The FMB is fighting back on X

[615dawg]

I said it last week - its about looking professional and taking pride in yourself and your university. I get that its hot. I have some questions:

1. Is there a more "breathable" band uniform that could be used?
2. How do other schools manage, some in hotter climates?
3. Should there be a conditioning test? How does Alcorn do it - because they had some big uns.

 

[dawgstudent]

I honestly don't get the discussion about this. It's the band. They are barely even part of the game anymore in Starkville. At other schools (LSU, Auburn, etc) - they are still a huge part. I enjoy the band and what they currently provide. If they stopped coming - it would suck. They are like LED lights - you have to have them even though it's not a move the needle thing.

 

[ZombieKissinger]

End the band and put the money toward more LED lights

 

[DerHntr]

I honestly don't get the discussion about this. It's the band. They are barely even part of the game anymore in Starkville. At other schools (LSU, Auburn, etc) - they are still a huge part.

Well maybe they’d still be a huge part if they’d wear their uniforms**

 

[Dawgg]

Our football team is undefeated going into week 4 for the first time in 7 years and has a win over a defending Power 4 conference champion and CFP participant.

Our soccer team just beat the #1 team in the country for the second straight season and beat the national runner up a couple of weeks ago.

Our volleyball team is having their best start in the history of there being volleyball at Mississippi State.

Band kids wearing mismatched shorts during the first few weeks of the season?

 

[ll Martain ll]

I would like to care about the band and have them be good. I don't care at all WHAT they wear, just make it match and be entertaining (they definitely need help on the entertainment part).

A good marching band is in the same category as the LED lights. 100% necessary? No. But it would be kind of fun to have.

 

[QuaoarsKing]

Wow, how humiliating for the anti-band trolls...

 

[Dawghouse]

Our football team is undefeated going into week 4 for the first time in 7 years and has a win over a defending Power 4 conference champion and CFP participant.

Our soccer team just beat the #1 team in the country for the second straight season and beat the national runner up a couple of weeks ago.

Our volleyball team is having their best start in the history of there being volleyball at Mississippi State.

Band kids wearing mismatched shorts during the first few weeks of the season?

This is exactly why people are complaining about the band. If we'd just get back to losing games people wouldn't need to find some random thing to complain about.

 

[615dawg]

Our football team is undefeated going into week 4 for the first time in 7 years and has a win over a defending Power 4 conference champion and CFP participant.

Our soccer team just beat the #1 team in the country for the second straight season and beat the national runner up a couple of weeks ago.

Our volleyball team is having their best start in the history of there being volleyball at Mississippi State.

Band kids wearing mismatched shorts during the first few weeks of the season?

Its part of the overall spirit and professionalism of our university. There are a lot of things at MSU that are good, but Good is the enemy of Great. We could be doing so much better if we focused on the little things. Many of us with high school aged kids have commented about how much better other schools are at recruiting. Ole Miss puts a hot girl to cover just five schools in Central Mississippi and State gets a dude to cover 150 schools from Madison to Natchez to McComb. Ole Miss gets in front of students every two weeks and State covers some schools once a semester then they wonder why Ole Miss is recruiting so much better.

This is one of those things. If I am a serious high school band member who wears uniforms on Friday night - it looks lazy to me and I am going to look elsewhere. Then you are stuck with mediocre band members who don't care.

Mississippi State is a good college experience. I want it to be a great college experience. If you are as an alumnus/fan/student/friend of MSU willing to accept mediocrity from the band, then you are willing to accept mediocrity from the housing department when they have to put three to a room, you are willing to accept mediocrity from Transportation when they screw up the parking passes, you are willing to accept mediocrity when they put Maron, Whit on the scoreboard or misspell Mississippi on the back of the baseball scoreboard.

You know what the best thing Mississippi State has done in the past year? On National Signing Day, firing everyone on the football creative team. They were mediocre. And look what has happened - football creative is exponentially better this year. That stuff didn't matter either, until you see what happens when you get rid of mediocrity and strive for greatness.

 

[SchrodingersDawg]

 

[QuaoarsKing]

This is one of those things. If I am a serious high school band member who wears uniforms on Friday night - it looks lazy to me and I am going to look elsewhere. Then you are stuck with mediocre band members who don't care.

This is not reality and you continue to have no idea what you're talking about.

 

[ckDOG]

I honestly don't get the discussion about this. It's the band. They are barely even part of the game anymore in Starkville. At other schools (LSU, Auburn, etc) - they are still a huge part. I enjoy the band and what they currently provide. If they stopped coming - it would suck. They are like LED lights - you have to have them even though it's not a move the needle thing.

