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Berkman · Posted: Wed Jan 25, 2012 9:39 pm Post subject: HOCKEY BAND

I thought there was a thread on the "hockey band" but I could not find it. The band director spoke at the luncheon today for the first time. He is really into going to all of the sport games that he has been able to attend including hockey and he and his wife are becoming big hockey fans. The topic of a hockey pep band came up and he said that he was going to look into possibly having a hockey pep band. Then Toot came up to do his talking about the team, upcoming games against Lowel and the possibility of a hockey pep band. He had several conversations with George Parks over the years about the possibility of a hockey pep band and there were several problems/conditions that needed to be considered. Toot said that at one time George suggested that Toot give up one of his scholarships to help form a pep band and that was not a possibility. However the band was/is a time consuming effort on the part of the band members. They always practice every day and with the effort for FB and the man's and woman's BB games and adding a pep band for hockey would put quite a demand for those that would be willing to play and manage to keep up their school work.

Besides playing at FB and BB the band goes out of town to participate an other concerts/shows like at Indy every four years. Then they also go to NJ and PA and all of this requires a lot of practice and time away from campus.

The band director is really looking forward to the halftime shows at the Patriots stadium next season. He said that the band would be leaving the campus around 7:30 AM to get to the stadium to have about an hour of practice before the game and with the post game concert that would make for a long day for the band. However no one is complaining. He is also looking forward to playing at some of the MAC away games. The band will be playing at the UConn game this fall and when we play BC at the Pats stadium. They were not allowed to do a show at the BC game this year as everyone knows.

Toot also said that at one time the athletic dept. tried to have a pep band for hockey but I don't know when. They would pay the band $ 25 each for each game but the problem was that it was not formally organized and usually did not have the same players for each game so that band was abandoned. Bottom line is that Toot and the band director will get together sometime in the future in hopes that something can be worked out to organize a pep band for hockey.

I think that I covered most of the stuff that was said about a hockey band but if someone else was at the luncheon and I missed something or said something wrong feel free to add/correct me.

One other thing we noticed that there was some initial construction going on on the east side of the campus pond and a guy that sits at the same table that I do said that they were making a sot for the construction trailers that would be coming on site for the start of the new academic building to be built there that will adjoin and hook up into Hasbrook. Also steel is starting to be put up for one of the buildings of the honor college between Boyden and the RAC center. Four huge cranes are working at the site. I anyone who has not been on campus since the fall and is going to the BB game on Sat. I would recommend checking the site out.

alan · Posted: Wed Jan 25, 2012 10:09 pm Post subject:

That's good news, Berkman, but I will reserve elation until it actually happens. I can't believe Parks wanted Toot to give up a scholarship to have a band. What a jerky thing to do!
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Berkman · Posted: Wed Jan 25, 2012 11:12 pm Post subject:

That is what he said. Don't know if the request was made in jest or not. The only thing about a hockey band is that there is a limited time that a band can play compared to FB or BB as there are no regular time outs to allow a band to play. Outside of before the game, between periods or after the game when could a band play?

hatsoff · Posted: Thu Jan 26, 2012 10:21 am Post subject:

What's one scholly worth these days? Hard to believe there aren't enough of us out there to direct that much in contributions to the cause... I'm in for 5% any time the commitment is made.

There are successful hockey bands playing 30 second to 2 minute riffs and shorts at every stoppage of play in virtually every other College arena. No reason what-so-ever this couldn't be duplicated or improved on at Mullins.

My guess is, based on student attendance, that the personnel for pretty damn good pep band is at every home game when the students are on campus. Intersession and breaks might be an issue, I know it was for us 25 or so years ago when I was at BU.

meff · Senior Joined: 10 Nov 2003 Posts: 896 Location: Hanover

jjmc85 · Posted: Sat Jan 28, 2012 6:25 pm Post subject:

1) Giving up a scholarship for a band is one of the dumber ideas I've ever heard. I can't believe anyone would suggest that.

2) Does basketball really have that many more stoppages than hockey? Don't forget, there are two HUGE breaks between periods. There is ample time to play if desired.
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hatsoff · Posted: Wed Mar 14, 2012 3:30 pm Post subject:

The athletic office just called looking for my comments on my experience as a hockey season pass holder.

Asked what could make my experience better I said "get a pep band", other than beer sales it was the first thing that came to mind.

I urge others getting the call to say the same...

POLAND · Sophomore Joined: 07 Jan 2008 Posts: 239

I would have said get a new coach, pep band, and sell beer. Problem solved. Very Happy

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