Let's hear it for the band!!

[largebluej]

The UK marching band has caught a lot of grief from a lot of people (including myself) on this board and a lot of other places over the years. . . .a lot of it deserved. . . .but I thought they did an outstanding job at halftime today. . . never in my wildest dreams did I ever think our band would lead off their show with "Fat Bottomed Girls" (even if it was just the first few measures). . . and they did an excellent job on "Bohemian Rhapsody" which lends itself very well to a marching band. . . ."Living On A Prayer" didn't come off quite as well, but an innovative selection nonetheless. . . .good job band!!...keep up the good work!!!....winning football seems to bring out the best in everybody. . . .

[Trueblujr]

Now if they can only add about 100 more members and do some formations that don't resemble the chinese alphabet or some amoeba shape, they might make for a very entertaining halftime show.

I remember going to games as a child with my dad, back in the days of Mark Higgs, Ivy Joe Hunter, Bill Ransdell, et, al. I remember a huge marching band.."The Pride of the Bluegrass" the "Power K" that marched up and down the field, and it wasn't just the outline of the K, it was a solid letter "K" that was about 25 yards wide and as tall as the field was wide.

I wish somebody had some old pictures of that from back then. Anyone have any old programs from the 70's and 80's that might show the band in action?

[lighthouse]

I think they sound great, now if they could just march in a straight line.

[BigBlueManiac]

Their national anthem sounded REALLY good today. It was a new arrangement.

ONE of my problems with the band is that there is too much seriousness going on before the game. 'God Bless America', followed by 'The Star Spangled Banner', followed by 'My Old Kentucky Home'. We're here for the excitement of a football game and we have to stand for 8 or 9 minutes in morbid silence.

Don't get me wrong. We SHOULD play the national anthem. With respect to the country, etc. I know some will think I'm a scrooge, but thats just my opinion. (At least they don't play 'My Old Kentucky Home' three times a game now like they used to. They're down to 2!!!)

[Kentucker]

The influence of William Harry Clark is still very evident regarding the band. He never understood the purpose of a marching band, IMO. Clark decided that the UK band would exhibit a concert style, which lacks exciting precision and volume. No one challenged his style because no one really cared about the type of performances that were presented. There was no pressure whatsoever on Clark to make the band compete with the likes of LSU, Georgia, or Florida. Heck, if you have a noncompetitive football team, why would you need a competitive band?

I have always preferred UK football more than basketball and I've always felt that our band was not a good marching band. Good for a concert, yes, but you can't even hear them on the opposite side of the field during an exciting game. At UGA and LSU, the band is key to maintaining an enthusiastic atmosphere of support for the players. At UK, meh.

[johnkyblue]

Sorry, can't agree. I miss the drum section marching up and down the field. I saw the power K once I think... it was awesome. Whatever they do now, I don't get.

That guy that runs the thing is a sorry sob. He wore a ditch mitch and rich shirt once. I could spit on him. (It could not be the same guy, in that case, I take back the sob part).

[ukcat1]

I do think that the band sounds much better this year. I think they are too small and it is my guess that the athletic department could do much more to support them. From years of watching band, twirling and flag competition, I can tell you that this is an area that needs great improvement. Unlike other schools, there is not even a small scholarship associated with twirling and when my relative was the featured twirler she had to buy her own costumes and all eqipment.

It is my understanding that the only upperclassmen who are in the marching band are the ones whose music scholarship requires them to do so or the ones who want to be in the Basketball pep band.

My relative was in the band for the Tim Couch outback bowl and the next year. She said that the Outback bowl treated the band like they were royality and that the Music City bowl treated the band like they were scum.

[BigBlueManiac]

My relative was in the band for the Tim Couch outback bowl and the next year. She said that the Outback bowl treated the band like they were royality and that the Music City bowl treated the band like they were scum.
I'd like to know the details on that. I know the chairman of the Music City Bowl, and I'm sure HE'D be like to be aware as well. "Treated like they were scum" is a pretty strong statement.

[bleedblue79]

I remember the power K in the pre-game show. Sitting in the east end zone when they hit their mark and turned toward us in unison playing the fight song it made my blood explode with adrenalin. It made me ready to go for the game. Every since they did away with it and starting spelling out Kentucky I have been mad. I have been told that they love the spelling of Kentucky because it looks so good from the upper deck, well I don't sit in the upper deck and I hate it. Stopping in the middle of the fight song and doing the SECOND SPELLING OF KENTUCKY just lets the wind out of any enthusiam that I have built up to that point. We're not stupid, we know how the name of the state is spelled.

The thing that gets my blood boiling now is the call to the post. Gives me chills and my husband knows I absolutely have to be in my seat to hear that.

I remember the featured twirlers, I always loved it at night games when they twirled the fire batons. We had a lot more majorettes then and a bigger flag corp. I don't know what happened to the band but I wish they would fix it.

GO BIG BLUE!!!

[BigBlueManiac]

I remember the power K in the pre-game show. Sitting in the east end zone when they hit their mark and turned toward us in unison playing the fight song it made my blood explode with adrenalin. It made me ready to go for the game. Every since they did away with it and starting spelling out Kentucky I have been mad.
The sad thing about the SECOND spelling of Kentucky is that nobody spelled it the FIRST time either.

I'm with you. Bring back the 'K' and get somebody to consult the band on what to do for a FOOTBALL crowd, and not to be whatevery they're trying to be.

Also, why isn't the band on the field playing for the team to run through at the begininng of the game? I love the 'O Fortunata' (sp) video, but it just makes sense for the band to be there at the moment the team runs out.

(I've refrained from this, but 'Bohemian Rhapsody'?!? Yikes.. At least we haven't had the annual 'James Bond Tribute' this year.... Yet....)

[ryanebelhar]

Livin on a Prayer went over well in my section :)

[POEKLM]

I guess I am just new(relatively) to the football side of things. I am just a Kentucky fan. I love the band running onto the field. I sit low so I don't care what kind of formation they make. They are students at the University that I love and support. I just can't find that much to fuss about. They sit out there in the hot and the cold and play the entire game. They can't leave when they don't like what they see (and probably wouldn't) or it is too hot or too cold. They are doing something for the school and the team.