60 Minutes: Has College FB Become A Campus Commodity?

[PlummMeanGreen]

Very interesting....college football at its highest...

...and with a college marching band stadium entrance that will make Silver Eagle froth at the mouth--even made me do a bit of mouth-slobbering myself, Bill...

Love the indoor practice facility (hint, hint, hint) & it even looks large enough for a marching band to practice in, too, especially when its 110 degrees in August & September...facility arms races to always be in play (so get used to it)...Alabama coach basically says he's not worth his pay...Thanks Jerry "Goober'billy" Jones for all you do for local school's college football (not)

Long video (well, not "THAT" long) from CBS 60 Minutes but quite interesting and one that all who work in or just love college football should really see. No, most of us are never going to be a Michigan Wolverines kind of program, but we can still learn and adapt some of the things they do even in....Denton, Texas, America!

[SilverEagle]

Not fond of the running/prancing entrance. Quick step is the best.

This is what we'll be seeing this August 30th.

You know, it looks like the two organizations above seem to be focused on promoting and being in charge of spirit at the football games.

Here is how our school of music sees it.

"Green Brigade Marching Band

The University of North Texas Green Brigade Marching Band enjoys a reputation for high quality musical and visual performances. The ensemble performs at a variety of athletic events throughout the year and is often the featured exhibition group at numerous marching festivals in the state of Texas.

In addition to being one of the most visible organizations, open to all students on campus, the band records annually and releases a CD of highlights every two years. An integral component of any music education major's curriculum, the band provides ongoing opportunities for the development of leadership skills. The 300-member Green Brigade is a powerful contributor to the growth of the future band conductor and embodies the spirit and pride of the University of North Texas."

So basically the Green Brigade is just a lab. And if they embody the spirit of the school, then God help us.

I wonder if the two bands in the utubes above worry about developing future conductors or ever bury their bands in the official university web-sites under "wind ensembles".

[MeanGreen13]

Not fond of the running/prancing entrance. Quick step is the best.

This is what we'll be seeing this August 30th.

You know, it looks like the two organizations above seem to be focused on promoting and being in charge of spirit at the football games.

Here is how our school of music sees it.

"Green Brigade Marching Band

The University of North Texas Green Brigade Marching Band enjoys a reputation for high quality musical and visual performances. The ensemble performs at a variety of athletic events throughout the year and is often the featured exhibition group at numerous marching festivals in the state of Texas.

In addition to being one of the most visible organizations, open to all students on campus, the band records annually and releases a CD of highlights every two years. An integral component of any music education major's curriculum, the band provides ongoing opportunities for the development of leadership skills. The 300-member Green Brigade is a powerful contributor to the growth of the future band conductor and embodies the spirit and pride of the University of North Texas."

So basically the Green Brigade is just a lab. And if they embody the spirit of the school, then God help us.

I wonder if the two bands in the utubes above worry about developing future conductors or ever bury their bands in the official university web-sites under "wind ensembles".

there are lots of reasons that the green brigade isnt what these schools marching bands are. just look at the caliber of athletic programs you are trying to compare to. if we were on the same level as them in ANYTHING then maybe the green brigade would have a little more "spirit" and prance around like that, but for so many reasons, that just isnt going to happen at UNT... no yet!

[drex]

And I wish we could have world peace...pardon me why I cry.

[jdennis82]

You know, it looks like the two organizations above seem to be focused on promoting and being in charge of spirit at the football games.

Here is how our school of music sees it.

"Green Brigade Marching Band

The University of North Texas Green Brigade Marching Band enjoys a reputation for high quality musical and visual performances. The ensemble performs at a variety of athletic events throughout the year and is often the featured exhibition group at numerous marching festivals in the state of Texas.

In addition to being one of the most visible organizations, open to all students on campus, the band records annually and releases a CD of highlights every two years. An integral component of any music education major's curriculum, the band provides ongoing opportunities for the development of leadership skills. The 300-member Green Brigade is a powerful contributor to the growth of the future band conductor and embodies the spirit and pride of the University of North Texas."

So basically the Green Brigade is just a lab. And if they embody the spirit of the school, then God help us.

I wonder if the two bands in the utubes above worry about developing future conductors or ever bury their bands in the official university web-sites under "wind ensembles".

I'm thinking this is an example of how highlighting a single sentence in a paragraph can be misleading.

Without the emphasis applied, I read the sentence in question as a statement to a prospective student who wants to pursue a career as a band director that Green Brigade involvement will aid that pursuit. I don't read that as a commitment to this as the singular objective of the organization.

I think the Green Brigade does a great job of reaching both objectives - supporting the Athletic Department and developing music professionals.

[SilverEagle]

there are lots of reasons that the green brigade isnt what these schools marching bands are. just look at the caliber of athletic programs you are trying to compare to. if we were on the same level as them in ANYTHING then maybe the green brigade would have a little more "spirit" and prance around like that, but for so many reasons, that just isnt going to happen at UNT... no yet!

