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ENLARGE
Thomas Ranson
BEHIND THE PLATE
Grambling State University is nothing without its marching band.
And the same needs to be said about the Pride of the Sierra.
The "Best Band in the Land" dazzled 20,000-plus fans last weekend at Mackay Stadium in Nevada's home opener. The Marching Tigers performed several times over the weekend, including a free show at the Peppermill followed by shows at halftime and after the Pack's game with Grambling State. Nevada's band even performed with the Tigers after game.
If Grambling State comes back to Nevada for an encore performance, it might not see or hear an opposing marching band. Over the summer, UNR President Milton Glick proposed cutting the marching band and one of its directors after the end of this season. Told by Gov. Gibbons to make unrealistic cuts, Glick opted the easy way out with the band.
And the same needs to be said about the Pride of the Sierra.
The "Best Band in the Land" dazzled 20,000-plus fans last weekend at Mackay Stadium in Nevada's home opener. The Marching Tigers performed several times over the weekend, including a free show at the Peppermill followed by shows at halftime and after the Pack's game with Grambling State. Nevada's band even performed with the Tigers after game.
If Grambling State comes back to Nevada for an encore performance, it might not see or hear an opposing marching band. Over the summer, UNR President Milton Glick proposed cutting the marching band and one of its directors after the end of this season. Told by Gov. Gibbons to make unrealistic cuts, Glick opted the easy way out with the band.
Surprising, though, Glick agreed to have Grambling State 's band come to Nevada with its football team. How much did it cost to bring both the football team and band to Reno?
$50,000?
$100,000?
No, try again.
$375,000.
$50,000?
$100,000?
No, try again.
$375,000.
Grambling State showed that football games need music. Streaming radio or a playlist of stadium favorites blasted on the new sound system will not work next year. Not even bringing in high school bands from around the state will save Glick and the university from eliminating the college football experience.
Nevada is not Grambling State, though.
The Pride isn't flashy and doesn't have two drum majors dancing and parading in front of its band. Nevada has stuck to tradition since the marching band was created, and as a result, the Pride has pumped fans with the school song and the tubas have made every beer-loving fan happy after halftime.
Although Grambling State's marching band outnumbered its football team and Nevada 's band, music is music. The Tigers showed that marching bands today are a generation behind in marching choreography. Outrageous movements, incredible drum-line routines and hip dancing is what the crowd wants and enjoys.
"The routines use dance steps that are popular in different areas of the country, a technique accomplished by selecting students from various parts of the country to create routines," Grambling State's band Web site said. "Seventy percent of the bands is from out-of-state and only one-third of its members are music majors."
Nevada is not Grambling State, though.
The Pride isn't flashy and doesn't have two drum majors dancing and parading in front of its band. Nevada has stuck to tradition since the marching band was created, and as a result, the Pride has pumped fans with the school song and the tubas have made every beer-loving fan happy after halftime.
Although Grambling State's marching band outnumbered its football team and Nevada 's band, music is music. The Tigers showed that marching bands today are a generation behind in marching choreography. Outrageous movements, incredible drum-line routines and hip dancing is what the crowd wants and enjoys.
"The routines use dance steps that are popular in different areas of the country, a technique accomplished by selecting students from various parts of the country to create routines," Grambling State's band Web site said. "Seventy percent of the bands is from out-of-state and only one-third of its members are music majors."
Grambling State's reputation strongly preceded last weekend's performance.
The Marching Tigers have performed at numerous presidential inaugurations, Super Bowl and NFL regular-season games and countless NCAA football and basketball games. The band has even played overseas for several countries.
"The GSU marching band is one of the university's most important public relations tools," the Web site said. "For that reason, halftime appearances in distant cities often involve other considerations. Parades, high school clinics or impromptu appearances in inner city neighborhoods are quite common."
It will only cost the university Š though mostly funded from private donors Š half of what it took to bring the Tigers' marching band Last weekend's performance showed why marching bands are essential to college football.
Thomas Ranson can be contacted at transon@lahontanvalleynews.com.
The Marching Tigers have performed at numerous presidential inaugurations, Super Bowl and NFL regular-season games and countless NCAA football and basketball games. The band has even played overseas for several countries.
"The GSU marching band is one of the university's most important public relations tools," the Web site said. "For that reason, halftime appearances in distant cities often involve other considerations. Parades, high school clinics or impromptu appearances in inner city neighborhoods are quite common."
It will only cost the university Š though mostly funded from private donors Š half of what it took to bring the Tigers' marching band Last weekend's performance showed why marching bands are essential to college football.
Thomas Ranson can be contacted at transon@lahontanvalleynews.com.
