letsgiveacheer

Towards the end of the game, I left the KNTU stream to listen to the KSU broadcast. Their commentators were really complimentary of North Texas and displayed none of the " we overlooked them" sediment I read elsewhere. But what was really interesting is that every commercial seemed to be for fertilizer, seeds, large animal vets, or co-op services. You get the impression they are indeed really in the middle of nowhere!

This guy has too much time on his hands. Maybe we can introduce him to the hog lady who sang "United We Stand"?

Goodness. I have not though about him in years! His work was used by many high schools and colleges (never at North Texas) looking for a ready-made halftime show. His arrangements were pretty good for the most part and he could really crank them out. Could you imagine marching to "Raindrops Keep Falling on my Head"? Those were the old days but most midwest bands and some others are still doing his stuff or at least style of shows.

Like one of the comments said, the ACC is the new Big East and The Big East is the new Conference USA.

Really first rate! I am no fan of the corps style of marching but it is very evident that a great deal of work went into this show. The precision, musicianship, and presentation were all superb. Congratulations, GB!

If I was Alabama's marching band director, I'd be working on a "special" arrangement of United We Stand right now just in time for the Arkansas game half time show!

The woman in the photo should not be dressed like that.

I understand they made a concerted effort to expand the band. Previously, most of the members were music ed majors. That is still the case but non-majors are now welcomed as well. The rationale being membership in the band brings more spirt to the fold, interested and surportive alumni, etc etc. It must be working, just look at how many former band members are active in this forum.

See that Arkansas' coach refused to shake hands with the ULM coach following the game. He lead the team out of the stadium when the fans started booing for poor sportsmanship. Some of the Arkansas team returned to shake hands with Monroe, but still not the coach. I hear he did get a big hug from a state trooper!

UNT 50 TSU 3

Thanks, Silver for the memory rush. I was the conductor during this little bit of fun with Lamar. 1974 was the only year that Mr. McAdow did not direct the marching band. He left this to his grad assistant, Jim Hansford who later left to become director of bands and orchestras at Oklahoma Baptist University. As Hansford did not have an assistant, he selected me so I had a great time directing the music in the stands, pre-game and basketball games my entire senior year. I have tried to stay away from this debate, but here I go again. I have never met any serious musician that really enjoys marching band. Sure you have a good time and build lasting friendships but it is a detriment to becoming a first rate musician. The time is better spent in practice and performing in ensembles that do not cause damage to your embouchure, force you to bad performance technique, or even take you away from your primary instrument as it did with me. I am very fortunate to make my career in music. As the director of an opera company in New York City, I have heard hundreds of people audition for a spot in our orchestra. No one ever said to me after failing to win a spot, gosh, I wish I had spent more time in the marching band. Today, most schools with music programs at the same level as North Texas go so far as to discourage music majors from participating in their marching bands. This is done at Michigan, Indiana, and Cincinnati to name a few. Marching band techniques are taught in a classroom to music ed majors. At North Texas, we make music ed majors play in the marching band, and given the lack of spirit on campus for the football team, its a good thing or else we would probably field a band of about 50! Given the band is also a class, it stands to reason that we perform in the same styles as are done in the Texas secondary schools. I despise the corps styles as much as anyone but that is what is done in Texas secondary schools and that is what we need to be teaching our students if they are to have any chance at success after graduation. And in Silver's defense, even using the corps style, we could mix things up a little (a lot!) but that feedback is appropriate for the director of the marching band, not the many hundreds of students who come to the campus a week early and spend about 15 hours a week in marching band activities in return for their one pitiful credit hour.

Its not like one of our opponents put North Texas State on their season schedule...or did they?

I know we haven't finished yet but if you believe Scouts, but they are already ahead of us with three 3 star recruits. In the small world department, ODU's beat writer is a high school classmate of mine. We saw each other at our high school's 40th reunion a few years ago. Boy, has he gotten old!

If I may venture a guess, I would imagine this is the first time the words contextual clues and s**t have been used in the same sentence in the long history of GoMeanGreen.com

Sorry, I was indeed being a little sarcastic. You are correct, the term "Snake Pit" did come from the Drake coach during the old MVC days. And as Gray said, there is no way for the Men's Gym to have flooded. I suspect the writer of the Super Pit review just made this up as it sounded pretty good!

I've given up in my crusade to stop people from referencing the old men's gym as "The Snake Pit". The Snake Pit was indeed used but very infrequently. At least in my days. it was normally called The Pit. I looked through all my NT Daily's and Yucca's from the era and could not find one reference to "The Snake Pit"...always "The Pit", As far as the reporter's story about "The Snake Pit" (sic) getting its name from those frequent floods and snakes found in the aftermath, that sounds about right to me. At any rate, looking forward to some great basketball at The Super Snake Pit this season.

ECU is in the eastern part of the state (of course!)...Greenville near Kinston and Goldsboro. In other words, they are the biggest city in that part of the state. The nearest D1 competition are the Triangle schools; NC State, UNC and Duke. They parallel us in a number of ways...started as a teacher's college then a college, university, etc. They have an excellent medical school and dental school. In the old days, they had the best music school in the region and their dean left to become dean at North Texas. This was in the 60's. The kicker is they did not play major college football until the mid-70s. Their academics are no great shakes and it is one of the easiest schools to get into in the state. Since they are not anywhere near a major population center, they have never been known as a commuter school.

Not so bad, coming from a Mid-Major sports outlet like Fox.

Hell Hath No Fury Like A Commissioner Scorned

The Director's Cup standings were just announced as well. We were #205, not so good! Many Belt schools finished ahead of us.

Here's my birthday greetings with a flourish! Many happy returns, Jim

I just can't get enough of the scowling student-athletes found on the inside back-cover of the North Texan. Why are they so mad?

Rick, very sorry to hear this. Best wishes to you and your family in this most difficult time.

Regarding Delta State, you have to admit that Horace McCool is a pretty good name for a stadium! http://www.gostatesmen.com/sports/2008/7/22/FB_0722081459.aspx?path=football