Definitive evidence of a program in decay

There are many ways to measure whether a band program is on the rise or decline.The easiest and most obvious measure is the number of members enrolled,and decidedly membership in The Pride of Arizona has steadily declined over the last five years.
Another measure is Alumni support.This is displayed in various ways.The most apparent from the outside looking in,is the size of the Alumni Band at Homecoming.Now there has not been a lot of longevity with the band director position which has a negative affect,but then again as the current regime continues it would stand to reason that those numbers would show healthy increases.
One of the most important components of a big time band program is a strong group of band alumni.They are the ones who start the ball rolling whenever there is any band oriented initiative.
In the last couple of years,the Athletic Department has recruited two of the best coaches in the country.Those coaches came to the university because they knew they could sell what the U of A and Tucson have.The atmosphere that exists on a regular basis at The McKale Center,that home court advantage that gives the Wildcats a boost as well as a daunting hurdle for the opposition,should be even more formidable at the football stadium.Creating that atmosphere is the beautiful thing about being in a College Marching Band.
Tucson is the perfect size to make Wildcat Football an amazing community event,and the marching band is in a position to be at the forefront of a truly awesome heritage.There is only one event in this town that brings such a large segment of the community together,and it should be a Tucsonan`s birthright to go to Arizona Stadium and take part in watching highly touted teams` dreams die.
When spectators are elevated to being participants,that is when people are truly entertained,and it is those moments that elevates and galvanizes a community.It is that kind of excitement that is far too big for television.The experience should be so significant in nature that there is no question that it is worth every dollar!