OT: your favorite college marching bands?

[HornedFrog Purple]

I have seen a few over the years and here are my favorites:

1. Texas A&M Aggie Band: They don't do any of this modern marching stuff, they just march up and down the field and play old school war hymns and stuff. They just look cool doing it.

2. Grambling and Southern: If you can ever go to this game, go for the halftime. It is amazing.

3. SMU: They only know one song, and they play it every 45 seconds.

4. Rice: I am not sure what exactly they are trying to do or if they still do it but the last time I saw them they were spelling out mathematical equations on the field, then they would just run around and make another one. It was pretty funny to watch.

Any other bands you get a kick out of or enjoy at halftime?

[Dutch]

I guess I'm just down the street from Grambling, they offered all military free tickets to the last game, but I didn't go. I would like to go to a Grambling/Southern homecoming game. Drumline had me in awe, "Those aren't the marching bands I grew up with!" :)

[panerd]

Just saw A&M last weekend in Columbia. The formations were very cool and the way they march thru one another while playing was mind-bogling. But they tended to get a bit annoying during the game. They played a victory type fight song for a sack with about 11:00 left in the first quarter when we were winning 16-0 already and then towards the end of the game when Mizzou's band was playing a celebration type song they interruped with their song. I would say that you shouldn't do that sort of stuff during road games.

[Sharpieman]

I used to go to Stanford games in mid-90s just for their halftime preformances. The best game I went to was when Stanford stadium was packed with Notre Dame fans and the band leader was dressed as a giant potato. Then at halftime the PA announcer made wise cracks about Notre Dame, after the game the band was banned from visiting Notre Dame. Another great time was when Southern Cal came to play, at halftime the PA announcer said that Southern Cal needed to stop playing its damn fight song over and over again. Everytime So Cal played their fight song, across the stadium, the Stanford band would play one note collectivly to drown out the Trojans song. Now however, the Stanford band is much more subdued. I also like how they don't wear gay ass uniforms like all the other schools.

[Ksyrup]

Florida A&M, the Marching 100.

When people come to a football game in Tallahassee just to watch the band, you're pretty good.

[Ksyrup]

Originally posted by panerd
Just saw A&M last weekend in Columbia. The formations were very cool and the way they march thru one another while playing was mind-bogling. But they tended to get a bit annoying during the game. They played a victory type fight song for a sack with about 11:00 left in the first quarter when we were winning 16-0 already and then towards the end of the game when Mizzou's band was playing a celebration type song they interruped with their song. I would say that you shouldn't do that sort of stuff during road games.

Considering the OU game, I'd say they were just getting 2 games worth of playing out of their system whenever they had the chance.

[Scarecrow]

The Ohio State University

(well, actually just the dot guy)

[Alan T]

Originally posted by Ksyrup
Florida A&M, the Marching 100.

When people come to a football game in Tallahassee just to watch the band, you're pretty good.

I second this. Best college marching band in the country. (at least during the 80s and early 90s)

[finkenst]

dot the i, baby

[Wasabiak]

Wisconsin--The fifth quarter

[VPI97]

FAMU for pure fun. But WVU's band gives me chills whenever I see them play.

[Craptacular]

Originally posted by Ksyrup

When people come to a football game in Tallahassee just to watch the band, you're pretty good.

Originally posted by Wasabiak

Wisconsin--The fifth quarter

Change Tallahassee to Madison and you've got Badger games pre-'93.

[JeeberD]

Originally posted by HornedFrog Purple
2. Grambling

When I went to the Cowboys-Cards game back in October the Grambling band was there to perform at halftime. Actually, perform is an overstatement. The played their intruments coming onto and leaving the field, but during the actual "show" they just danced with their intruments while the PA played the soundtrack to that "Drumline" movie. I was rather disappointed. I don't balme them, though. I'm sure it was the Cowboys people who set up the show that way...

