality of football and the POTS.
I wonder how many people complained the first time Rocky Top was played?
Click to expand...

Hit the nail on the head, IMO
 
#730
#730
daj2576 said:
This argument is becoming increasingly convoluted.

The "tradition" that people speak of needs to be put in context.

1)the tradition is important to people because it is connected to a history of winning. The pageantry didn't become a beloved tradition because it made the football team win. In fact the truth is the exact opposite of that.

2)Name a "tradition" and you will find it isn't that old, in context. Running through the T, and checkerboard end-zone began in the mid sixties. In fact, at that time some other teams had patterns in their end-zones and we did not (diamonds, "X"s, etc). We borrowed that. As we did the Vol Walk. "Down the field" is Yale's fight song that we borrowed. Several other schools use it too. Even "Rocky Top" is a borrowed and perpetually licensed blue grass song.

The only "tradition" that originated at UT is Smokey and that is because we wanted a dog as a mascot (original, right?) and chose the blue tick hound over other breeds because he howled when the crowd cheered.

The bottom line is that our only real tradition is that we evolve over time. What you see as a knock on tradition now might be beloved and defended by future fans with the same passion that change is being shunned here. It is time to become something other than a mediocre football team with a big stadium that argues about clinging to tradition.

Personally I find the hubris of the band in this situation to be shocking delusions of grandeur. People love the band because of the traditional connection to the pageantry of winning football. It is no secret that the past decade has seen a sharp decline in both the quality of football and the POTS.
I wonder how many people complained the first time Rocky Top was played?
Click to expand...

Great points regarding tradition and how it relates to the POTS.

I would add this ltttle note wrt the ebb and flow of tradition:
before the north endzone was enclosed, a fraternity routinely fired a cannon on The Hill after a score. A particular small boy thought that was the greatest thing ever ::sigh::.

Oh well - fireworks work too.
 
#733
#733
If the whole mess is about the band's role during the football games, why would it be odd the football coach is there?
 
#734
#734
So, now that it's apparent that Sousa is a world class penis who was just stirring up $hit, anybody going to retract their slams on Cheek/Hart?
 
#737
#737
jdogvol said:
So, now that it's apparent that Sousa is a world class penis who was just stirring up $hit, anybody going to retract their slams on Cheek/Hart?
Click to expand...

No, because those of us that have been around him and worked with him know that he loves the University, the Pride, and has nothing but respect for the traditions of the University. He also instilled a no-response policy that was NEVER lifted, but did so for this. So obviously something has gone down that made him do that. He also would go to war for any and every current and past member of the band, even if he wasn't director when they marched. So, no, I don't retract my opinion of the way Hart and Cheek handled this.

That being said, I also know that Sousa has an arrogance and he didn't go about this the correct. It was a massive CF all around.
 
#738
#738
whobethis16 said:
No, because those of us that have been around him and worked with him know that he loves the University, the Pride, and has nothing but respect for the traditions of the University. He also instilled a no-response policy that was NEVER lifted, but did so for this. So obviously something has gone down that made him do that. He also would go to war for any and every current and past member of the band, even if he wasn't director when they marched. So, no, I don't retract my opinion of the way Hart and Cheek handled this.

That being said, I also know that Sousa has an arrogance and he didn't go about this the correct. It was a massive CF all around.
Click to expand...

Good point. In my time, any band member caught speaking on band business to an external source without permission would be removed from the band. I've got to believe Sousa backed the petition and outcry 100%, which I personally thought was a bad move, and it looks like the AD thought so too.

The old 12 days of a Vol Christmas halftime shows were similar outcries (in regard to getting a new band room), but I suppose those were tongue-in-cheek enough to just get a chuckle...and eventually a new band room.
 
#739
#739
PotS said:
Good point. In my time, any band member caught speaking on band business to an external source without permission would be removed from the band. I've got to believe Sousa backed the petition and outcry 100%, which I personally thought was a bad move, and it looks like the AD thought so too.

The old 12 days of a Vol Christmas halftime shows were similar outcries (in regard to getting a new band room), but I suppose those were tongue-in-cheek enough to just get a chuckle...and eventually a new band room.
Click to expand...

Exactly. While the man may not have instilled "hip music" or cut off long notes short, every time, or just bothered you, the man loved this band, the members, what they stand for, everything. That's why I have a hard time believing the AD completely regarding this. Sounds to me like Hart wants a total Yes man, and Sousa gave him the middle finger.
 
#740
#740
whobethis16 said:
Exactly. While the man may not have instilled "hip music" or cut off long notes short, every time, or just bothered you, the man loved this band, the members, what they stand for, everything. That's why I have a hard time believing the AD completely regarding this. Sounds to me like Hart wants a total Yes man, and Sousa gave him the middle finger.
Click to expand...

The middle finger will get you fired every-time, even if your employer does not want a yes man.
 
#743
#743
vol_in_ar said:
how did the band vs DJ do today
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I don't think it went off very well, but I believe a speaker may have been out in the area I sit in.

The UGA game was a much better for a mix between the two, even though they overran each other at times.

Today, you couldn't really hear as much of the Pride in my section; but again, I think it may have been because a speaker was out (as I'm sure you know, they normally broadcast the band through the loudspeakers).
 
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