wolpherine2000

October 9th, 2016 at 3:32 PM ^

Kudos then to the Rutgers band for having some perspective and trying to salvage something from the day. Things are different in NJ. Where Michigan can have a nevergiveupthosewhostaywillbechampions attitude and reasonably expect one day it will work out for us, for Rutgers that's just worthless self-delusion.

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Mr. Elbel

October 9th, 2016 at 4:14 PM ^

my question is: how do they know the notes? it can't be the easiest song for an entire band to just pick up and play on the fly. my guess: they came in having learned it so that they could troll us with it should they win, but then decided to troll themselves instead.

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Michigantrumpet82

October 9th, 2016 at 4:54 PM ^

I was at the game -- and will put my MMB credentials up against Bando's any day...

1. I and many old MMB alums sitting with me thought it was a great, classy gesture. Rutgers was down 57-0 at the time. Everyone was drenched from rainpour since mid-afternoon. The Michigan faithful were clustered in the top reaches of the stadium. Much appreciated - and roundly applauded.

2. Bando is right - it is traditional for a B1G marching band to play the opponent's fight song as a part of pregame. Pay attention the next home game. After the floating Block M makes it's way back across the field from the the student end zone, playing The Victors, Carl Grapentine will say: We salute our visitors, The Fighting Illini ... at which point the MMB plays their fight song.

3. In answer to someone's question, this is why the Rutger's band had The Victors" music. They had already played it as a part of their pregame. It's not like they brought it expecting to be blown out.

Thought it was a remarkable example of good sportsmanship. Please do not think that MOST MMB people somehow feel the need to denigrate Rutger's band for this.



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MMB 82

October 9th, 2016 at 8:36 PM ^

in the stands back in '79, it was 28-0 and Kansas ran a punt back for a TD in the fourth quarter to make it 28-7. We were none too enthused about doing so. Glenn Richter was kind of the Rich Rod of the Marching Band directors, not a good fit with the MMB traditions.

As mentioned above, it is a B1G tradition to "salute the opponent" by playing their fight song during pregame. We usually played it straight up, but some opponents would insert a nasty key change right at the end of The Victors just to mess with our fans. At least back then, it wasn't as common to do this in other conferences. Other than Kansas we never played the opposing team's fight song in the stands that I could remember during the four years I was in the Band.

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Michigantrumpet82

October 10th, 2016 at 3:04 PM ^

Correct about the playing of the opposing team's fight song during a game in the Richter year(s).

Just because MMB generally doesn't play the opposing teams' fight songs during the game (as opposed to the traditional pregame salute) doesn't mean that Rutgers should be denigrated for doing so. Since when has it been 'It's got to be Michigan's way and only Michigan's way?"

I certainly recall the MANY discussions about how our own striving 110% for excellence was not to be coupled with tearing down the other bands. We clapped for them at the end of their performances and told them "Good show". Because ... band. Because that is how we represent. Because that is good sportsmanship. Because we elevate ourselves by being the best, not by trying to tear down and lower someone else.

It was a wonderful display of good sportsmanship by Rutgers Band. Those of us (MMB and others) actually at the game appreciated it.



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rschreiber91

October 9th, 2016 at 6:13 PM ^

The reason nobody remembers this happening during a Buckeyes game is because it's only done by the home team's band when the road team's band isn't there. It's a courtesy for the away team's fans that don't have a band of their own at the game, and the RU band leader said that the same courtesy had been extended to their fans at other Big Ten games when their band didn't travel.

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drzoidburg

October 9th, 2016 at 6:26 PM ^

If they had done it when the score 7-0 the fans would have reason to be pissed, but i'm told at the time they did it the score was in the 60s and almost Rutgers fans had left. The only customers left were Michigan fans so why not? Let's be honest too. If they could, everyone at Rutgers would've gone to Michigan instead. For example, the top recruits in NJ

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Carcajou

October 9th, 2016 at 7:02 PM ^

I would like to hear from current or former members of the MMB.

I'd expect they actually enjoy learning other team's fight songs, and taking of any chance to perform, including engaging visitors.

"You get better at playing music in front of an audience by playing music in front of an audience", or something like that.

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Soulfire21

October 9th, 2016 at 7:45 PM ^

I was at the game and I appreciated that they came over to the visiting section to play The Victors. One could consider it being a gracious host. I was familiar with the pregame tradition of playing the opponents' fight song but in the away games I've been to I don't recall them playing it for us later.

Besides who in band wouldn't want to play college football's greatest fight song?

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