On September 25,2010 I attended the U of A vs. California football game.When it comes to marching band in Tucson,of course the top of the ladder is The Pride of Arizona.
Unfortunately,I was not able to attend The Iowa Game,which was a great step toward creating a football culture in Tucson.Now having experienced the Pac-10 myself and having marched in two Rose Bowls,I know that the opening Pac-10 Game of the year is far more important than the Iowa Game.It was disappointing to find the crowd and the team flat.
It is really sad that only 11,500 season student tickets are sold for the year.A school the size of Arizona should have two or three times more student season tickets than that sold.With 10,000 students graduating every year,there should be a steady increase in season tickets every year.In 1978,The U of A drew roughly the same amount that they will this year,but the Tucson Metropolitan Area is at least twice the size as it was in 1978.
At 5:15,I watched the team arrive and walk through the band,to the stadium.This is the sort of tradition that the U of A has lacked.Kudos to Greg Byrne,The Athletic Director,for instituting this.
Last season I attended the Central Michigan Game,and earned the ire of my friends,when I insisted on getting to the game in time to see the pregame show.Unfortunately,there was no pregame show.So,I was very happy to see that the band is doing pregame this year!
Another thing I was happy to see was that the band did not go to the concession stand in the 3rd quarter,and seemed to have a high energy level the entire game.
The band and the crowd have to learn when to get loud and when to be quiet.The most formidable force in athletics is a home crowd when the opposition has the ball.The band should play after every play on defense.I love Kashmir and The Pink Floyd that the POA play on defense.Those are perfect songs to inspire the defense and intimidate the opponent.The Imperial March is good also,I just wish they would play it faster.
On offense,I really like it when the band plays the last chorus of the fight song every first down,it creates a nice feeling of momentum.It is critical though that The Drum Major watch the chains and the officials so that they can play before the team is calling signals,especially in the no-huddle offense.Other than that,there really is no other time the band should play on offense.Just like the way the basketball band plays the exact right thing at the exact right time,as the football culture grows,the marching band needs to develop that same skill.
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