ISU press conference about band situation

[FinalFourCy]

"DON"T BREAK RANKS!!!! NO MAN LEFT BEHIND!!!!

JFC. Sorry but Fact three sounds ridiculous.

You called it gunner, the band is the problem.

BillBrasky jokes about it, but given the apparent militant nature of bands nowadays, the ISU fans were ambushed by the hundreds people wielding hard objects and refusing to stop (or break ranks in their militant worldview). I mean, what are you suppose to do when facing a group that thinks it's a battle?

If you're a fan, you think everyone is just trying to get out. But then you encounter a very large group that is both aggressive enough and not smart enough to figure out that "can't break ranks" doesn't apply here. And they're shoving their instruments into you while they try to ram though you, a hundred deep, in formation. While also intimidating you verbally. That's assault.

Orders do not apply here. The band members are at fault for being ******* morons, as is the band director.

 

[Gunnerclone]

Moving any group requires that stuff. And I enjoy bands at games. They're effective super fans.
But there were some band members that thought they were in some battle hardened military grade tactical unit. That was annoying in my years, and it sounds like it's worse now.

Idk man we used to travel as a club for soccer tournaments. 12-17 year olds being chaperoned by a 1 soccer mom per 15 kids and a few coaches that couldn’t really speak English. We somehow survived every domestic trip plus trips to Brazil and England without losing anyone or leaving anyone behind.

 

[Clonefan32]

This is why I am looking at whoever led them into the crowd.

The rank-and-file HMB probably did what they were told to do.

You have no control of where you are doing upfront from "J" rank.

Keep in mind this is all in reference to getting yourself to a bus. I can't imagine they'd court martial a member of the band who found a safer, alternate way back to the bus.

 

[CyOps]

If they "break rank" are they subject to a court martial and the firing squad?

Edit: Clonefan32 beat me to the court martial joke by a few seconds.

 

[Cyclones423]

Alright, some of you guys just aren't going to be convinced, just know that your "old man shaking his fist" type of opinion isn't going to change how marching bands have been operating for decades, so it's kind of a moot point. No one is trying to justify the fact that the band was sent through a huge crowd of people. This is about a poor decision by Iowa's leadership.

 

[BillBrasky4Cy]

I'm not justifying what the Iowa band's leadership did. What they did was negligent/reckless (which was fact #2). But the band's members are just following orders. Some of them might have even realized what a stupid, terrible decision it was while it was happening. But if they had broken ranks at that point, they would have just exposed themselves to even more danger.

 

[ArgentCy]

Wedge formation guys. Trombones... sorry you take the front line. Drummers, well you do you.

 

[TXCyclones]

This could all have been handled privately. ISU and Iowa could have talked it out. Both schools could have come up with more stringent policies to focus on safety.

The "both sides" thing is a bit silly. ISU handled this very well. Barta and the UofI have f'd this up horribly and have egg on their face. Now they're simply throwing red meat to their fan base to get them all frothy. Thank heaven we have Pollard.

 

[CloneFan4]

Alright, some of you guys just aren't going to be convinced, just know that your "old man shaking his fist" type of opinion isn't going to change how marching bands have been operating for decades, so it's kind of a moot point. No one is trying to justify the fact that the band was sent through a huge crowd of people. This is about a poor decision by Iowa's leadership.

Some of you are just ******* nerds. My god. Staring rationality in the face and you continue to **** on common sense. Despite what you think the world doesn't revolve around you because you're "in the band". Last time I stick up for any of you when someone makes a band dig on here.

 

[Gunnerclone]

Some of you are just ******* nerds. My god. Staring rationality in the face and you continue to **** on common sense. Despite what you think the world doesn't revolve around you because you're "in the band". Last time I stick up for any of you when someone makes a band dig on here.

#EndBandAlltogether

 

[Sigmapolis]

Keep in mind this is all in reference to getting yourself to a bus. I can't imagine they'd court martial a member of the band who found a safer, alternate way back to the bus.

You act like the band is just a group of fans/friends traveling together.

No.

They are performing for the university -- before, during, and after the game.

The Iowa band was not "done" or dismissed when the clock struck 0:00. They would not be done or dismissed until they were on the buses or even back to Iowa City.

We sure were not for the CMB.

You are in uniform and under the authority of your directors while there just as much as the football team is following Campbell and the coaching staff's orders on Saturday.