[Pumpy Tudors]

I don't know how many of you have ever seen any of the "Bayou Classic" games that Southern and Grambling play every Thanksgiving weekend. NBC started broadcasting them a few years ago, and they're reasonably decent football games. Sadly, the best part of the weekend, the "Battle of the Bands" at the Superdome on the night before the game, is not televised. I've never been to the Battle of the Bands (shame on me, as I've lived in New Orleans for my entire life), but the clips that I've seen are jaw-dropping.

I can't say that either school has the best marching bands, but I do know that both of them can put on an incredible show.

[tucker342]

Southern and Grambling aren't even close to being the best marching band. But they probably have the most entertaining show.

The only college marching band I've seen is Iowa... and they kind of suck....

[Hurst2112]

Grambling and Southern...hands down.

Second would have to be Wisconsin.

Side note:

Back in 93 my highschool band competed in a competition in Camp Randall. I was drum captain and this was our first competition. Needless to say we were all nervous. Well, seeing as how we were first timers, we got to go on first. Oh but wait, before we start the competition, let's all sit around and watch Wisconsin's college band start the competition off with an exhibition. Ok, now ladies and gentlemen, the Kaukauna High School marching band.

Now I know why Iron Butterfly declined to go on after this little known English band called Led Zeppelin opened up for them...hehe.

We finished 3rd in our category and our (my ;)) drumline finished second in our category.

But still, it sucked having to go on after UW's band.


By the way, Kaukauna is about 20 miles south of Green Bay, not in Hawaii

[MrBug708]

Nothing beats the Stanford band. When you are banned from Notre Dame, that means something special.

[MJ4H]

As far as quality marching and playing the best one I've seen is Michigan. For entertainment, the Southern/Grambling bands are entertaining for awhile, but wear thing quickly. Nothing beats a good corps style show. Texas A&M is entertaining to watch for a few seconds, but they sound horrible. If they would add something to their show besides the precision drill they are so good at, it would at least make it watchable for more than 30 seconds.

[Leonidas]

Originally posted by finkenst
dot the i, baby

TBDBITL

[Pumpy Tudors]

Call me a puddle of goo, but I've never been bored by either the Grambling or Southern bands.

I haven't seen many other bands, but of the ones I have, I didn't like Houston's at all. Memphis has a very good band, but the performance I saw was just plain boring. They play well, but I wish they'd play better MUSIC. So be it.

[Easy Mac]

Originally posted by Leonidas
TBDBITL

Touching Big Dick Brings It to Life?

[PSUColonel1]

The Blue Band!!

[-Mojo Jojo-]

When you say Wis-con-sin, you've said it all!

[Buccaneer]

I grew up admiring the OSU band but had not seen any halftime shows since I was a drummer in the Marching Aztecs in 1978 and 1979. I have read about some shows though and would not like Grambling/Southern type shows but would love to see Stanford.

[Easy Mac]

Our band plays Stacy's Mom... and royally fucks up Pinball Wizard and Bohemian Rhapsody.

Overall, I haven't seen too many bands.

[Craptacular]

Originally posted by Hurst2112
Ok, now ladies and gentlemen, the Kaukauna High School marching band.
...
By the way, Kaukauna is about 20 miles south of Green Bay, not in Hawaii

There's a nice disc golf course at Grignon Park in Kaukauna. :)

[Hurst2112]

Originally posted by Craptacular
There's a nice disc golf course at Grignon Park in Kaukauna. :)

Indeed there is. I have played it before. I grew up sledding on Mt. Misery during the winters.

DId it stink when you were there? Nice and close to the paper mill and all.

[Craptacular]

I've played there at least 5 or 6 times, and it has indeed smelled horrible every time. It's my favorite course in the Fox Cities area though, so I put up with it.

[Glengoyne]

The ESPN gameday guys have been doing a "battle of the bands" segment each Saturday. Wisconson, who impressed the hell out of me was featured, but the school they keep talking about is Georgia Tech. According to them, none of the other schools they have covered have even come close to what Georgia Tech is doing. They are saying things like "None of these other schools is even playing the same game as Georgia Tech".

I would also have to comment about the Stanford band of the 80s and 90s. They really played very well, they put on very entertaining shows, and to describe them as irreverant, just doesn't quite measure up to the vibe they gave off.