20

It was not 20 years ago today. 20 years + 4 days ago was the first time I reported to Revelli Hall for Band Week, and I had no business being there.

First, I have never been more than a passable trumpet player. I was first chair in high school my senior year, but we only had 4 trumpets in the band and I was the only senior.

Second, I had never been in a marching band before. My high school didn't have one; we just had a pep band that played at football and basketball games. When my best friend Chris and I got invited to do Crisler Concert we had to go into one of the school's storage spaces and find an old uniform that smelled like mothballs and the oil crisis.

Third, despite what my dad thinks, I've never been much of an athlete. I have terrible exercise-induced asthma and poor fine motor control. I'm a good skier (for a state without real mountains) and an OK JV tennis player, mostly because fewer people play those sports.

Given these major blemishes on my application, I did what any mediocre white guy would do: I went ahead anyway and trusted that somehow things would work out in my favor.  And they did, but not in the way I expected.

I arrived on campus the night before freshmen were to report for Band Week. I had no computer and the lab in the basement of Markley wouldn't let me login. I knew how to get to Revelli via South University, State, and Hill, and the only way to get breakfast I knew of was Bagel Fragel on South U.

When I reported in the morning, I learned I was supposed to have been sent a VHS tape of basic marching band things to practice and a piece of music for auditions. I had neither. We were assigned lockers, instruments, music, ranks, and rank leaders. We practiced music and practiced attention, tired our best to remember each other's names and then we were dismissed.

I have never had a more vivid dream than I did that night, and it recurred throughout the night. It was the simplest dream possible: I heard our drum major, Gregg Whitmore, shout "DRILL THE POSITION OF ATTENTION!" and then I was awake and actually crouched on the floor, waiting for "EVERYBODY UP!" to reach my sodden, addled brain, but it never came. I couldn't find my watch or an alarm clock. I didn't have a cell phone. I was panicked and I couldn't prove that it was OK to go back to sleep. This happened four or five times during the night. In the morning, my only solace was that my roommate wasn't in the band, so there were no witnesses.

I was in over my head, but being overwhelmed by the Michigan Marching Band was the only thing keeping my from being overwhelmed by the University of Michigan, so I never seriously thought about quitting. Not when my best friend quit, not when the rest of the band got to campus and let me know how far behind I really was, and not when I (correctly) knew I was not ready for First Look.

I wish I could say I worked hard, improved and eventually locked down a spot on the field every week. What happened instead? I worked hard, I improved, and eventually I spent 3 years almost entirely in the reserves. I made the travel roster for one away trip (MSU '01) and zero bowl games. I might have done better my fourth year, but the senior design course in my field was only offered in the fall and would have conflicted twice a week with marching band. You might think I'd be disappointed in my time in the MMB, and you'd be completely wrong.

Up to that point in life, I'd coasted on natural aptitude and fortunate circumstances. The band was the first time I learned that work itself can be the point, how to manage my time, and how to be genuinely happy when other people achieve your dreams and you don't. I found a home and friends when I needed them, taking me out of my natural inclination to either lean on my high school friends or hole up in my dorm room. My only regret is not doing more.

Local Student Seeks Career In Entertainment/Social Marketing/Something With Famous People

This is going to fail.

1. The project, as presented, does not sound like it's designed to replace "The Victors". An "additional thematic song" sounds more like "In the Big House" redux. This is less bad than replacing "The Victors", but only in the way that measles is less bad than smallpox.
2. The project comes across mostly as a way for the students involved to meet famous people. David Banner's name has been invoked, perhaps with his agreement, and the campaign's representative stated “The goal of this song is to get a lot of big names that are associated with the University.” Note that the goal of this project is not to make a good song that represents the university well.
3. As of now, there is neither a tune nor lyrics for this project.
4. Somebody "conceptualized" the project.
5. The Hail and Unite group is seeking $2,750, with $1,750 going toward producing the promo video for the crowdfunding campaign (Of course there's a crowdfunding campaign) and $1,000 to go toward getting a celebrity or two to appear in the video.

I would say it is NOT impossible that a project like this could make a positive contribution to the University. But I think that this project is going about it in completely the wrong way.

To put it simply to its backers, you're going about it backward. If you're interested in anything more than networking with famous people, you have to get the song right first. At least make a demo, bro. Every major piece of music in the MMB canon was written or arranged by a student. Yes, Louis Elbel wrote "The Victors" in 1898, and Lawton and Moore wrote "Varsity" in 1911. But Joe Carl and Al Ahronheim wrote and arranged "Let's Go Blue" in the mid-'70's, and it spread like wildfire throughout the country. My point is, maybe get some lyrics and music down before you tweet at Eminem or ask for funding from CSG.

Ordinary

[Editor's note: Hey, it's our 600th post.]

Always a sucker for the sea of helmets. (AP Photo/Carlos Osorio)

Ordinary is underrated.  Seriously.  Christianity calls any of its non holiday seasons "Ordinary Time" after all.  But, if we have learned nothing else from our social media revolution, it's that there is a certain beauty and joy in the every day, in the expected, in the run of the mill. That is, as Ann Howard Creel put it, the Magic of Ordinary Days.

I've always felt like part of this has to be that we as people cannot handle constant heightened states of alert.  The part of our brains that recognize danger cannot live constantly "on".  It's part of why soldiers have such a hard time dealing with the silences after a constant barrage of artillery, it's as much physiological as it is psychological.  The combination of adrenaline and situational awareness mean that we end up on edge, we snap too easily, our bodies don't work correctly.  Ordinary is the down time we need to actually be able to function like normal human beings.

Ordinary is not facing the defending national champions.  Ordinary is not facing a triple option attack. Ordinary is not facing one of your long-time rivals in a game under the lights as they celebrate their 125th season of football.