I'm always impressed when I'm around awesome bands (LSU, TAMU, SWAC, etc). They add a cool atmosphere that we've never had. I took my FIL to an Ohio State game a couple years ago and was amazed with how band-focused they were and appreciated their band. He made us go to their skull session which is basically a band rehearsal/pep rally a few hours before the game and it filled up their old basketball arena. I didn't know there were that many people that loved the damn band. The halftime show was a big thing for a lot of people as well.

But that said - it's nothing we will ever match. No need to hold us to any of that kind of standard or make the attempt to get there. It's not in our DNA. Just give a respectable pre game march into the stadium and hit the right songs at the right time during the game is all I'll ever expect of us. We're capable of checking that box.

 

[The Cooterpoot]

Bunch of soft nerds*
Just let them be, their glasses fog up

 

[aspendawg]

Maybe this is a prime example of the Mandela Effect but in 2002 I think I remember the band wearing shorts and t-shirts quite a lot in the early parts of the year when it's hot as balls.

It feels to me like we're making a mountain out of a mole hill here. There's lots of things that I daily/weekly/monthly put in the 17it bucket and "What the band wears at halftime" is one of the first things I put in my bucket.

 

[QuaoarsKing]

Maybe this is a prime example of the Mandela Effect but in 2002 I think I remember the band wearing shorts and t-shirts quite a lot in the early parts of the year when it's hot as balls.

It feels to me like we're making a mountain out of a mole hill here. There's lots of things that I daily/weekly/monthly put in the 17it bucket and "What the band wears at halftime" is one of the first things I put in my bucket.

I was in the band in the 00s and we wore polos during the hot games. Its been that way for decades at MSU and at almost every marching band in the country, including the service academies.

There are a few bands that never do, and that's fine, but last week several posters insisted that specific bands never do until I posted photos that proved otherwise.

 

[aTotal360]

Feels like a lot of "I wore that stupid suit, so others better do the same".

 

[mstateglfr]

If I am a serious high school band member who wears uniforms on Friday night - it looks lazy to me and I am going to look elsewhere.

Kidding...kinda...well mostly...I think.

Obviously I want MSU to get as many of 'the best' that it can. I dont know how to measure the cost/value in some instances though. This is one such instance where I am not sure how harmed MSU would be if we didnt get the 4th best Trombone player in the state because they went to Ole Miss instead.

If the cost of the band were put elsewhere, in any number of places, would that actually give us better students in some other category/interest/major/activity?

 

[MStateU]

My word people. Why must we insist on finding something to be mad about?

 

[StillTbonewannabe]

I would rather the band have a good halftime show. The music selection getting to mediocre would be a Vast Improvement.

And now is the best of 1970s Diana Ross is just so boring that I honestly look forward to when they are done. It is amazing how a good show actually brings energy. Alcorn or JSU makes you want to actually watch and listen to the show.

 

[615dawg]

Kidding...kinda...well mostly...I think.

Obviously I want MSU to get as many of 'the best' that it can. I dont know how to measure the cost/value in some instances though. This is one such instance where I am not sure how harmed MSU would be if we didnt get the 4th best Trombone player in the state because they went to Ole Miss instead.

If the cost of the band were put elsewhere, in any number of places, would that actually give us better students in some other category/interest/major/activity?

The 4th best trombone player in the state is a 30+ ACT pre-med or engineering major who strives for excellence. Its not about being the best band, its about being the best representative of the university that you can be.

Every one of us that has been a manager or owned a business has had an employee that is like the FMB. They get the job done, but they don't take pride in their work, they do the minimum, etc. Its not a problem until we hire an employee that cares about their job, takes pride in their work and cares about making the overall product better.

 

[Bulldog Bruce]

It is just so hard to buy a $25 pair of khaki shorts. I would think you could get everyone shorts and a t-shirt official "Hot Weather uniform" for around $60 a person. Maybe get Mossy Oak involved.

 

[MoronDawg]

Have a little compassion. Some of our fans are still triggered by khaki shorts on the football field.

 

[vhdawg]

@dawgstudent Called it.

 

[QuaoarsKing]

It is just so hard to buy a $25 pair of khaki shorts. I would think you could get everyone shorts and a t-shirt official "Hot Weather uniform" for around $60 a person. Maybe get Mossy Oak involved.

As has been discussed extensively, everyone matches in the summer uniform.

