Is it true? The Aggie Band will be moved due to a conference agreement to keep bands away from opposing team's benches.

E-Mail I received.

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Speaking during the league's annual football media days, Weiberg also stressed two game-day issues: moving school bands from behind the benches of opposing teams, and the Big 12's continued efforts to prevent fans from rushing the field after games.

Bands were sitting between the two 25-yard lines, Weiberg said, and were mainly a noise problem for the opposing bench.

"There's really no good reason for bands to be in that location," Weiberg said. The conference is stressing that member schools make their "best efforts" to keep bands away from the benches in 2006 and will require them to comply in 2007.

This year, schools are filming public service announcements starring coaches and players, reminding fans not to rush the field after games, Weiberg said. The conference is now requiring members to monitor fans with video and to increase security around visiting teams' bench areas.

The issue is not one of the conference wanting to ruin fans' celebration, Weiberg said, but of concern for their safety.

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Jim '85
West Side 311
Steers and Queers, no place but Austin.

It is true. Lots of posts on it yesterday. We can try to fight it but this seems done.

Any posted source for this?

Say it isn't so....

NCAA is pathetic. They spend their time talking about this kind of stuff and not trying to figure out how to determine a true national champion every year.

Next they will probably align themselves with PETA and try to get all schools to stop using live animal mascots. Just like they are trying to ban native indian mascots.

What is the guess where they would be moved?

I'm thinking over in the corner near the zone

we have to make our "best efforts"


doesnt mean we have to do it.

I don't think the conference can us do it. At least I hope not.

IF the band were to move anywhere, it would be toward the zone. There's no way they would put them on the south end by the visitors for at least 2 reasons: that could cause problems with opposing fans, and before halftime the band would have to walk THROUGH the team's bench area to get to the north endzone.

Would they just not have to move down a couple of sections toward the Zone to not be behind the visitors bench? Or do the have to be ihn the endzone or oppisite side of the field?

Does not seem it would be that hard to comply.

Why don't they just move the stupid footbll team down a few feet in front of the visitors section. Is there a constitutional law that they have to spred out the length of the field? They'll still have the student body to contend with. Soon will they not allow the fans in the stadium? Too much noise, can't have that.

For Dave - the whole article is here:
http://www.aggiesports.com/stories/072606/football_20060726038.php

Isn't the location of the band fine as is? I didn't think we were that close to the visitors section..

Actually this may work out in our favor. At present the band may cause some noise problems for the opposing team but in reality it can not be heard through out the stadium because of it's location. Our band is easily drowned out by opposing bands on the east side of the south end zone. The best place for our band from an intimidating point of view is the South End Zone. We need to build the band their own stands directly behind the goal posts in front of the new score board. The band would turn the most unintimited area of Kyle Field into the most intimidating area. All of Kyle Field including all of the student seating would finally be able to hear the band play. Since long term the south end will be filled in any how it would be the perfect time to establish it's new area and determine all of it's needs for a permanent location. I see this as a big positive in making Kyle field louder and more intimidating. Of course nothing would happen before 2007 anyhow but the Band would actually improve the atmosphere of Kyle Field by being in an area where the Entire Stauium could hear them.


Full Speed Ahead - Fire At Will - Gig'em

Shoot I dont wanna seat over there! I've been looking foward to sitting in the band section all summer!

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we have to make our "best efforts"


doesnt mean we have to do it.

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In 2006, we have to make "best efforts". According to the article, in 2007 it will be a requirement.

09,
I don't think it would be a punishment. I think it would enhance Football at Kyle Field. Case in point, at the Kansas State game last year in Manhattan, The Band was seated in the end zone. Prior the game their video board had the usually sounds and music entertainment. After the first couple of songs from the Aggie Band they turned up the sound in an effort to drown out the band. From that location the band neutralized anything intimidating about their stadium. It would be the same at Kyle.

Full Speed Ahead - Fire At Will - Gig'em

[This message has been edited by zagman (edited 7/27/2006 11:51a).]

Gavaggieboy09,

FYI, you probably won't have much time to watch the game anyways.....

I had 50 yard line seats all 4 years..whoop I must say that it was also fun getting inside the heads of a few of the players. I hate to see the band move, but as long as we can get the numbers back up to when I was there then that will make me happy.

Is the song still sung at chow anyone?

Our band doesn't play except during breaks in the game. We play after a punt and during time outs. I can't see the band being that big of a distraction to the opposing team.

Now if the t.u. band sat behind the visitor's bench, I could understand needing them to move. That band never shuts up.

[This message has been edited by Federale01 (edited 7/27/2006 1:07p).]

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Is the song still sung at chow anyone?

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They sing it but it is always promptly drowned out by the banging of hands and glasses on the tables.

we need to stand up as a fanbase and say NO. we need to get the support of our president and AD behind us. we cant let this happen ags.

Mazag, in the scheme of things is this really a big deal? Get Gates involved??? A bit overdramatic IMHO.

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we need to stand up as a fanbase and say NO. we need to get the support of our president and AD behind us. we cant let this happen ags.

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What makes you think they are going to stand up for the band, when they are taking down all of the lettering around Kyle and replacing it with crappy ribbon board to flash TOUCHDOWN!!! when we score.

I could care less if they move the band, it's the lettering being taken down that takes away from the look of Kyle.