The Funchess and the Fitz get their party on. (Photo by Dave Reginek/Getty Images)

So that is why I am not ever going to complain about a game like yesterday.  They are necessary and they are good for the soul.  Sure, there's very little drama, but haven't we had enough of that already this season. So if yesterday was about seven different guys running the ball and eight different guys making a catch, I'll take it.  If it's about no one getting hurt while winning by 50, I'll take it.  Because we needed a breather.  Doesn't make it a bad day, after all.  I still got a chance to watch Denard do Denard things, an occasion which is sadly dwindling down to fewer and fewer as we progress toward the end of his senior year.  I still got a chance to watch Devin "The" Funchess make a pretty spectacular play to open the scoring, Devin Gardner make an amazing dive to get across the goal line, and Vincent Smith score a couple of touchdowns by doing the Vincent Smith things he has done for such a long time.  Ordinary, perhaps, but if it is, we need to appreciate how hard it was to get back to a point where this is ordinary.

Part of the magic of working on the MVictors' Michigan History Calendar is not just walking down memory lane for the obvious highlights, it's finding those little moments in the hopes that the user will remember them as well.  David Brandon may have committed himself to creating "wow" experiences, but the Magic of Ordinary Days is not about wow.  It's about "neat" or "nifty" or "cool".  For instance, no one would remark on Michigan's 1996 game against Boston College as a "wow" game, it, in fact, was not much of a game.  But it always has stuck in my memory as the moment I earned my first Fandom Endurance III badge, and for the Battle of Britain of marshmallow fights (back in the day when we were allowed to bring things like marshmallows into the stadium.)  So a day like yesterday is going to be important for someone.  It was inevitably someone's first time at Michigan Stadium yesterday, probably a place that they had dreamed of going for their whole life.  And they're going to remember that they got to see Michigan win and that will be all that matters.  Because there is Magic in Ordinary Days, you just have to know how to look for it.

Additional note:
If you missed it yesterday, the Michigan Marching Band had a "Behind the Scenes" with the MMB leading up to their halftime show and it's really worth your time, if just to see the time and effort put in by the MMB members laid bare.

So, get ready, because we're back into the holiday season of college football known as a rivalry week.  No number of awesome puppet based videos can change my opinion on that.

Two-Hundred-Thirty-Five Member

I know I've been critical of Prof. Boerma on this blog before, but credit where due, this was awesome to read:

 We will field a full contingent of MMB members at the Alabama game on Sept. 1,” Boerma wrote. “Per his request, I gave David Brandon an optimal number of students needed to make this an effective performance, and he agreed to that number with no request for a compromise. 

A consolation pep band was never an option! Well done, sir. I like to imagine it transpired with fists pounding on desks, but it was undoubtedly more cooperative and civil. Anyway, this means that you will get to hear, live and in person, as someone wiser'n myself once put it:

That simple 4 word command to eminate out of the P.A. system. I can hear it now! "Band take the field!" and out of that eastern tunnel pour 215 well drilled, well disciplined Michigan bandsmen. They pour over the Eastern sideline and they form the big block M and they play the greatest college fight song ever written!

Yes, yes, a thousand times yes. Thanks to whomever made this happen; by my calculations, we can count on seeing their name spelled out on the field at postgame every home game for the next seven years.

D.B. Does Dallas

The firestorm of rage that erupted after the Marching Band announced it would be not accompanying the football team to the Cowboys Classic has now metastasized into an inferno of anger directed at Dave Brandon over the terms of the agreement to appear in the Jerrydome. Not only does it appear that there will be sufficient revenue to pay for the MMB to make the trip to Dallas, it appears that there will not be sufficient revenue to justify sacrificing a home game to the Cowboys when a home-and-home with Alabama was a possibility.

If only there were a movie in which the protagonists needed to raise money in order to participate in the pageantry of football in Dallas, Texas that we could compare this unfortunate situation to! In fact, due to a recent Ontario Court of Appeals ruling, we can modestly propose that Deborah Benton had a pretty good idea and that making up the revenue shortfall is as simple as renting a building in Windsor. However, in Dave Brandon's athletic department, we stoop only to metaphorical prostitution, not literal.

So, as a service to the athletic department and the marching band, we suggest some options for raising additional revenue, after the jump.

One without the other

I'm confident that a donor, or many hundreds of donors, will make #MMBtoDallas happen sometime in the next few months. But even if it happens, I'll always remember Dave Brandon and the AD's decision to turn the MMB's 115-year presence at Michigan home* games into a matter of practicality rather than necessity. It never should have come to that.

Michigan vs. Army in Yankee Stadium, 1950

* whatever you want to call this, it's not a 'standard road contest.'

Gone

The Michigan Marching Band is already loaded in the tunnel, ready to take the field missing one of its own. As I'm sure you've all heard, trumpet Patrick Fleming was killed on Monday on US-23.

I didn't know Patrick, and I've been struggling with what to put up over here. He sounds like a remarkable guy, having the dedication to work full time, take classes at UM-Flint, and on top of it all he put in the hours and hours needed to excel in the MMB.

Tributes have been pouring in from all over. MSU's band played "Amazing Grace" in his honor. Groups from the State band and OSU's band traveled to practice on Elbel Field to lend their support. Patrick's spot will be empty on the field and all band members are wearing armbands and trumpet pins in his honor.

I don't know what more to say. But stay safe out there; we need you all.

Off to see the Wizard-MMB Halftime 11/6/10

Because I have had several requests, here is my quick summary of today's rather epic halftime show retelling of The Wizard of Oz by the Michigan Marching Band.

(Note: This is like trying to remember a fever dream, so I may make some mistakes. Apologies in advance.)

The show starts with a video of a cyclone picking up the Big House. Then it picks up the Notre Dame Leprechaun. Then it picks up Purdue's "World's Largest Drum." Then it picks up a green block S, in front of said block S is a flaming couch. Then it picks up an angry picture of Joe Paterno, and over the PA, you can hear "COME TO PENN STATE!" from the Big Ten Network ad.

