To the person who threw a hat on the court...

[KaBullseye15]

with 29 people on scholarship the university is already giving you incentive to play at the games, so i wouldnt complain about getting paid. bball and the few football players on scholarship dont get paid to do their job beyond they university education they get.

[SMK4UNI]

My point exactly KaBullseye. If you are recieving a scholarship to play football, basketball, or an instrument you are already getting paid. Education costs a lot and I don't think that we should have to give band members money to play at games if they are already recieving money for a great education from the University.

That would be like in the corporate world if I just did my job but wouldn't attend any meeting unless they added more money to my paycheck.

[Newsbreaker]

If a student is indeed getting a scholarship to be in the pep band, they need to shut their mouths and be at every home game. If they are not, then either they are willing to volunteer their services on a regular basis or they are not. The Athletic Department, IMHO, shouldn't have to pay you to do it. There are plenty of other ways to create a good atmosphere.

I thought the band did a good job the few times I've been able to get to the dome. It's the same stuff they play every year, but that's the same stuff played in many gyms around the country.

I thought the entire "music" presentation was a bit forumlaic. They have mostly the right stuff (the reason those "jock jams" songs get played is becasue they work in terms of pumping up the atmosphere.) It seemed to me, though I didn't pay super close attention, that they were almost playing off a script. At this timeout, this specific song gets played.

That, in my experience, is the wrong way to go. Hire someone with a good music background, and change things up every game. There are HUNDREDS of songs that achieve similar affect, and hearing variety makes it more fun for the fans.

[Born-a-Panther]

It seemed to me, though I didn't pay super close attention, that they were almost playing off a script. At this timeout, this specific song gets played.

I'm not sure on this -- could be wrong -- but I think sometimes that has to do with the dance team and whatever dance they plan on performing. They have to have specific music to go with specific routines.

[PantherCat]

Geez, I LIKE Jock Jams. And, I even like hearing Jock Jams at a basketball game. But thats just me, I guess.

Carry on.

[Panthers#1]

Otherwise give me cotton eyed joe any time!

Are you kidding me? Go back to your trailor you red-neck . Personally, I would take the band but that is just me.

[Panthers to the Bone]

I'm not 100% sure, but I remember hearing a couple years ago where the pep band sometimes has conflicts with the number of hours they are playing and the actual number of credits the pep band class is. I could be wrong, but this is what I heard previously. Can anyone confirm this as being why the pep band is sometimes not at games during the semester?

[Panthers#1]

Maybe the band should show up for every game instead of not coming when they can't get paid. That would show some loyalty to me. Also, if they are paying for your services (which I believe they used to...and I think still are), then they are in control of you. Please God PLEASE, don't throw stuff on the court in St. Louis.

People are mad about a "Tractor" sign, yet we had morons in our fan base throwing stuff at the court and then...there are people condoning it on this site. Are you kidding me? No matter how piss poor a call is...you NEVER throw anything at the floor. What if that drum stick had hit Grant Stout in the eye...making him miss the last four games? Good idea then? Please...grow up.

I wish they made the band come to every game. That would be awesome. You know 2317 that I am always there.

[panther2317]

this is true #1

[Panthers#1]

I thought the band did a good job the few times I've been able to get to the dome. It's the same stuff they play every year, but that's the same stuff played in many gyms around the country.

I thought the entire "music" presentation was a bit forumlaic. They have mostly the right stuff (the reason those "jock jams" songs get played is becasue they work in terms of pumping up the atmosphere.) It seemed to me, though I didn't pay super close attention, that they were almost playing off a script. At this timeout, this specific song gets played.

I know for a fact that the entire UNI pep band is tired of playing the same songs over and over. The pep band really want's some new music. The problem is that new music cost money. I know that the students have submitted a list of songs that they would like to play but the pep band has only been able to recieved two or three songs because of the cost of new songs. Now you may be thinking, "Hey just ask the music department for money." Well, the music department is doing the best it can and it can't just give out $1000 for new songs. They have more things to worry about than just the pep band. The fact is that the pep band needs new songs and I don't know where they are going to get the money from.

