If you have been to a men's or women's basketball game lately, you will have noticed that the Pep Band no longer does its usual visiting team "welcome" when the opposing players are introduced. They are also not playing as much during timeouts and before gametime and halftime - more recorded music. The band is also smaller than it has been in the past.

I asked a band member at the last home WBB game about this and he said "someone" had complained to the President and so they were no longer allowed to do their pregame routine.

Really????? Have we become so politically correct that we cannot do anything that might offend someone? Did anyone ask the 2500 or so folks who come to each game who think that the Pep Band is a hoot if THEY were offended or did the administration let one person (obviously a heavy donor) have such an influence?

There have been years in the past when the band leaned much more on the not-so-nice side but that has stopped over the years. I remember the days of hanging a blue rubber chicken over the railing during Delaware games which was probably just that side of appropriate. They are not vulgar, sexist or even mean.....but apparently someone thinks that everyone needs to get a trophy for playing.

The Pep Band is a group that bleeds purple and has been so supportive of both basketball teams for years. Their musical ability is so much better than any other conference pep band and their creativity is second to none as well. I am disappointed...

I recommend you voice your concerns directly to Jeff Bourne and Jon Alger. They're the only ones who can do something about it.

(02-20-2017 02:21 PM)Potomac Wrote:  I recommend you voice your concerns directly to Jeff Bourne and Jon Alger. They're the only ones who can do something about it.

And expect to be ignored, instead receiving a generic response from an underling you did not address.

(02-20-2017 02:24 PM)HyperDuke Wrote:  

(02-20-2017 02:21 PM)Potomac Wrote:  I recommend you voice your concerns directly to Jeff Bourne and Jon Alger. They're the only ones who can do something about it.

And expect to be ignored, instead receiving a generic response from an underling you did not address.

As with many things at JMU, change won't happen as long as Alger is still president. This is no different.
If he ignores his university, then it's the responsibility of all parties to try to hold him accountable.

Another example of the wussification of America.
Those trumpets are just too darn loud.

Isn't Charlie King one of the ones that hates the pep band? Wouldn't be surprised if he was the anonymous complainer.

Did all of this start with complaints from opposing team head coaches? I thought I saw someone say that once.

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/fHMoDt3nSHs" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

(02-20-2017 02:44 PM)bridgeforthduke Wrote:  Isn't Charlie King one of the ones that hates the pep band? Wouldn't be surprised if he was the anonymous complainer.

That was the first thought that came to mind. It certainly wasn't just a random person complaining to make something like this happen. It had to have been someone high up. If King wasn't the one, I'm sure he was at least responsible for the changes to happen.

The level of support they give to both of the basketball programs, they should be treated with far more respect than they are. Kenny was one of the more vocal supporters and the ladies went out of their way to thank us.

The pep band would never strike, but they have no idea what kind of effect they truly have in the environment of a basketball game. Take them away and watch that place turn into a library.

(02-20-2017 03:17 PM)JMad03 Wrote:  The pep band would never strike, but they have no idea what kind of effect they truly have in the environment of a basketball game. Take them away and watch that place turn into a library.

^^^THIS^^^

A big amen to that.

The pep band at the Convo is worth the price of admission by themselves and at times more entertaining than what is being exhibited on the court.

(02-20-2017 02:44 PM)bridgeforthduke Wrote:  Isn't Charlie King one of the ones that hates the pep band? Wouldn't be surprised if he was the anonymous complainer.

I dang near spit a full mouth of ice tea across the room.

I asked a duke club staff member about that; A Duke Club donor wrote Alger complaining about the band being offensive particularly when the visiting team is introduced. This wasn't even a visiting team mom who was offended; it was one of our own.

Just another dagger in the gameday experience at the JMU convocation center. Last night I watched a video one of my friends posted on facebook; it was a game back in 2009, the place was pretty full, students still "packed" the floor, and it looked like a good time. Heaven forbid there would still be a lively student section on 4 sections of the floor. When I was in school my favorite section was the 4-row bleachers on the floor at the end of the visiting bench. I shared many opinions with a lot of players and coaches down there.

Nevermind that 100 people would write in to offer praise for one of the most spirited groups on campus... but one person ******* and we have to go PC-U. Soft.

completely unrelated: it tilts me so much when people are selected for in-game contests (bowling, streamer toss, bike race, etc) that these people are not wearing purple. Some are wearing other colleges! How hard would it be to say, ohh you can't be in this contest because you're not rooting for the Dukes. Wearing purple should be an automatic requirement for participating in game contests.

this has been another episode of "you know what really grinds my gears"

Wait, our leadership made a significant decision to change something due to the opinion of ONE person?

(02-20-2017 03:47 PM)Potomac Wrote:  Wait, our leadership made a significant decision to change something due to the opinion of ONE person?

would you call it a 'significant decision', or more of a 'hey you go deal with this so I don't have to'? That's the response that Hyper and I got from the director of the MRDs when we wrote in about the whole band going to Frisco TX.

(02-20-2017 03:49 PM)Deez Nuts Wrote:  

(02-20-2017 03:47 PM)Potomac Wrote:  Wait, our leadership made a significant decision to change something due to the opinion of ONE person?

would you call it a 'significant decision', or more of a 'hey you go deal with this so I don't have to'? That's the response that Hyper and I got from the director of the MRDs when we wrote in about the whole band going to Frisco TX.

I also wrote in but never got a response.

Maybe we can file a freedom of information act request to find the email from the whiny donor...and publicly shame them. They obviously don't represent the JMU spirit that we love.

We should write a bunch of letters to the admin complaining about how offensive it is that there is a live band at the basketball games that actually is paid to play at games and they don't let them play.

(02-20-2017 04:00 PM)olddawg Wrote:  Maybe we can file a freedom of information act request to find the email from the whiny donor...and publicly shame them. They obviously don't represent the JMU spirit that we love.

Eh I dislike this as much as the next fan but I wouldn't go down that path.

(02-20-2017 03:24 PM)Wear Purple Wrote:  

(02-20-2017 03:17 PM)JMad03 Wrote:  The pep band would never strike, but they have no idea what kind of effect they truly have in the environment of a basketball game. Take them away and watch that place turn into a library.

^^^THIS^^^

A big amen to that.

The pep band at the Convo is worth the price of admission by themselves and at times more entertaining than what is being exhibited on the court.

+ 1