So the Big House lands on "The Wicked Witch of the South", whose socks are scarlet and grey. The Witch has stolen Denard Robinson's shoes, so our hero, Dorothy Hail has to get them back to Ann Arbor for the second half. She then gets a visit from Mary Sue (President Coleman), the Good Witch of the North, who tells her she needs to go see the Wizard who lives in the Sapphire City at the end of the Maize Brick Road. Dorothy is also met by some munchkins, whom she notes remind her of her "Little Brothers in East Lansing."

So Dorothy sets out down the Maize Brick Road where she meets a scarecrow who does have a brain, having to stand out in fields in horrible places like Indiana, Illinois, and Nebraska. Then they meet a Tin Man who doesn't have a heart, because it broke after he at so many bratwursts and cheese from his work in Wisconsin. Dorothy agrees to bring him along, because at worst, when they get back to Ann Arbor, she can turn him in for the ten cent deposit. Then they meet up with the Cowardly Nittany Lion, who lacks courage.

Suddenly, out of nowhere, one of the minions of the Wicked Witch of the East, Brutus Buckeye attacks our merry band, but they are rescued by Rufus, the Ohio Bobcat, who tackles Brutus and chases him off the Maize Brick Road. Then the Wicked Witch of the East attacks and uses her powers to make the Michigan Marching Band spell out Script Ohio. Dorothy has no fear though, as she reminds the witch that Michigan was the first marching band to spell out Script Ohio as a MMB sousaphone knocks the Witch out and O-H-I-O becomes O-H-N-O.

Eventually they reach the Sapphire City where the Wizard turns out to be Michigan drum major David Hines Jr. who tells Dorothy she had the power to go home all along by just putting on Denard's shoes (leave the laces untied) click her heels together and say "There's no place like The Big House."

And as crazy as this reads, it's about a million times crazier when you actually see it. If you have video, please let us know.

MMB, full marks.

Notre Dame: Two Videos

The first video from my trip to South Bend: Dave Brandon on the MMB and amplification. Trust, but verify: The second: Celebration in the concourses.

First MMB Shows of 2010

This is what we know so far:

9/4: Blues Brothers (feat. "Everybody Needs Somebody to Love," "Gimme Some Lovin'," "Minnie the Moocher," "Peter Gunn," "Think," "Shake a Tail Feather," and of course, "Can't Turn You Loose.")

9/11: Assume a repeat of the "Blues Brothers" show at Notre Dame.

9/18: Lady Gaga

No details are known yet, but Ms. Gaga is performing at the Palace on September 4th. Like how Patrick Stewart conducted the MMB while he was in town, perhaps she could stick around and make a weirdly relevant appearance.

Anyway, this is a very strong start to the 2010 season!

2009

It was spitting down rain all morning, and it only picked up for gametime. I took one last lap around the stadium I'd always known.

If there was any justice in the world, they'd have won last year, so I didn't have high expectations. Not with Mike Hart hobbled and Chad Henne barely able to lift his arm and guys not named David Harris at linebacker. And so we yelled and screamed and Beanie Wells had 172 carries and Mario Manningham dropped 18 passes or something and Ohio State won an excruciating 14-3 game.

Sports don't really respect the storylines we want them to follow. It doesn't seem right that Hart and Henne and Long will never beat the Buckeyes, that Bo's death came on the eve of a Buckeye victory to keep Michigan out of a national title game. The 2008 Capital One Bowl is such an anomaly because it's the exit Lloyd Carr seemingly deserved, and a David-over-Goliath moment to boot.

And so 2008 came and we all had to come to the shocking realization that Michigan wasn't just mediocre, but a horrible football team. Either the talent wasn't there or it was unsuited for the new system, and Michigan wasn't coming within a country mile of a winning record. I stopped watching The Game 2008 early in the second half, because I'd sat through the whole Northwestern game and had nothing to prove, and I knew how this one was going to end.

What do you do after a year like 2008? You go back to work. You get up earlier. You stay later. You brag about it on media day to some hack with a press pass who twists your words.

But more than anything else, you get out there and work as a team.

And there are days when you see it all coming together, the inevitability of it all.

At the beginning of the season, Rich Rodriguez faced The Most Important Game Against A MAC Opponent Ever. The Freep's accusations hit the front page a week before the season started, putting it in front of maximum eyeballs. As if 3-9 wasn't enough to weigh on him. And it all vanished in a puff of smoke in the face of 31-7.

But that seems like so long ago now. It's been like this for the past six weeks: Brandon Graham is on the verge of winning the game singlehandedly, but it's just outside of his grasp.

We're nearing the end of the 130th season of Michigan football, and this finale has everyone focused. It's one last game, playing for the extra bowl practices, playing for a bus ride to downtown Detroit, and playing for a hard-fought victory over a bitter rival.

It's one more chance to come together, playing for the seniors, playing for an embattled coach, playing for pride, and playing for Michigan.

Those seniors take one last walk to the stadium on Saturday, one last chance to put it all on the field for Michigan.

And it's a chance for the future of the program to assert itself, to show what lies ahead if we allow it to grow.

That's what we all want to see. But sports don't care about storylines. Sports care about talent and scheme and execution and luck. They care about heart and grit and emotion only so far as they translate into execution, and how they can lift raw talent and focus it. If Michigan can put together a victory on Saturday, it won't be arbitrary comeuppance for OSU or some mystical force to quiet Rodriguez's detractors or any sort of karmic justice. It'll be because Michigan played better football or caught a break or two. Or twelve. We'll take every one of them. Ohio State is a vastly superior football team and should walk away with another win, unless something goes beautifully wrong. I'm hoping it does. Go Blue.

The MMB and the Stadium Atmosphere: Straight from the Top

I emailed Director of Bands Michael Haithcock and MMB Director Scott Boerma regarding the MMB and the stadium atmosphere. They have allowed me to post their responses to my questions.

I offered my summary of the situation, or at least what the discussion involves: That much of the stadium can't hear the band like they used to, and the hypotheses given range from the new seats to fewer members to a greater emphasis on musicality over volume to the rubber on the fieldturf. Therefore, the piped-in music is necessary, because it's better than nothing.

