Marching Band Deserves More Respect

I am a member of the marching band. From my experience at football games, I am aware that the student spectators hold much appreciation for the band.

However, I feel that the Department of Athletics isn’t so appreciative. This past Saturday, the band was forbidden from performing on the football field due to wet conditions. However, the football team, the cheerleaders, and even the fireworks crews were allowed on the field. I am aware than the Department of Athletics works hard to keep a good playing surface. However, marching on a football field doesn’t do any harm to the playing surface when compared to the football players running and tackling each other.

Also, the marching band always plays for the walk of champions. This is the football team’s march into the stadium two hours and thirty minutes before kickoff. However, on the Sept. 29 game against Louisville, the team arrived at the stadium only a few minutes before the band. Instead of the team waiting for literally five minutes for the band to arrive, the team simply marched into the stadium without the band. On the other hand, the band almost always arrives at the stadium before the team and waits, sometimes a while, for the team to arrive.

The marching band deserves more respect. If the band shows its appreciation for the team, the team should show some appreciation for the band. The student section supports the band, now it’s time that the Department of Athletics supports the band, too.

Adam Philyaw freshman, engineering