The caliber of other athletic programs is a very minor consideration. Except that I don't think their fans (Ohio St. Michigan, LSU etc etc) would tolerate the lack of showmanship that our current Band leaders display.

The main reason that the Green Brigade is not like the other Bands that have been shown on this (and many other) threads is because the Green Brigade is run by musical academics and/or prima donnas, and not showmen/musicians.

Here is an excerpt from Maurice McAdow's obit in an official NT publication.

McAdow's father was a professional trumpet player, composer, and band director. Maurice began his musical career playing cornet in a municipal band in Anthony, Kansas. At the age of 16, he played with tent shows and stock companies. His professional instrument was the trumpet and he played professionally in Chicago, Cincinnati, Cleveland and Detroit. In the late 1920s, he studied with Herman Bellstedt and with Edward Llewellyn, well-known member of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra. Beginning in 1930 he spent eight years of intensive study of the woodwinds, trombone and percussion with symphony artists. During this time, he played flute with the St. Louis Philharmonic Orchestra.

What the bolded part tells me is that Maurice McAdow had to work for a living as a musician before he became immersed in academia. IMHO his work in the music industry taught him what the every day people want....and what they want is a SHOW to go along with their music. Every Band in the B-10, B-12, SEC and PAC-12 understand that concept. But North Texas has become too musically aloof to sully themselves with such crude concepts as showmanship and making a big entrance......and inviting the fans to be involved in the aforementioned entrance.

When I have the occasional exchange with NT music majors who come to the defense of the current regime, I get reminded of that part of the movie "Yankee Doodle Dandy" where George Cohan and his business partner are trying to get the very aloof Fay Templeton to be part of one of their musical plays.. ....

(Fay Templeton" manager)

Fay, we're having a tough time...

...lining up a vehicle for you.

Now, you should listen to this man.

- He's just written a big hit.

(Fay Templeton)

- One hit.

He may be a flash in the pan,

for all we know.

And I heard about Little Johnny Jones.

And I read the critics.

Of all the loud, vulgar, flag-waving...

(Templeton's Manager)

Well, it was a wow.

I haven't laughed so much in years.

That fellow's got the golden touch.

Fay Templeton

Maybe so, but not for me, Mr. Erlanger.

What I want is a quiet,

dignified musical play.

I want to perform in a theater,

not a boiler factory.

Fay Templeton's agent

George, what's your new story like?

That is, I mean, can you write

a play without a flag?

George Cohen

Miss Templeton, I can write a play

without anything except a pencil.

-Fay Templeton..

- There's really no use discussing anything.

I'm afraid I would never please the people

who revel in your antics and fireworks.

George Cohen

You're being modest, Miss Templeton.

If you'd let yourself go, you'd be

just as entertaining as the rest of us.

You might even have fun yourself.

Any day of the week, I'll take a showman like Maurice McAdow and/or George M. Cohen over any of the Fay Templeton-like prima donnas that are currently running the Green Brigade.

[PlummMeanGreen]

I've been on record many times thru the years as being a huge enthusiast for the GBMB but I will say this...

...our entrance onto the Apogee Stadium football field pre-game does leaves much to be desired. I've just never talked about it until now.

Our present entrance sorta' reminds me of the school play back in the 3'rd grade when the teacher would tell all of us to "slowly" walk out to the "X's" she had put down for each of our spots on the stage. Of course, how else would we as budding actors have gone out onto the stage? LOL!

I would love for a "double step" or a Michigan Wolverine's band kind of entrance any day of the week and guess what? It would be our fabulous Green Brigade Marching Band who would receive all the attention, all the praise along with what I believe would be an even more thunderous ovation for doing such. Heck, who knows, it might get more inside the stadium early to watch this new phenomema taking place inside Apogee Stadium on Game Days.

It's show business and we should treat Game Days as such. Nothing ever wrong with adding a little spice to the cake is there?

GMG!

A Fair Challenge To Green Brigade'rs:

Try such an entrance "1" time this next Fall and gauge the home team's fan response. If it's merely a business as usual response then...go back to business as usual. Nothing ventured...nothing gained.

Edited January 19, 2014 by PlummMeanGreen

[DeepGreen]

there are lots of reasons that the green brigade isnt what these schools marching bands are. just look at the caliber of athletic programs you are trying to compare to. if we were on the same level as them in ANYTHING then maybe the green brigade would have a little more "spirit" and prance around like that, but for so many reasons, that just isnt going to happen at UNT... no yet!

Why can't UNT "prance" around like that? Do we have to be in a power conference to have a great marching band? No!

If Michigan, Texas, Ohio State and the other six, top marching bands in college football are considered the top bands, why can't UNT be number 10? Top 20? Become a college showcase band that people really want to see and hear perform. Take advantage of your strengths. Music.

