GreenBrigadeDebbie

Stebo, There are not nearly the amount of music scholarships that people think there are. Granted there are some on scholarship, but not as many as you think. Yes, the marching band is required for music majors. Partially to get more people in the band, but mainly to help educate the music majors on having collegiate marching band experience. Yes, the spirit in the band should be higher and that more people should be in the band without having it required. But these two things have gotten A LOT better in the past few years. Trust me. I have seen the spirit in the band rise first hand and the band has more and more non music majors in the band every year. That means more people want to be in the band. More people want to express their school pride through being in the marching band. I have been a member of the Green Brigade since 1999. That year the GB was actually cheering for the opposing team. (Sad and pathetic I know) But since 2001, the GB has gotten bitten by the Mean Green bug. We cheer the Mean Green on, we start a lot of cheers in the stands, and more non majors are in the band than in 99 and the non majors are having the time of our lives supporting the Mean Green. And actually even though the basketball band is compensated for playing, there are a lot that are there because they want to. I have some friends in the band. They enjoy playing for the team (and the money is the not the only thing that gets them there either). But the reason we have cheerleaders is to lead cheers. They are to start cheers and support the team. I don't think I am asking too much by asking to have a cheerleading squad that cares about the athletic program and having people that really want to cheer be on the squad. Yes, I agree, the cheerleaders should get compensation for what they do. Yes they should get scholarships. I think that we help the cheerleaders out with this as much as the band is getting compensated. I think it sucks that they practically get no compensation for what they do. But at the same time, whether you are paid or not (and this is going to be true with the band), you should still have enough pride to cheer for the team no matter what. Yes, the competitions are great and strong part of the squad. And having them win 3 National Championships have done great things for the school. No doubt. But cheering should be the biggest draw. I think that with more growth we will have compensation for the cheerleaders. And the band will be there without giving the money a thought. I hope that you aren't mad at me Stebo for my views. I pretty much agree with you on most points. I think that it sucks about the compensation for the cheerleaders. Yes, there are some music majors that would not join the marching band if it weren't required. But the willingness and the wanting to be in the band has dramatically changed for the better since I came in '99. The spirit is on the rise. But I think things are definitely looking up. I know once I graduate and have a job, I will be donating money not only for the athletic department but to help set up compensation to the cheerleaders. I think that I have won the award for one of the longest posts. But please do not take offense to anything I have said. I wanted to clarify my views some more. And Stebo, don't get mad at me please.

I think it is sad that most of our cheerleading squad tried out solely for the opportunity to compete and not for the MAIN reason why there are cheerleaders in the first place. And that is to cheer on the Mean Green in every sport. And no, not every cheerleader is a cheerleader for the intent of competiting. CO Green I really like the fact that you take the time to come on this board and read what other fans have to say and read our concerns. That is totally cool!! And I have a lot of respect for you for that. Yes, we really do not the amount of traditions that other schools have, but the traditions have to start somewhere. UT or A&M's traditions did not just plop out of the sky and they suddenly had traditions. I think that with the cheerleaders help, this student body can really get things headed in the right direction. I love having 21 on the squad because I came from a high school that had like a lot of cheerleaders (I graduated from Plano East Senior High). But at the same time, I want cheerleaders on the squad who love cheering and truly believe that our team is the best. Yeah, competitions are fun and the National Championships that the squad has won have been fabulous for school publicity. And I congratulate the people on the squads who have won the championships. But competiting is just one aspect of cheerleading. I mean this post in no offense to anyone who reads this. I am merely stating my opinions.

CO Green, any reason why we do not have backups to Scrappy? I understand that there is a life outside of being the mascot, but come on!!! SOMEONE should be in the Scrappy costume at ALL home games. I find it a little weird that we can get 6 cheerleaders to go to AWAY games during football season (I have the 2002 Mean Green DVD and can prove that there are that many cheerleaders there. Look at the part from the Lafayette and MTSU games. There are 6 cheerleaders and Scrappy!) and have Scrappy there too, but when basketball season comes around, we can't get more than 4 cheerleaders and Scrappy on a consistent basis and at home too. I understand that we can't have backups to the cheerleaders because we all can't do the cheers and wear the teeny tiny uniforms and the whole tumbling part. But it is not hard to find someone who can wear the Scrappy costume, put it on, walk around the Super Pit and entertain the crowd. And I am sure that there are plenty of people are willing to do this. So CO Green can you shed some light on this? Why can't we have backups to Scrappy to fill in for the regular guy when he has prior engagements that keep him from the game? And no, I am not flaming the cheerleading squad!! I am just curious as to why we cannot have replacements for Scrappy so we can have a mascot at all home games!

Call me stupid, but what post game activities are y'all talking about?

I am in for sure!!!! Where is tailgating? I want to go tailgating and have never been!! And yes, it should be cold, but it is called LAYERS!!!!

Dude, MedPilot, dont kill yourself!!! Take it easy. We need you back to take in some Spring Ball towards the end of the month into next month. I want you back ready to go when Spring Ball arrives!!