Here is a portion of the exchange. First, Prof. Haithcock presented some national context for the situation:

1) The issue is not unique to UM! MSU had canned music played on Saturday while the band was on the field. Tennessee has a long tradition of the band marching to the stadium, doing a stadium entrance, and sitting in the stands prior to the game to play while the team warms up. At their first home game, the TN band marched into the stadium and was greeted with canned rap music. The band will boycott their previous tradition if canned music is in place. This does not solve our problem, but it does clarify that change abounds in the collegiate arena.

2) The pros are taking from college (the Pistons drum line for example) and the colleges are taking from pros. My sister is a high school athletic director in South Carolina and the HS fans want video boards and the same things they see on TV. The culture at UM has been very specific. Change comes slowly and reaction to change is always severe. I don't bring any of this up to lessen the reality of the current situation but to itemize what I have observed as a college band director over 33 years. [Emphasis mine. --ed.] We are dealing with a sudden shift in UM culture on one hand but a slow evolution that has been building like a volcano at other places. We are fortunate that in-stadium marketing is still off the table at the Big House. Many schools bands can not play the fight song during a time out so that a sponsoring soft drink commercial can be aired on the video board.

"BELLE TIRE!" comes to mind.

Then, he addressed the rumors regarding the band:

"The [enrollment] numbers have been the same in total size since before Prof. Nix left. The specific numbers of instruments change every year and always have. Those that claim the MMB is 'bleeding numbers' due to his leadership are either completely uninformed or have an agenda.

The same is true with the notion of emphasis on musicianship over volume. Is the "sound" of the band within the volume balanced differently? Yes. Is it less loud? No. This "personal" balance would be true of any director as it has been since the legendary Revelli. [...] The evidence just does not support the claim that the band is playing less loud than under Prof. Nix. Those that claim this is Prof. Boerma being a DCI guy and not a football fan just do not have a clue. DCI groups play louder than most college marching bands AND they play with sound qualities that have more staying power do to their blend and intonation qualities.

What would I or Prof. Boerma have to gain from encouraging less than full potential volume within the context of what we know about resonance, blend, and intonation. Those that want to blame me because my work these days is primarily in the concert hall are not aware of the true acoustical issues (you just can not "man up") or ever heard marching bands under my direction."

He points out that he hired Jamie Nix in 2001, Kevin Sedatole ('97-'98 IIRC) was a former student of his, and he hired two former MMB interim directors at his previous place of work.

"I did not, nor have not, changed my standards. [...] If I thought any stone was being left unturned to maximize the potential of the MMB, I would be working to fix the issue."

I offered my own opinion on the piped-in music (I'm against 95% of it). He says that this contributes to the relative volume:

"I will say that the modest volume of the pre-game music that existed previously has been raised significantly. Therefore, everyone who comes in the stadium prior to "band take the field" is treated to a new level of sound than ever before. If you combine this level with the new buildings, the amount of sound in the stadium is much greater. There is no way any band can compete with the number of speakers at the level of volume utilized. From my vantage point, I did not find the Western Michigan band or the Notre Dame band to be any louder than the MMB during recent home games."

Emphasis mine.

I asked two questions:

1. What, if anything, is being done to address the concerns that the band is inaudible to many in the stadium?

"The MMB was moved a few years ago back to the Press Box side after a decade opposite the student section. There were many reasons for this but it was instigated by athletics. We continue to be concerned that everyone can not hear the band in the way we all would like. We used to get the same complaints from people who sat behind the MMB when it was on the other side. We continue to get the complaint from those who sit opposite the visiting band. There is a reason Civil War bands marched at the front of the army with instrument bells that were 'over the shoulder.' These are directional instruments.

We hope to review the location of the MMB with athletics given the new acoustical situation and the reality of our new atmosphere. The band is working daily to maximize volume. Prof. Boerma and the staff will be working to face more directions."

2. How do you feel about the music being played over the PA? Did the MMB staff have any input in it, or was it a decision just handed down?

"I am realistic enough to understand that some variety of canned music will probably be with us going forward. The music selection, when the music is used, and the volume of presentation are all things I hope the MMB leadership will have some input on as we go forward.

The decision to implement canned music was essentially handed down. It has also become an increasing element at basketball games. There was an indication of how it would be used within the game that has been exceeded by a wide margin."

[Emphasis mine.]

[It] makes no sense to ban the amplification of the band and then play canned music while the team is in the huddle or approaching the line of scrimmage. You will remember that the canned music went beyond the line the band is supposed to cease in relation to the play on many occasions.

I suggested that this is telling the band "we don't need you;" he disagreed:

"I honestly think the message is a) we need the MMB to be 'all in,' and b) we need to provide this different experience to shake things up and get the stoic UM crowd involved in a new generation of UM football. The same changes in atmosphere were in place a West Virginia with similar displeasure initially expressed from the fan base. The MMB staff was made aware that these changes would come with the territory once the coach was hired."

---

Prof. Boerma agreed with much of what Prof. Haithcock wrote, but added this about his approach to rehearsals and performances:

My students are completely involved in the games, and I am asking them to play full out all the time. (As a matter of fact, my new dentist sits on the "visitors" side of the stadium and comments to me often how thrilled he is that the band is now more actively and boisterously engaged in the game than they used to be.) I'm not (or even have been) purposefully having them play softer; I'm constantly using phrases like "fill up that Big House with Big Sound!" Anyone who actually believes that I've attempted to make the MMB play softer is simply ignorant. Do I have a responsibility to make sure that the band plays with balance and blend? Of course I do. Do I want them to be the loudest thing in Michigan Stadium? You bet I do!"

On the architecture of the stadium as a factor:

"We were excited about the new press boxes when they were being built, because their slanting-in architecture was sure to capture more sound from the band. When we rehearsed in the Big House on the Wednesday before the first game this season, we noticed a definite change. However, when you suddenly add 110,000 fans screaming for a newly-proficient football team, there is simply no way to compete. Add to that the insanely loud canned music... All is relative."