Parading out after a game is standard practice for a college marching band. Ours does.

If I was marching out and somebody in my rank of 8-10 members was found missing, especially if it was one of the 100-120 pound girls we had, I would have panicked and went looking for them and/or to the directors or cops for help finding them.

Having them randomly find their way back to the bus is not an improvement.

Marching out through an empty gate would be.

 

[Clonefan32]

I think the difference in opinion here rises out of the fact that I truly believe that an Iowa band member who is peacefully carrying his/her instrument back to the bus would have been just fine. This idea that they had to stick together for safety is where you lose me. The reason the situation was volatile is because they created a volatile situation. If they had not created it, I'm fully convinced they could have walked out like anyone else and got on the bus.

 

[LAClone]

If they "break rank" are they subject to a court martial and the firing squad?

Edit: Clonefan32 beat me to the court martial joke by a few seconds.

They subject themselves and everyone else around them to more exposure, increasing the risk of assault, harassment, and theft. The point isn't that they would be punished by the band for breaking rank: the point is that, in that crowd, breaking ranks is not safe. Especially when you're in a rival's stadium and you just squeaked out a narrow victory. When we were in Iowa City, Iowa fans would steal our plumes and mouth pieces, throw things at us, etc. When you're in parade formation, you can protect most people. When you're wandering by yourself, or even in a single-file/double-wide line, you're an easy target.

 

[Clonefan32]

You act like the band is just a group of fans/friends traveling together.

No.

They are performing for the university -- before, during, and after the game.

The Iowa band was not "done" or dismissed when the close struck 0:00. They would not be done or dismissed until they were on the buses or even back to Iowa City.

We sure were not for the CMB.

You are in uniform and under the authority of your directors while there just as much as the football team is following Campbell and the coaching staff's orders on Saturday.

Parading out after a game is standard practice for a college marching band. Ours does.

If I was marching out and somebody in my rank of 8-10 members was found missing, especially if it was one of the 100-120 pound girls we had, I would have panicked and went looking for them and/or to the directors or cops for help finding them.

Having them randomly find their way back to the bus is not an improvement.

Marching out through an empty game would be.

Honest question. Let's say some of the band members in the back saw what a cluster **** the rest of the band had walked into, and they turned around and went out the east entrance. Are you suggesting those kids would be in trouble with the directors? You really don't think they have the individual and personal discretion to avoid what they perceive as a dangerous situation?

 

[isufbcurt]

If they "break rank" are they subject to a court martial and the firing squad?

Edit: Clonefan32 beat me to the court martial joke by a few seconds.

You want the truth? You can't handle the truth!!!!!!!!!!

 

[ThatllDoCy]

"DON"T BREAK RANKS!!!! NO MAN LEFT BEHIND!!!!

I mean, you have to get everyone on the bus.

 

[CY88CE11]

After the next Iowa game, someone should follow Dochterman out of the stadium blowing a trombone in his ear.

I think a vuvuzela would do the trick and would be much more feasible. I bet you get punched for doing that.

 

[Clonefan32]

They subject themselves and everyone else around them to more exposure, increasing the risk of assault, harassment, and theft. The point isn't that they would be punished by the band for breaking rank: the point is that, in that crowd, breaking ranks is not safe. Especially when you're in a rival's stadium and you just squeaked out a narrow victory. When we were in Iowa City, Iowa fans would steal our plumes and mouth pieces, throw things at us, etc. When you're in parade formation, you can protect most people. When you're wandering by yourself, or even in a single-file/double-wide line, you're an easy target.

If any of this is true the bands have no business going to away games. That solves that.

 

[FinalFourCy]

Alright, some of you guys just aren't going to be convinced, just know that your "old man shaking his fist" type of opinion isn't going to change how marching bands have been operating for decades, so it's kind of a moot point. No one is trying to justify the fact that the band was sent through a huge crowd of people. This is about a poor decision by Iowa's leadership.

I was in a marching band. Intelligence was required then. What happened?

If bands are so militant that going through exits when there are other people is now a challenge that can be solved only by orders from the band director, then bands should not be in public settings.

 

[2speedy1]

How does this Moron get this job, I mean really? Who in their right mind thinks he has any idea what he is doing.

I will say this, I am so glad they have him, and we have Pollard.