I didn't mean to make a debate happen between the cheerleaders and the general fan base. I was only concerned that only 2-3 cheerleaders showed up at the game. CO Green explained the situation and I have an answer now. Some of the cheerleaders have to work. I wish that more could come to the games, but what can you do?

I can see why we can't have backups for cheerleaders. But CO Green, can you tell me or find out for me if there are any backups for Scrappy? I understand that the cheeleaders and the person who is Scrappy can't make every game, but the average person has a shot of "being" Scrappy for a game to fill in for the regular Scrappy. So can you find that out for me? I am sure there would be a good number of people on this board who would not mind filling in for the regular Scrappy on the nights he has to miss. (Myself included on this)

CO Green, I understand that the cheerleaders need to work and pay for school. I am not an idiot. But let's see here. We have a squad of 30 cheerleaders and everyone but 2 or 3 have to work on a consistent basis? And with Scrappy, we should always have someone who can take over for who ever the regular guy is that is Scrappy. Stuff comes up and I understand that all the cheerleaders can't make it to every game. Maybe I misstated my last post. But come on if you think that having 6% of the cheerleading squad at the games is justifiable, come on!!! The dance team makes their financial ends meet and still have most if not the entire squad at most of the games. I am not trying to get the cheerleading squad mad at me. That is the last thing I want to do. But CO Green, try to look at the situation from the average fans' perspective. You go to a basketball game on Saturday with a decent sized crowd and you see 3 cheerleaders and no mascot. If I offended you CO Green, I am sorry, but I find it somewhat disappointing that we can't get more than 2-3 cheerleaders at a game. But I am stupid either. I understand that the cheerleaders have to work too. But please reread my post again.....

Suree, move the band to the side in which there are no people. If you want the side the cheerleaders are on to be louder, make the cheerleaders go to the stinking game. I am sorry. That is the problem. We have a squad of like 30 cheerleaders and to only have 2-3 show up at games is unacceptable. Make 15-20 cheerleaders (or more) come to the game. And Scrappy was not even at the game Saturday night. That really makes me mad. I understand that sometimes the person who is Scrappy may have a scheduling conflict and can't make it to a game. And that is why you should a couple of "understudies" to fill in. It is completely unacceptable to not have someone dressed as Scrappy at the game. As far as having our fans behind the visitors' bench, I am in agreement that we do NOT have our fans back there. It is not really fair. Sure it might be to our benefit to distract them, but are we just about winning or are we about winning with dignity and being fair and being hospitable to the opponent? I vote the latter. The rules are there for a reason. We can like them or not. I do like the group that is NEAR the opponents bench. It really distracts them during free throws, but as far as being directly behind the opponents' bench, I think that we should leave that section open to the opponents' fans. And another thing that makes me mad, is that the Sizzling Seat Contest prize NEVER goes to a student and yet college students probably could benefit from winning the most. I think that the students should at least have a chance of winning, it might encourage more students to come. But right now, the students never win and it really is not fair.

Yeah, Lake Highlands glory days ended shortly after I graduated high school in 1998. But I am not a Lake Highlands alum though. I am a proud alumnus from Plano East!!!! Once an EAST Panther, always an EAST Panther!!

I am also in Talons along with the GB. But this semester I have not been to many Talons things. I haven't gone to many things because of many reasons. One because of lack of time, another because it has become (at least to me) no longer an organization that goes to events (service or athletic events) because they want to. They go because it is a credit and then don't go to things because they are not credits. So if I understood Emmitt right, Talons has lost "starters" because of this. But Talons do a great job of upholding the traditions. Bonfire would not happen w/o them and of course on game days we have Boomer!!!!!!

I live in a dorm and I totally understand why athletics is doing this. Granted I do not have to move my car for games (I live at Crumley which is far from the action), but afterall the university gives us permission to park on their grounds. We do not own the property on which the lot is on and therefore we must respect the rules of the property. It is for one afternoon and evening. It is not like athletics is asking for the entire semester. So any Traditions and Santa Fe resident who doesn't like the rule, MOVE!!!! If you do not want to abide by the rules of athletics, do not live so close to a stadium where athletes play!! It's called common sense people!! USE IT!!!!!!

I loathe the Yanks almost as much as I hate the San Fransico 49ers in football. But I am glad to see that someone other than the Yanks win. This is like the 4th time in the past decade that someone other than NY has won?

NTEagle08. If you need any help come to me. I am in the 5 year accounting program (which is turning into 6 years for me) and I am in the Talons. So if you any information about anything let me know!

You don't have to be so rude. Sheesh. I wasn't trying to be pushy, just stating my opinion. Good grief!!!!!

I know everyone is trying to get more people to register for the Mean Green Report, but for those who are too poor to register for the Report, please help us out by mentioning who this person is. It isn't fair that some of us are kept in the dark just because we don't have a steady paycheck and can't register for the Report!!!

Okay, remind me to stay away from the Albino people. They are waaaaaaay too insane to like!