BoiseBYU wrote:

UliUli79 wrote:

If there is one thing that Hans is, it's stupid. There are going to be many who will agree because football is a man sport and band is for geaks and cheerleading is for blondes and guys who can't get a date, but let me share a story:

I played football at a football school. If you were on the team then you were looked up to by many and a lot of people would randomly call your name in the hall to say something about the game or to wish you luch for the next game. Most of us just thought it was cool that so many people thought we were cool. I took it for granted that there was always goodies and posters on my locker, car, and front lawn. I didn't think anything about all of the preperation that went into the things that the cheerleaders, band, and pep-squad did for us. Then, a few years after I graduated I was at a Wal-mart (go figure). This little chubby gal kept looking at me and smiling. I just figured it was do to my rugged good looks and tried to ignore her. Then she walks over and says my name (she knew my first and last). She tells me that her and other band and pep people always enjoyed doing stuff for the football players and she always tried to make sure she got to do my stuff. The reason being is that I was one of the only ones that would actually say "hi" to her in the halls. We talked for a minute and she left with a big smile. You want to know that crappy thing. I never knew her name. I was just too much of a big shot football player to pay attention.

The point is, if the band stops coming and the cheerleaders stop cheering why not get rid of all of it. It doesn't matter how cool you are as a football player, if nobodies watching... you're not anything special. Hans is an a-- for saying anything.

Thanks for a great post! I have had children play both varsity sports and be in the band in high school....Both worked hard and who are we to bash the one over the other? All I will say, to paraphrase a song I once knew, is that "all God's creature got a place in the choir."

I agree with both of you. I have friends in the band who play because they love it. Their scholarships really aren't much at all, and the time they spend doing it could be better put to use studying or working. They love playing their instruments, and they love to support their team and school.

So you don't like any of the songs they play? Why don't you go watch it at home and let someone else who wouldn't mind the band take your ticket? If you don't want to wave your arms around during the Imperial March or Jaws, no one's making you.

They just play when they're told to. It's not their fault. The band director's got his back to the field, and any good musician knows to always follow the conductor.

Don't be hatin'.

UliUli79 wrote:

If there is one thing that Hans is, it's stupid. There are going to be many who will agree because football is a man sport and band is for geaks and cheerleading is for blondes and guys who can't get a date, but let me share a story:

I played football at a football school. If you were on the team then you were looked up to by many and a lot of people would randomly call your name in the hall to say something about the game or to wish you luch for the next game. Most of us just thought it was cool that so many people thought we were cool. I took it for granted that there was always goodies and posters on my locker, car, and front lawn. I didn't think anything about all of the preperation that went into the things that the cheerleaders, band, and pep-squad did for us. Then, a few years after I graduated I was at a Wal-mart (go figure). This little chubby gal kept looking at me and smiling. I just figured it was do to my rugged good looks and tried to ignore her. Then she walks over and says my name (she knew my first and last). She tells me that her and other band and pep people always enjoyed doing stuff for the football players and she always tried to make sure she got to do my stuff. The reason being is that I was one of the only ones that would actually say "hi" to her in the halls. We talked for a minute and she left with a big smile. You want to know that crappy thing. I never knew her name. I was just too much of a big shot football player to pay attention.

The point is, if the band stops coming and the cheerleaders stop cheering why not get rid of all of it. It doesn't matter how cool you are as a football player, if nobodies watching... you're not anything special. Hans is an a-- for saying anything.

Great post. I was one of those band geeks in high school and I enjoyed playing our fight song and doing a few goofy songs throughout the game. For BYU, I personally like the death march and don't mind popcorn. If nobody popped in the stands, they would stop. But I think the fact that they do pop indicates that some fans enjoy it. I say keep the band, just make sure the director and the football powers are on the same page so that the band is less of a distraction for the die-hards.

UliUli79 wrote:

If there is one thing that Hans is, it's stupid. There are going to be many who will agree because football is a man sport and band is for geaks and cheerleading is for blondes and guys who can't get a date, but let me share a story:

I played football at a football school. If you were on the team then you were looked up to by many and a lot of people would randomly call your name in the hall to say something about the game or to wish you luch for the next game. Most of us just thought it was cool that so many people thought we were cool. I took it for granted that there was always goodies and posters on my locker, car, and front lawn. I didn't think anything about all of the preperation that went into the things that the cheerleaders, band, and pep-squad did for us. Then, a few years after I graduated I was at a Wal-mart (go figure). This little chubby gal kept looking at me and smiling. I just figured it was do to my rugged good looks and tried to ignore her. Then she walks over and says my name (she knew my first and last). She tells me that her and other band and pep people always enjoyed doing stuff for the football players and she always tried to make sure she got to do my stuff. The reason being is that I was one of the only ones that would actually say "hi" to her in the halls. We talked for a minute and she left with a big smile. You want to know that crappy thing. I never knew her name. I was just too much of a big shot football player to pay attention.

The point is, if the band stops coming and the cheerleaders stop cheering why not get rid of all of it. It doesn't matter how cool you are as a football player, if nobodies watching... you're not anything special. Hans is an a-- for saying anything.

Very good story. Good job on being a nice guy. Most of the football players in my highschool would have rolled their eyes if a chubby girl tried to say hi to them, and would have made her feel stupid. I agree that Hans should be more respectful of people who like the enjoy the games in a different way then he does.

Having said that, I do agree that the Cheerleaders need to not be a distraction to the fans, the band shouldn't play over the top of the ref and the cheerleaders should know when and when not to get the crowd yelling.

No one is hatin... except for Hans. The only thing I have a problem with is when the band plays at the wrong time (during a series) and when the Cheerleaders are doing flips right in front of me or telling the crowd to cheer while we have the ball. Sorry but that stuff drives me nuts.

As far as the band itself is concerned I never said it was their fault. I'm glad they are there. I don't like all the songs they play, but I myself enjoy the death march and the fight song. There were some fans in the stands that would start it without the band a few times which I found pretty comical. You know who you are Kill Kill Kill people...

Here are my thoughts on bands and cheerleaders. Keep the band. They are part of tradition. They do cool formations and play well-practiced songs at half-time and during the game. Do fans look funny doing the death march or popcorn popping? Heck yes. But that is what ticks off our opponents' fans. The ute fans I know, for example, hate us more than anything because (IN GENERAL) we are obnoxious and stupid without being terribly personal or profane. So keep the band but maybe put a game moniter in front of the conductor in the stands so 1)He won't miss the action and 2) He'll know what to 'strike it up'.

As for the cheerleaders...lose 'em! As a teacher (formerly HS now JrHS) I see cheerleaders as just what they were when I was in school...mostly self-centered eye-candy. Rarely do the fans follow them. And when we do (at BYU) it is usually to chant "B" "Y" "U" "Cougars" (I'm pretty sure, like the wave, that as fans we can get that going without their help). I think they were a small town tradition that has worn out its welcome. I think on ALL levels cheerleaders need to be disbanned.

Go Cougs!!!

I agree that the band and cheerleaders can be an annoyance when they distract. I am usually glad when they're there, though.

Does anyone know the name or email address of the band director? I received a reply last week from Brian Santiago regarding the Allstate endzone net so maybe the band director and cheerleader-leader would respond positively to suggestions that would help them even better help the team and fans.

Maybe I'm dreaming. I know that it didn't work a few years ago when I was a student and tried but I think that I see a different, more committed attitude now. It still isn't hard for me to get the fans around me to start a good cheer and the rest of the stadium usually responds. I might have to be satisfied with that.