[panther2317]

Don't feel bad...the MSU band is still playing the same songs...in the same order NOW as they were when I traveled with the Panthers between 1991-1995. How's that for stale??

[bonner97]

I thought the entire "music" presentation was a bit forumlaic. They have mostly the right stuff (the reason those "jock jams" songs get played is becasue they work in terms of pumping up the atmosphere.) It seemed to me, though I didn't pay super close attention, that they were almost playing off a script. At this timeout, this specific song gets played.

That, in my experience, is the wrong way to go. Hire someone with a good music background, and change things up every game. There are HUNDREDS of songs that achieve similar affect, and hearing variety makes it more fun for the fans.

Newsy, I will agree with you on this. What new songs would you add if you were doing it. I know one of the students that works the music at the West Gym, maybe he can push it along to the powers that be.

As for the band. I am surprised how many members of that group are PNers.

I think they have some good stuff, but they gotta pull it out, instead of the old stuff they play all the time. Especially the football rizz razz they play.

Sorry about the shirt comment earlier, the stripes are actually slimming!

[Newsbreaker]

I figured that BAP, on the dance team. I expect that, it's part of their deal. Other then staggering when the dance team performs (ie, the under 16 TO one game, then the under 8 the next), there's not much you can do about that.

I'm talking about the "filler," pump up the crowd music. For instance, you've got Cotten Eyed Joe at the same time generally two games in a row. People, usually unconsciously, pick up on that stuff, and it hinders excitement and energy.

What would I do differently? Well, let me throw out some ideas, as I'm prone to do.

I spent a summer working for a local sports team doing stadium music. Probably not hard to figure out who that'd be. Besides getting paid to watch ballgames (pretty much the best summer job a college kid could ask for), it was a ton of fun. I had my own "library" I carried into each game. This totals well over 10,000 songs. Obviously most of that never sees the inside of a CD player, but my goal was to keep things as fresh as possible. If I'd have had a hard drive system or laptop, it would've been even better.

Granted, Baseball is a different animal, with shorter periods between pitches to fill, and a whole different candence, but the idea is the same...to keep the crowd energy high during dead periods.

So one night I'd play a particular tune, as "management" had certain things they wanted in the program every night, but I'd mix up where in the game they went so things didn't get stale. Now I'm trained in hearing music patterns, and doing that sort of thing comes very naturally to me, but it's important.

That probably totaled about half the music used in a night. The other half I tried to mix up as much as is possible when you're literally running off two old CD players.

Cotton Eyed Joe is nice, but you can see some of the crowd with an "again?" face when it plays. Mix in some other things...YMCA, Pump Up The Volume, Takin Care of Business, What I Like About You, Boom Boom Boom...hell, there are dozens if not hundreds of songs. We have this video board, add in a "dance cam" during a timeout...things like that to keep the crowd "up."

I don't know who's job this is in the Dome, and I'm not on that person's case. This is sort of what I do for a living, so I have experience that person probably does not have, and I'm just saying with relatively minor 'tweaks' it could be a better experience for all.

[Panthers#1]

Newsy, I will agree with you on this. What new songs would you add if you were doing it. I know one of the students that works the music at the West Gym, maybe he can push it along to the powers that be.

As for the band. I am surprised how many members of that group are PNers.

I think they have some good stuff, but they gotta pull it out, instead of the old stuff they play all the time. Especially the football rizz razz they play.

Sorry about the shirt comment earlier, the stripes are actually slimming!

What good stuff are you talking about? There is the same old crap that they have been playing for a while. There is no good stuff. Do you really think the band likes playing that old crap? NO!! The band members can't do anything about it. The director can't do anything about it because the band needs money and doesn't have any. If you want good songs to be played by the pep band, make your checks payable to the UNI Music Department. If you are not willing to do that, then shut-up about the crappy songs. The band is doing the best they can with what they have. Go Panthers!!

[JCPanthers]

When I warmed up with the Lakers...I always liked the Rocky theme song...."Eye of the Tiger".