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Ogres!! Man I've got an ogre slaying knife, its got a +9 against ogres!!!

There was a day when penalties could be called on the crowds for being too loud... I guess that will be the next change.

Penalties can still be called on crowds for being too loud. I like the south end zone idea, would be much better heard and much louder. As for moving them down where the visitors are, we have to give those seats to the opposing team. Big 12 rules state that opponents sit in the south endzone, or if there is none as close as possible to it.

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You have got to be kidding me. I've never been one to play the Old Army card but some day that place is going to be unrecognizable to me. I will never cease to be an Aggie but that place will eventually cease to be Aggieland.

My email to the big 12 commissioner. His email address is at the bottom

Dear Mr Weiberg,

I read your comments from the Big 12 media day about enacting a policy that requires moving all Big 12 bands outside the 25 yard lines. First of all, this is not your responsibility to mandate seating arrangements in stadiums. Please let me know how seating falls under the Commissioner's responsibilities. Second, if bands are breaking the rules as they currently stand, which means not playing while the opposing team's offense is at the line of scrimmage, enforce the rules.

As a former Aggie Bandsman, I was around in the mid-eighties when there were no rules about when we played, and I was around after the rules were enacted limiting our playing time. We respected the rules and abided by them. Because other bands don't, why punish everyone.

College football has existed for, at A&M, over 100 years. Where bands sit has never been an issue and, amazingly the football has still been great. Heck, even the sooners and longhorns won national championships in the past decade with bands sitting where they did. Was there an outcome affected by a band that we don't know about?

Please, help me understand your rationale and where your authority comes from that would allow you, the Commissioner of the Big 12, to dictate to schools where their bands can sit.

I anxiously await your reply.

Respectfully,

Chris Caraway
Aggie Bandsman
Class of 1988




IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO COMMENT ON THIS THE BIG 12 COMMISSIONERS E-MAIL IS
klw@big12sports.com

This is just idiotic. This is not an enclosed basketball arena with the band 6 feet from you. We are talking open air, 25 feet away, with an army of 50 guys to shield you from noise.

Any coach who can't communicate with his team or is rattled because of THAT is in the wrong profession.

Common Sense. Very uncommon nowadays.

Can the XII possibly be any more pu$$iefied?

I hope Byrne tells the XII front office to stick it where the sun don't shine.

The Big 12 Commissioner's canned response I already received 1 hr, 13 minutes after I sent my email:

Dear Chris,



Our Conference policy regarding bands is not intended do be disrespectful of the bands at our universities or the young people who perform in them. We just don't believe those bands should be located behind the visiting team bench. If the home administration wants the band to be behind its team area, we would have no problem with it.



This policy was discussed by our membership and adopted by vote of our athletics directors, faculty representatives and presidents and chancellors.



Thanks for writing and expressing your concern.



Sincerely,



Kevin Weiberg

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We just don't believe those bands should be located behind the visiting team bench

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I wonder what response you would get if you wrote him back and simply asked "why?" to gain his rationale for pushing this proposal. Nothing in his response to you Chris gave any insight or information as to why its important to move the band.

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If the home administration wants the band to be behind its team area, we would have no problem with it.

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No know da** well that no school will move their band behind the home team...too many big bucks seats there.

And that's what it's really all about...the bucks. Since the students sit on the East side, behind the opponent's bench, moving the Band to outside the 25's will be followed by moving the rest of the students as well, to allow for 50 more yards of big ticket seats to be sold to fat cats, and the students be da**ed!

Might as well not allow the Band or any students into the stadium, just let them watch it from their dorms. They're already replacing the Aggie Band playing with canned crap from the jumbotron, right?

Division 1 College football is no longer about the college, traditions, Bands, or students. Byrne has shown us that with all the new gimics he's adding to the field...all in the name of "building champions".

He's taking away all that we once thought were untouchable, and turning Kyle Field into a cash cow.

One Southwest Conference band director of the (Adams) era reportedly said "I dread going against the Aggie Band...It takes two weeks to recover from the trauma."

Essayons,

Flaggie
FTAB '69

[This message has been edited by flaggie (edited 7/27/2006 8:00p).]

[This message has been edited by flaggie (edited 7/27/2006 8:25p).]

TCR's email:

Dear Mr Weiberg,

I read your comments from the Big 12 media day about a new policy that requires moving all Big 12 bands outside the 25 yard lines. I am a Proud Member of the Texas A&M Class of XXXX and have been a season ticket holder since my graduation.

First of all, this is the silliest thing I have ever heard. At Texas A&M, the Fightin' Texas Aggie Band has been located behind the visiting teams bench for generations. This is part of our gameday atmosphere. What's next, penalties against our team because our students are loud? I think that you telling us to move our band is the whiniest thing I have ever heard. At first I thought it was a joke, then I realized that you were serious. Let me state clearly, that I would rather our school leave the Big 12 Conference and find affiliation elsewhere than move our band. I am sending an email to our Athletic Director, Bill Byrne, urging him to ignore your silly and childish directive. I ask you to rescind this ludicrous notion and let college football be.

Kevin, I am still at a grave loss to understand your reasoning and power that would allow you to come up with such a silly notion as directing us to move our band from behind the visiting team's bench.

Again, I seriously urge you to rescind this directive due to its elementary and juvenile nature.

Regards,

The Chicken Ranch,
Parts Unknown, TX