On the MMB enrollment numbers:

"Reports that the numbers are declining in recent years are simply untrue, as Prof. Haithcock accurately reported. They've been the same all 3 years I've been here, which is truly remarkable, considering the football seasons we've recently experienced. However, JUST like when Prof. Nix was here, the numbers of certain sections fluctuate year to year, which is something no one can control. Jamie used to complain to me that he could never get enough euphoniums or tubas. We've got the largest tuba section I've seen in this band for years, and we have over the performance block number of euphoniums.

On the canned music:

"I am meeting with the people responsible for this in Athletics this afternoon. If anyone out there thinks we're just sitting around letting this happen, they're gravely mistaken. We take this VERY seriously. Most importantly, the people truly hurting about all of the nasty comments are the students in the MMB who are simply trying to carry on the incredible tradition. Please respect them and encourage others to do the same. They deserve it... and they truly are 'All In for Michigan.'"

Thanks to both of them for allowing me to share their responses. If you do choose to email either of them (mlhaith@umich.edu and sboerma@umich.edu respectively), please do so respectfully.

Beat the Eagles!

WHY WON'T THIS DIE

So the comment section of yesterday's MGoBlog post on noise/RAWK MUSIC/the band once again turned into a ridiculous sh*tstorm. I waded through a couple of pages this morning, got bored, and left for work.

Since nobody asked me, this is what I think (That's "me", singular. Not necessarily the view of HSR as a whole):

If the band can play louder, they should. NO ONE DENIES THIS. It's not going to matter to Section 11, though, because of where the band is in the stadium. I guess it could get better when the press box is removed, but the band is angled to play to the visitors sideline. Move the band to the north end zone, things probably get better. Ditch the woodwinds, things get louder. Both of these things are expensive propositions, and unless someone wants to earmark a substantial donation, it ain't happening any time soon. In the meantime, the band should turn and face the student section more often.

At the same time, RAWK MUSIC isn't the devil. Selection and use were better for the ND game than the opener, the players like it, and it has the advantage that everyone can hear it. It probably helped with the noise level, and I'm all for a louder, more electrifying stadium.

What I don't want to see hear is an NFL/NHL/NBA game, where you're bludgeoned with butt rock every time there's a break in the action. I will cut someone if I ever hear Creed or Nickelback played while the band is in the stadium. Piped-in music should be used sparingly, and I'd prefer it if they used music that the band can't play very well ("Welcome to the Jungle", "Lose Yourself", etc).

To any current MMB members: Holy crap, you guys are getting caught in the crossfire. Sorry, it sucks. Halftime, I know the dynamics aren't your decision and the musicianship is always top-notch. But if you could try to peel our faces off with a wall of sound on "The Victors" when you're in the stands, we'd really appreciate it.

There. I've said my piece. Unless something falls under the heading of "actual news", let us not speak of this again.

Ten Years On

The '99 Notre Dame game was my first in an MMB uniform. It was ungodly hot under a cloudless sky, but somehow we escaped without anyone passing out. I tried to take it all in before pregame. I watched Notre Dame's band march up and down the field, dropping flip folders and plumes along the way. Then Carl Grapentine came over the PA, intoning, "Ladies and gentlemen, preeesenting the TWO hundred and thirty-five memberrr MICHIGAN Marching Band. Baaaaand take the field!" After that is something of a blur, trying to figure out the stands cheers, remember my music, and will the team to victory. At halftime, with the Irish ahead, Notre Dame played a tribute to Ricky Martin and we did a Star Wars show. The game itself was a battle, and it was Tom Brady and Anthony Thomas driving down the field to score the winning touchdown with a minute and a half left in the game. It was an amazing first game. I was exhausted and drenched in sweat back at Revelli Hall. Hopefully, ten years later we get another Michigan win out of the Irish.

Bump

A 2008 thread about the origins of the Victors has received a lengthy response that is worth noting.

New Drum Major

Congratulations to David Hines, your 2009-2010 MMB Drum Major. David, a euphonium, is a junior this year in Mechanical Engineering. He was selected over other finalists Rich Main (trumpet) and Sarah Zelenak (euph). Here's some video of David's audition:

WTI: Cake!

Craig:	Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to Whatever This Is. I'm Craig Barker, thanking our service veterans...
Geoff:	And remembering the 90th anniversary of the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month.
Geoff:	So Saturday was more than a little unexpected.
Craig:	It's a good feeling around these parts, a strange and missing feeling this season. We're looking at Michigan, a winner!
Geoff:	It's been a lot longer than we're used to since we could say that.
Jeremy:	It reminded us how fun winning is - especially winning unexpectedly.