The OP posted pictures of high schoolers last week who played one song with the FMB and tried to claim that it was the band itself not matching. (And also that's how we recruit the 4th best trombone player, letting him on the field to play with the band.)

 

[dawgstudent]

@dawgstudent Called it.

Also got an IT'S COMING out in the wild.

 

[Dawgg]

Its part of the overall spirit and professionalism of our university. There are a lot of things at MSU that are good, but Good is the enemy of Great. We could be doing so much better if we focused on the little things. Many of us with high school aged kids have commented about how much better other schools are at recruiting. Ole Miss puts a hot girl to cover just five schools in Central Mississippi and State gets a dude to cover 150 schools from Madison to Natchez to McComb. Ole Miss gets in front of students every two weeks and State covers some schools once a semester then they wonder why Ole Miss is recruiting so much better.

This is one of those things. If I am a serious high school band member who wears uniforms on Friday night - it looks lazy to me and I am going to look elsewhere. Then you are stuck with mediocre band members who don't care.

Mississippi State is a good college experience. I want it to be a great college experience.

Ole Miss’s band literally practiced in a mud hole until Alex McDaniel started a fundraiser to bring attention to it a few years ago.

Also, if I’m a 16-17 year old kid in Texas in a hot as balls band uniform on an August night and I find out there’s a college out there with the sense to put their band members in weather appropriate polos and shorts early in the season, I’m more likely to say “hey, let me give those guys a look” than I am to say “my God, how unprofessional”.



But… I mean… whatever gets you out of bed in the morning.

 

[615dawg]

Look, agree to disagree. It seems like most people don't think it matters, and it probably doesn't. I just want to see my university put its best foot forward. The FMB could be so much better than they are.

 

[PhiDawg]

Its part of the overall spirit and professionalism of our university. There are a lot of things at MSU that are good, but Good is the enemy of Great. We could be doing so much better if we focused on the little things. Many of us with high school aged kids have commented about how much better other schools are at recruiting. Ole Miss puts a hot girl to cover just five schools in Central Mississippi and State gets a dude to cover 150 schools from Madison to Natchez to McComb. Ole Miss gets in front of students every two weeks and State covers some schools once a semester then they wonder why Ole Miss is recruiting so much better.

This is one of those things. If I am a serious high school band member who wears uniforms on Friday night - it looks lazy to me and I am going to look elsewhere. Then you are stuck with mediocre band members who don't care.

Mississippi State is a good college experience. I want it to be a great college experience. If you are as an alumnus/fan/student/friend of MSU willing to accept mediocrity from the band, then you are willing to accept mediocrity from the housing department when they have to put three to a room, you are willing to accept mediocrity from Transportation when they screw up the parking passes, you are willing to accept mediocrity when they put Maron, Whit on the scoreboard or misspell Mississippi on the back of the baseball scoreboard.

You know what the best thing Mississippi State has done in the past year? On National Signing Day, firing everyone on the football creative team. They were mediocre. And look what has happened - football creative is exponentially better this year. That stuff didn't matter either, until you see what happens when you get rid of mediocrity and strive for greatness.

Megan (the Ole Miss recruiter in Central MS) isn't hot. She's 300 lbs and she probably wears a tent for a dress. Childless cat woman. But because she can't attract a boyfriend she has extra time to recruit JA kids. Im sure she has a sweet personality.

 

[johnson86-1]

I honestly don't get the discussion about this. It's the band. They are barely even part of the game anymore in Starkville. At other schools (LSU, Auburn, etc) - they are still a huge part. I enjoy the band and what they currently provide. If they stopped coming - it would suck. They are like LED lights - you have to have them even though it's not a move the needle thing.

Yup. I think I’d like it better if they were in full uniform….if it was pointed out to me. Not sure I’d notice if somebody didn’t point it out to me.

I’d say it would matter more that they were really into it and playing good music. But hell, for all I know they are. They are part of the background. I’m glad that they do what is as far as I know a relatively thankless job.

 

[mstateglfr]

The 4th best trombone player in the state is a 30+ ACT pre-med or engineering major who strives for excellence. Its not about being the best band, its about being the best representative of the university that you can be.

Every one of us that has been a manager or owned a business has had an employee that is like the FMB. They get the job done, but they don't take pride in their work, they do the minimum, etc. Its not a problem until we hire an employee that cares about their job, takes pride in their work and cares about making the overall product better.

Again, I wonder who we would attract instead if funding went elsewhere. What if we could get 2 30+ ACT students for the cost of that 1 trombone player, if some/more funding went to performative dance or competitive cheer or theatre productions?