Want to be a conductor? Let an aspiring music major go conduct one of the Denton HS bands on Friday nights for his/her credit hours.

[Mean Green 93-98]

Want to be a conductor? Let an aspiring music major go conduct one of the Denton HS bands on Friday nights for his/her credit hours.

That, or something like that, is part of the requirements. But much more is involved that that.

[MeanGreen13]

i do agree that more showmanship is due for the green brigade but i have honestly been seeing it here the last few years. i think that as the game day experience continues to grow and improve (as the team improves) so will the GB. its alot to ask some of these guys who are very involved on the highest level of marching music to "do it wrong" or what they would perceive as doing it wrong just to entertain the few people who show up to the stadium with no real interest in the GB anyway. attendance is growing. people are starting to care about GB and are starting to want the showmanship more. i think they will deliver but they will deliver in their own way not the way these other schools do it. there is a particular style that is the GB and they wont and shouldnt forsake that.

[FirefightnRick]

there are lots of reasons that the green brigade isnt what these schools marching bands are.....

I agree. And per my polite conversation with Dr. Willams recently, the main reason he gave me as to why they are not like the other bands, especially in regards to their stadium entrance, is somehow due to a lack of time?

The idea of "showmanship" has to do with not only the performance, but the marching entrance/exit into/out of the stadium before/after the performance. And when I politely asked Dr. Willaims why they can't simply march into the stadium just like they march down the sidewalk during the Mean Green March while escorting the team he said they don't have time to "work that in". And to be clear, I asked him a second time in a different, polite way to make sure he understood my question. Again, he answered that it was because of a lack of time, that they "just don't have the time to work that in".

I don't understand why it is in how a "march" down a sidewalk is any different from a "march" into the stadium, but Im not a band director, so what do I know? I dont understand a lot of things,.... just like I don't understand how you can't print enough tickets for an LSU home basketball game,...can't correctly fire the cannon every single oportunity,...get the model A's brakes fixed a year and a half after spending tens of thousands restoring the other 99.999 percent of it,...why we cant get a unified chant with a start and stop,...or why you give five year contracts to unproven people for their first head coaching job,...and,.. well you get the point.

So as we do and will continue to do, we just except it and keep going, supporting, loving and cheering our program on, hoping some of the little things improve along with some of the bigger things.

I guess it's sort of like the saying..."What doesn't kill you makes you stronger"?

"If it didnt kill or incarcerate you, then you must be Mean Green". Cause being Mean Green makes you stronger with patience, faith, understanding, love, supportiveness,.. and all the rest.

It's All Green and All Good!

Rick

[UNTFan23]

Very interesting....college football at its highest...

...and with a college marching band stadium entrance that will make Silver Eagle froth at the mouth--even made me do a bit of mouth-slobbering myself, Bill...

Love the indoor practice facility (hint, hint, hint) & it even looks large enough for a marching band to practice in, too, especially when its 110 degrees in August & September...facility arms races to always be in play (so get used to it)...Alabama coach basically says he's not worth his pay...Thanks Jerry "Goober'billy" Jones for all you do for local school's college football (not)

Long video (well, not "THAT" long) from CBS 60 Minutes but quite interesting and one that all who work in or just love college football should really see. No, most of us are never going to be a Michigan Wolverines kind of program, but we can still learn and adapt some of the things they do even in....Denton, Texas, America!

I like how we took a 30 second mention of a band performing in a piece about monetizing college football and turned it into a whine-fest over how the Mean Green Brigade marches/performs. Talk about missing the forest for the trees.

[SilverEagle]

I like how we took a 30 second mention of a band performing in a piece about monetizing college football and turned it into a whine-fest over how the Mean Green Brigade marches/performs. Talk about missing the forest for the trees.

Well, that happened because (funding wise, and attendance wise) we are not only very far behind the Michigans of the world, we can't, or won't even try to LOOK like one of the big time programs on game day. And THAT (because of our nationally recognized music program), is the only thing that we DO have the resources to do, .........and we underachieve miserably at that.

And believe me, there is no whine in any of my critical statements about our underachieving football game day band............none whatsoever..

Edited January 20, 2014 by SilverEagle

[PlummMeanGreen]

I'm going to start a thread called "The Old Folks At Home Down Upon the Suwannee River " just to see if we can turn that one into a marching band thread, too.

Carry on, Silver Eagle, I've known you long enough to know that your hearts in the right place with your constructive critiques and suggesting for a few mere tweaks for pre-game shows only to make our Green Brigade shine even brighter than they do already. None from the Green Brigade should take any of this personal because it's not mean't to do that at all.

I'd donate $100 toward a $1,000 Green Brigade scholarship fund (which means we'd need 9 others), if they'd high step, double quick step or just run out in unison onto the Apogee football field for our home season opener pre-game show this next Fall against SMU. Not sure they realize the kind of increased stadium noise they'd create doing such for the SMU pre-game.