Craig:	Indeed. The difference between enjoying a win and praying we don't lose is hugely different
Geoff:	I thought that with Threet out, the way our defense had played at Purdue, and the way Minnesota had simply handled Illinois, we were looking at a missing Jug until 2011. I'd assured the Gopher in the office of it. But then Minnesota went three and out, and we drove down to score. It was only a field goal, but then it was another three and out.
Jeremy:	Pretty soon Sheridan was leading the receivers on screen passes, Justin Feagin was breaking off 40 yard runs, black was white, and up was down.
Craig:	And for 60 minutes on Saturday, almost everything clicked.
Jeremy:	And in the end, the one enduring constant remained as it should be.
(h/t: Varsity Blue)
Geoff:	It wasn't quite a fully-functional battle station, but it was a reasonable facsimile.
Craig:	And it proved, beyond a shadow of a doubt: Michigan is a dome team.
Geoff:	It's too bad about Purdue and Toledo. We would have dominated in the Motor City Bowl.
Geoff:	The most satisfying part of Saturday's performance, for me, was the defense. Time and time again, they stepped up.
Craig:	Indeed. Punishing hits across the board. The way Morgan Trent blew that Gopher up, it was like he was Carl from Caddyshack.
Jeremy:	It's frustrating that it took the players themselves to request they play in a 4-3, but their wish was granted and they delivered.
Geoff:	They made Adam Weber look like he was constantly overwhelmed, a mediocre-at-best Big Ten QB.
Craig:	But the question is, what does this mean for this weekend?
Craig:	I was shocked to learn that Michigan is favored (screwing me mildly on my annual bet on the Michigan/NU game.)
Jeremy:	It means a jubilant, warm welcoming as the team takes the field.
Craig:	It means that we can hopefully get one wave in this season.
Geoff:	Win or lose on Saturday, we should hear "Thank you, seniors."
Geoff:	We'll at least have The Cake.
Craig:	And it will not be made of ashes and rusty nails.
Jeremy:	The Cake! And we're inching ever closer to the moment when the music now known as "the blues" will exist only in the classical record department of your local public library.
Craig:	Thankfully, according to Change.gov, "the blues" may have earned a stay of execution until 2012.
Geoff:	Forget the library, I want to know what "the blues" will be known as in The Future.
Jeremy:	Until 2004, it was set to expire in 2006. I guess, like most things, it will happen when Carl says it happens.
Geoff:	Maybe he'll get another request to take a number out of the mix.
Craig:	As long as Carl and his spotter stop fighting this season like they're in an Pinter drama. (Seriously, I may be alone on this, but no other season has seen Carl and the spotter who puts down and distance up on the scoreboard disagree as much over yardage as they have this year.)
Geoff:	They need to talk to the down and distance guy at Notre Dame
Jeremy:	That guy was *immediate.*
Craig:	That guy was spot on all the time
Geoff:	Do we know what the "America Rocks" show will consist of? "Born in the USA"? "R-O-C-K in the USA"?
Craig:	Oh please say "No More Kings" and "I'm Just a Bill".
Jeremy:	Opens with "Born in the USA" by Bruce Springsteen. Then "America" by Neil Diamond. Then "God Bless the USA" complete with standard biyearly American flag unfurling
Craig:	Because you can't boo freedom?
Geoff:	Even in Columbus.
Jeremy:	Trying to guarantee applause at OSU, I guess.
Geoff:	I'm hoping that Kafka starts for Northwestern. Not because I think he's a step down from Bacher, but because the jokes write themselves. "Kafka appears to have woken up this morning as a giant bug and not a QB"
Craig:	You gotta get contain on the bug though
Geoff:	He'll hurt you if you don't.
Craig:	It'll be a real Trial
Geoff:	His offensive line is trying to put up a Castle around him
Craig:	He's the kind of quarterback Rhett Miller writes love songs about
Jeremy:	I'm no good at these jokes. I'm waiting for the quarterback named Calvinandhobbes or Spartanmarchingband.
Craig:	It's years of quiz bowl experience, Jeremy, which means these jokes are really just therapy for Geoff and myself.
Geoff:	Meanwhile, the Michigan hockey team took their biennial trip to Fairbanks
Craig:	Michigan's effort in Alaska is what you expect. Win one, lose one, see Russia from the rink.
Geoff:	We got a split, which is decent. With all the injuries, I've revised my expectations for the team down a bit.
Craig:	I think we are compelled to do so. Two key defensemen. Michigan can still play with any team, but they're not blowing the doors off everyone.
Geoff:	I think this is the kind of team to scrap its way into the tournament and see what happens. It's not the kind that'll have the regular season we saw last year.
Craig:	They're going to need to win the games they should win on paper
Geoff:	We do have the good fortune to play a lot of games at home in the second half of the season.
Craig:	Yes, the schedule does seem to favor Michigan down the stretch. It also appears that there is no team stepping out in front and saying "We're the ones to beat" yet this season
Geoff:	All I want to see is an NCAA tournament berth and a placement in the Grand Rapids regional, and then we can take it from there.
Craig:	Works for me
Jeremy:	the Grand Rapids regional would make too much sense.
Geoff:	Yeah. I'll buy my tickets again only to see Huntsville come back to town.
Craig:	By the way, it's been a while so my mad props to the Yost crowd for their Halloween weekend effort. Tremendous across the board! Well done!
Jeremy:	Did Frankenberry make it?
Craig:	Yes, and Frankenberry, if you're reading, PLEASE get your costume cleaned. You can send HSR the dry cleaning bill.
Geoff:	With that inspirational message, I think it's about time to call it a day.
Craig:	Indeed. Until next week, enjoy the cake, enjoy the seniors last home game, and above all, Go Blue!
Jeremy:	And while we still can, enjoy Scotty B and his Blues Band. Go Blue!
Geoff:	Go Blue.

WTI: Sparty Time

Craig:	Good evening and welcome once again to Whatever This Is (Lite Edition). I'm Craig Barker, and I'm not even feeling this week like I should.
Geoff:	It's that feeling that we're the entire Big Ten's punching bag, and that Little Brother will take out eight seasons of frustration on us.
Craig:	Don't you mean six? Oh, right, never mind.