Obviously its a hypothetical and easy for me to 'just ask questions' since my wondering cant ever be tested. But at the same time, its reasonable to question how much of a 17 should be given for band(and any other school sponsored activity).


Related note- MSU band has a freshman that went to my kid's high school and funny enough, she plays trombone in the FMB! 12 hour drive to play trombone in college. But another girl from the high school is at USA in Mobile...so at least it isnt a 15hour drive to play in a band!

 

[MagicDawg]

It is just so hard to buy a $25 pair of khaki shorts. I would think you could get everyone shorts and a t-shirt official "Hot Weather uniform" for around $60 a person. Maybe get Mossy Oak involved.

Personally, I prefer that we get better uniforms and if we must have a summer uniform, that it look more trim and dressy.

I appreciate the argument being made about health and welfare.

But please, for the love of heaven -- understand this.

The band's summer uniform *has* matching shorts.

All of those pictures y'all are complaining about are from the marching honor band high-schoolers who were present to participate in an extremely successful annual recruiting event.

Please read the X thread before continuing the bashing. The continuing misinformation about the shorts is just ridiculously lazy.

Oh, and I will be on the field Saturday in the alumni band, with a maroon polo and khaki pants. It will not be identical to what the band is wearing, nor to what the other alumni who travel in are wearing as we have been given color guidelines. We are given guidelines to make it easy to attend and participate. I personally look forward to this every single year. Come to the band hall Friday night at 7:30pm and listen to the alumni sit in with the MSU jazz band. Another alum and I will be taking turns sitting in on piano. Come say hi.

E♭ -- B♭ - G - E♭,
MagicDawg

 

[Bulldog Bruce]

As has been discussed extensively, everyone matches in the summer uniform.

The OP posted pictures of high schoolers last week who played one song with the FMB and tried to claim that it was the band itself not matching. (And also that's how we recruit the 4th best trombone player, letting him on the field to play with the band.)

So the picture at the top of this post is not our band in both shots?

I don't ever pay attention to the band so I wouldn't really know if it is a troll job.

And it's not lazy. I don't check the footnotes of anything posted here. This is not a phd level message board.

 

[mcdawg22]

 

[Dawgg]

Again, I wonder who we would attract instead if funding went elsewhere. What if we could get 2 30+ ACT students for the cost of that 1 trombone player, if some/more funding went to performative dance or competitive cheer or theatre productions?

Obviously its a hypothetical and easy for me to 'just ask questions' since my wondering cant ever be tested. But at the same time, its reasonable to question how much of a 17 should be given for band(and any other school sponsored activity).


Related note- MSU band has a freshman that went to my kid's high school and funny enough, she plays trombone in the FMB! 12 hour drive to play trombone in college. But another girl from the high school is at USA in Mobile...so at least it isnt a 15hour drive to play in a band!

Yeah, but is she the 4th best trombone player in Iowa?!?

What was her English ACT score?!?

 

[mstateglfr]

Yeah, but is she the 4th best trombone player in Iowa?!?

What was her English ACT score?!?

2nd best Tromboner in Iowa is gonna be 4th best in Mississippi. We cant compete up here.

All seriousness, both girls I mentioned would be examples of brain drain for Iowa. Iowa loses and the other states definitely win by them going out of state for school, since both will likely not return.

 

[HotMop]

They are barely even part of the game anymore in Starkville.

This is the problem, they used to ve a big part, now they've fallen into full suck mode.

 

[HotMop]

End the band and put the money toward more LED lights

And a better sound system to blast "Pump up the bass" at every stoppage.

 

[Walkthedawg]

I honestly don't get the discussion about this. It's the band.

I don’t either. Show up. Play the old fight song (don’t know why), lead the crowd with “M” “S”. “U”, play the fight song, play some assorted new song the blue hairs have no clue what it is, play “Louie Louie” for the 10 millionth time, get ran out of the stadium by a HBCU band with half the funding at the half, then play the alma mater at the end.

Boom bam done. Wrap it.

I don’t understand the obsession over it. Like you said… it’s the band.

 

[thatsbaseball]

For everyone on here complaining about our band I would bet somewhere there is a fan of another SEC school complaining about spending too 17ing much on their band . **

 

[DoggieDaddy13]

It really doesn't matter for these first few games. We played a ranked out of conference opponent in ASU. Our band brought the spirit and the noise. They were actually pretty awesome at that game.
They'll wear they their unis when they are ready. Probably at the Tennessee game. But if they don't, they will still be awesome.
Yay, Band!