Craig:	I just, it's maddening, we see flashes, glimmers of hope, and they are taken away by the harbinger of doom
Geoff:	Things started out so well for us against Penn State, but the inevitable was always staring us in the face.
Craig:	I steeled myself to not get too excited. And yet, that little bit of hope, it is a dangerous thing. I mean, I had pretty much decided Michigan was going to be destroyed. And then we weren't. So then I wondered how badly it was going to end
Geoff:	When Threet came out, that was it. And even before then, giving up that late score in the first half made life a lot more difficult.
Craig:	Now, I find myself more interested in the Penn State/Ohio State matchup this weekend than the Michigan State/Michigan tilt. I'm still looking forward to going and whatnot, but it just feels like Little Brother will pull it together and get the job done. And that makes me sad.
Geoff:	We could have another moment of "Sparty, no!", but you can't count on that to bail you out forever.
Geoff:	I have to say, Brandon Graham probably should have kept his mouth shut on the upcoming festivities.
Craig:	You know what, though (and I mean this): I didn't mind what Brandon Graham said. It shows me that the team still believes. I took it as being more about Michigan and less about State. Dantonio said himself that it was kind of weak for BB material and I must agree.
Craig:	I don't know, I guess I just like that there still seems to be some fight in this team. Brandon Minor looked good on Saturday. I hope he can keep that up, mix in some McGuffie, see what happens
Geoff:	Dantonio seems a lot more circumspect this year. We don't hear about any countdown clocks or moments of silence. There was that whole thing about having the reporter repeat the names of the crappy teams we've lost to at home since 1990, but that's pretty weak too.
Geoff:	Me too. Minor was running hard and holding onto the football. It was an impressive performance from him. Before, it feels like his big performances usually included a long run distorting his YPC, but this seemed a more consistent one.
Craig:	Agree. The 4th and 1 conversion sold me. That was a literal hard yard.
Craig:	I'm trying too hard not to read the tea leaves, but at some point after Toledo did Rich Rod say "Everyone is benched, you win back your starting jobs starting today!" and that's where we ended up with the line up we did?
Geoff:	I wouldn't be opposed to that strategy. It goes along with the quote in the weight room about reverting to the level of your preparation. You play well in practice, you get time on the field.
Craig:	So, how can we be nice to Nick Sheridan? His safety was not "as bad" as Dan Orlovsky's that week, no?
Geoff:	No, it wasn't. He was actually tackled.
Craig:	And he did nearly get the pass off. To an o-lineman, but still, good situational awareness.
Geoff:	What do you think the offensive and defensive keys will be this weekend?
Craig:	I think on offense, it will be good, time-consuming drives where Michigan can adapt to the game-planning of MSU's defense and change things up. Also, it almost goes without saying, a healthy Stephen Threet.
Geoff:	I'm picking pass protection on offense. Like you said, healthy Threet is necessary, and he has to be able to make it through a full game.
Craig:	On defense, it's building up what worked against Wisconsin, getting good contain on Ringer and making Brian Hoyer beat us, which, admittedly, with our safety play lately, is not exactly a challenge I am thrilled to be offering.
Geoff:	It gives us a better chance to win than if Ringer piles up the yards. And Hoyer being irresponsible with the football could work to our advantage, if our DBs can manage to catch an interception right on the numbers, Charles Stewart.
Craig:	I also think field position will be critical. And remember, we're looking at a rainy Saturday, so you know, even on the field turf, strange things can happen.
Geoff:	I'm curious what this "Trains" show from the MMB will be about. And there's going to be some sort of combined performance with the SMB.
Craig:	I am curious as well. I hope a little "Chattanooga Choo-Choo", a little "City of New Orleans" and ending with some "Meet Virginia"
Geoff:	A little bit of "Oh Streetcar"?
Craig:	Long before the Superdome, where the Saints of Football play...lived a city that the damned called home....hear their hellish rondolette!
Craig:	Why can I remember this and not understand basic microeconomics remains a mystery to me to this day.
Craig:	Well, that's all for this lite edition of WTI. Enjoy the game this weekend, be nice to the Sparties, because...see, I don't even have the joke this week. It's just very sad. Go Blue.
Geoff:	Let's hope we can keep one streak alive this year, and I'm not talking about the OSU one. Go Blue.

WTI: RickRolled

Craig:	Good evening ladies and gentlemen and welcome to Whatever This Is. I'm Craig Barker, and I am holding myself together way better than a majority of our brethren...
Geoff:	I feel like I'm making progress. My therapist says I'm doing well.
Craig:	Did you get your shoelaces back yet?
Jeremy:	I don't want anyone to die or be fired, and judging from everyone else around me in the stands, I feel like I'm in the minority there.
Geoff:	There's a clear difference between being unhappy with the present and not believing in the future.
Craig:	Exactly. I'm not thrilled about now, but I can accept that this is the reality and wishing it better doesn't make it so.

Craig:	All right, let's talk about the Rockets' Blue Glare. Hats off to Toledo, they beat Michigan by making the most of their opportunities, a wee bit of luck (how does that bounce in?) and some just plain awful from Michigan.
Geoff:	It was awful to see the defense picked apart on those little 6-yard routes.
Craig:	And yet, you're right, it was, but it was a defense that only allowed two (ok three) field goals. If your defense allows six points, short of actually scoring the ball themselves, what more can they do?
Geoff:	I would've been fine with that output if we could've forced Toledo off the field earlier on their final drive or if I'd seen some better adaptation of the game plan. Example: Toledo kept showing us a formation with two receivers split wide in a sort of stack. Six times they deployed that formation, six times it was a run, and (if I'm not mistaken) it led to 5- and 8-yard gains late in the fourth quarter. The first time I saw it, I called "run". If *I* can see that, why can't we stop it?
Jeremy:	But among those two camps, I'm in the "but 350 yards and 20 catches" camp. That coverage was pillowy soft. We're now deathly afraid to give up the big play, since we saw how that worked vs Illinois
Craig:	So basically it's either gaping stab wound, or death by a million cuts?
Jeremy:	Yep. Lose like it's 2005 or lose like you're playing Illinois
Craig:	I was killed by the five penalties, three idiotic personal fouls and two holds. Those things are just glaring execution errors. I can see where people can use that as evidence of RR doesn't have that team in line yet. I could also see it as frustration
Craig:	And, let's face it, I am not sure Toledo's receivers did not have jetpacks on during that game. Seriously, did people see how they skied for some of those balls?
Jeremy:	How come their Tacopants helps them out?
Craig:	They clapped harder for him to come to life than we did
Geoff:	A lot of good teams also take a lot of penalties, but the problem here is that our offense is so poor that a holding penalty is an absolute drive-killer. At least the band won halftime.
Craig:	I thought the band sounded really good this week. And this doesn't even count the RickRoll.
Geoff:	Jeremy, like you said: You called it.
Jeremy:	I was delighted. I'm sure 80% of the people there had no idea what happened, but those who did loved it.
Craig:	It took me about three seconds to realize that wait, that's Rick Astley's music!
Geoff:	The show itself was a good one. I liked the "Paralyzer" arrangement the best.
Jeremy:	The drill was good too. I saw lots of rotating blocks, which are difficult to maintain and preserve as they move.
Craig:	I thought it was fantastic. I will say, I thought that Toledo sounded solid. There was a Buddy Rich joke I had, but it only works if you know about his legendary rants.
Jeremy:	Toledo's band announcer was exceedingly polite, as if begging for our sympathy.
Craig:	Well gentlemen, we do this every year, the half way post-mortem.
Jeremy:	Their incessant stands cheer sounded like "Buckeye Battle Cry" from a distance. With all the annoying repetition of USC's Fight Dirge (oh yeaaaahhhh!).
Craig:	Where are we now and where do we see us in six weeks.
Geoff:	We suck, we will continue to suck. We might beat MSU on a "Sparty, no!", but I don't expect it.
Jeremy:	We didn't expect it in 2004, 2005, or 2007 either.
Geoff:	I think we have a shot at scratching out a couple of victories, but Toledo was the must-win to keep the bowl streak alive.
Craig:	I moved from "this is not a very good team" to "this is a bad team" this week. Right now, I just want to get out of the season relatively injury free and with two more wins, just so we have four. Anything after that is gravy.
Jeremy:	I'm reduced to banking on Spartan Collapse to save face. And I'm sure that, come OSU week, I'll talk myself into thinking we stand a chance.
Craig:	I still believe the Curse of Eddie Brown may save us yet.
Jeremy:	For example: all their wins have come on blocked punts and punt return TDs, and since the Space Emperor is far and away the best player on the team, we'll be fine.
Craig:	Wow, that is epic rationalization. Tremendous work there.
Geoff:	Unfortunately, it looks like the streak against Penn State is on life support. (Streak: "I'm not dead!" John Cleese: "Well, it will be soon, it's very ill.")
Craig:	But it has been an amazing run. 9 straight wins, 11 years without losing to Penn State. It's nigh unfathomable, really.
Craig:	So let me ask you this gentlemen: What was your favorite win in the streak, and why?
Geoff:	There are a couple ones that are neck and neck for me, but I have to go with the epic Judgment Night victory from '97.
Craig:	That was Dave's (my college roommate and friend of the blog) choice as well. He claims that is his favorite Michigan road win of all time.
Geoff:	To go on the road to the #3 team in the country and just bludgeon them like that, it's beautiful.
Jeremy:	2002 was special, as it was the first OT game in Michigan Stadium...
Craig:	2002 was my vote, but I am biased because I got to hang in the Regents' box that game
Jeremy:	I'd have to say 2005. It meant so much for our season at that point (avoiding 3-3), and it salvaged a glimmer of hope in my otherwise dismal senior year in the band.
Craig:	2005 of course is the legend of The New Math 86=1 and handing Penn State its only loss during that year. And yes, it did salvage the Year of Infinite Pain, didn't it.
Craig:	2002 and 2005 also share the "in the gloaming" aspect, where the win comes when it's dark, making it somehow more memorable.
Geoff:	2005 was my #2. It doesn't lead to glory, but on its own it's an awesome game to behold.
Jeremy:	Plus in terms of pure schadenfreude, it was an incredible toe-stubbing on PSU's part. All they had to do was one of these two things: Don't kick to Steve Breaston, or stop the worst Michigan team in 20 years from scoring a TD on the last play of the game.
Craig:	I actually have a soft place in my heart for 2007, which I call the Mutated Sea Bass Game.
Jeremy:	The game was a hard-fought defensive struggle in the first half and a shootout in the second.
Craig:	Because it got us back to .500, we realized that we still had a chance at the Big Ten championship, and it was a return to normalcy after The Horror and Oregon.
Geoff:	The 2006 Quarterback Massacre was also special, especially coming on the heels of the Ordonez walk-off to send the Tigers to the World Series.
Jeremy:	The "let's go Tigers" chant was almost as fun as singing the Victors on the concourse of their stadium that night.
Craig:	And Michigan staving off a five-goal Connecticut rally to beat the Huskies at Yost (Last time I ever buy fall hockey tickets for a road game night with the new ABC Saturday Night Football in place).
Jeremy:	Also:
Craig:	It's been just amazing, truly amazing run, one I am going to miss when it is gone.
Geoff:	It's been great while it's lasted.
Jeremy:	I wonder if the students will rush the field if they win.
Geoff:	That would be sad. For them.
Jeremy:	it would be validation that we mean that much to them.
Craig:	I really wanted the T-Shirt that said "We Are....Ten Straight". But, it was not meant to be, which is probably for the best.
Geoff:	Anyway, thanks for tuning in, everyone.
Craig:	And please, remain calm, remain rational, and know that the present does not guarantee the future.
Craig:	We'll be here through it all, we hope that you can make it back next week.
Jeremy:	Keep cheering, and to quote Mr. Arnold in Jurassic Park: Hold on to your butts.
Jeremy:	Go Blue.
Geoff:	Go Blue.
Craig:	Go Blue.

Paralyzer

Nestled into Saturday's debacle was a brilliant halftime show by the Michigan Marching Band, including this arrangement of "Paralyzer" by Finger Eleven:

Sorry, I couldn't resist. But seriously -- here's what I wrote on August 5th:

My one hope for the season is that, at some point, Professor Boerma Rickrolls the crowd.

Sometimes dreams do come true. Well done, band. Well done.

In a way, we were all Rickroll'd twice on Saturday. Once by the MMB, and once by fate. We all bought tickets to the Toledo game knowing that it was going to be a tune-up for a tough rest of the season, and a chance to give the starters some extra reps. We all knew what we were in for. This was the football equivalent of clicking on a link that says "RICHROD STEAMROLLS TOLEDO 48-7."

But instead of seeing the five-score blowout we all figured was coming, the link took us to something completely different, something campy, ridiculous, tacky, embarrassing and unexpected. It was a classic bait-and-switch. You really got us good.