ISU press conference about band situation

[CyOps]

Texas knows how to deal with situations like this.

https://www.businessinsider.com/texas-lsu-band-nosebleed-seats-2019-9

 

[Urbandale2013]

That was easily the post of the year on here, and Fact #3 is very much fact.



The problem is not the mentality of "do not break ranks" here.

The problem was trying to ramrod through a packed crowd.

I do not remember trying to do that in high school or college. Probably a reason for that.

This is my thing I understand both sides on the rank thing. It is important to stay in rank and all until they get to the bus. It generally makes everyone safer.

That said bands lately have seemed to become very entitled. They seem to think that they are the only people that matter and think they can just fight their way through any crowd. They also then like to whine that people get mad at them for it. Iowa State has some of that mentality too.

 

[keepngoal]

Some of you guys should stop arguing on here and just start sending emails to band directors with your wonderful opinions on what they should and shouldn’t do. It would at least be a more productive use of everyone’s time.

I don’t even know why half of you are arguing, we’re all on the same side. Explaining how a marching band operates is only to emphasize how bad of a decision their director made in sending them out the wrong way, not excuse them.

There is one who will notably and continually beat his drum with endless words and quotes. *cy*

 

[kirk89gt]

Iowa and ISU use the same security company.

Security is a strong term. Maybe even ushers is a strong term. This was the same group that couldn’t manage three stadium evacuations to save their lives. I am just thankful they weren’t “real” emergencies.

 

[MartyFine]

 

[Clonefan32]

Some of you guys should stop arguing on here and just start sending emails to band directors with your wonderful opinions on what they should and shouldn’t do. It would at least be a more productive use of everyone’s time.

I don’t even know why half of you are arguing, we’re all on the same side. Explaining how a marching band operates is only to emphasize how bad of a decision their director made in sending them out the wrong way, not excuse them.

Using "band operations" as a way of excusing this behavior is the problem, and that's what some people on here are trying to do. To me, the difference of opinion lies in the individual free will of band members. To me, they are adults and if they see themselves in a bad situation it is incumbent on them to do what is possible to diffuse or remove themselves from that situation. Continuing to march into that crowd, and playing your instruments with people that near, and swinging your instruments, etc. does none of that, and to me it's on the individuals who chose to do that to be responsible for their actions.

Can you imagine if I walked into a crowded room, swinging my arms and hitting people and said "hey sorry this is just the way I walk you need to get out of my way." It doesn't work like that.

 

[2speedy1]

Regardless of what hawk fans, administration, and media want you to believe, Ames isn't a god damn war zone. These are young adults, not 10 year olds. They can handle their own and would have made it to the bus fine. Nobody is asking these kids to go absurdly out of their line. Letting others mingle through the area would not have displaced them far from each other.

Yes, there are people leaving wearing hok gear and nothing happens. If everyone would have just filed out in a normal fashion. Walking like normal people nothing would have happened. Keep your mouths shut, act like adults, and walk normally in the crowd without marching nothing would have happened. Just like happens every day.

 

[cyclonestate]

Murph and Andy's KXNO quicky poll asked which university has done a better job responding to this controversy. Results: 86% ISU, 14% Iowa. That says it all.

 

[Sigmapolis]

Count me out of any group that requires being a mindless lemming smashing into a crowd of 10,000 people.

If that's all bands in the universe than take that as a dig of all bands in the universe.

Somehow I think reality is that most people in charge of a marching band don't send them into a shoulder to shoulder crowd of 10k and ask them to blow their instruments in people's face.

You cannot see (or really even know) much of what is going on from the band itself.

All you can see is the person in front of you to follow.

You take your orders while in parade from the drumline, who cue up various cadences/horn swings/dances and songs. Where the band goes and what exactly the drums send up for everybody else is at the discretion of somebody on the university's payroll.

The HMB kids did not have the angle that the overhead camera provided.

 

[BillBrasky4Cy]

If they wandered off while supposed to be at march without orders from one of their directors, staff members, a drum major, or one of their line captains?

Because they thought they saw a better way around?

Yes, they would.

You seem to think they had perfect information about what was ahead of them and how there were easier, safer routes around. I am sure few of them knew.

So they did the best thing they knew how to do and what they were taught --

Stay together and keep each other safe.

The problem was with whoever wanted to use that gate, not the kids in the band. The band is not a fan club. You do what you are told as much as the football team does.

This isn't Nam Donny, there are rules...

 

[mctallerton]

There is one who will notably and continually beat his drum with endless words and quotes. *cy*

Is this an invitation for open letters?

 

[HFCS]

So this was LockerRoomLieGate 2.0

What will the third case be?

We know the ingredients:
1. It'll happen in Ames
2. Some wrongdoing will be claimed with no evidence
3. Barta will smear ISU on national tv for a few days
4. Iowa students will turn out to be those responsible for the misbehavior and/or criminal action
5. Barta will not apologize for the smears

We could start a pool for what the next one will be.

 

[Sigmapolis]

So this was LockerRoomLieGate 2.0

What will the third case be?

We know the ingredients:
1. It'll happen in Ames
2. Some wrongdoing will be claimed with no evidence
3. Barta will smear ISU on national tv for a few days
4. Iowa students will turn out to be those responsible for the misbehavior and/or criminal action
5. Barta will not apologize for the smears

We could start a pool for what the next one will be.

Put me down for $20. I'm good for it.

 

[Alswelk]

So this was LockerRoomLieGate 2.0

What will the third case be?

We know the ingredients:
1. It'll happen in Ames
2. Some wrongdoing will be claimed with no evidence
3. Barta will smear ISU on national tv for a few days
4. Iowa students will turn out to be those responsible for the misbehavior and/or criminal action
5. Barta will not apologize for the smears

We could start a pool for what the next one will be.

Well, we've covered the football team and the band, that leaves the cheerleaders/dance team, right?

 

[CloneFan4]

An Iowa band member tried getting into Bergstrom and into the ISU locker room?

Well, well, well...

Say it aint so! Unbelievable! Insubordination of the highest order for "breaking rank". What say you band defenders? Obviously this young adult doesn't honor the almighty tradition like you do.

 

[Gunnerclone]

Say it aint so! Unbelievable! Insubordination of the highest order for "breaking rank". What say you band defenders? Obviously this young adult doesn't honor the almighty tradition like you do.

No doubt looking for war booty to plunder.

 

[CYEATHAWK]

ISU got it's name dragged through the mud.

And there it is.....mission accomplished. That was/is the exact reason why this is being done. Facts don't matter, the truth doesn't matter. Just the seriousness of the charge and bingo........guilty until proven guilty. Can't wait until early December in Hilton when someone yells boo at Fran and his boys and they scream bloody murder.

 

[oldman]

You can't tell me there were no Iowa fans in that crowd getting shoved by the Iowa band. And you can bet some of them shoved back.

 

[HFCS]

You cannot see (or really even know) much of what is going on from the band itself.

All you can see is the person in front of you to follow.

You take your orders while in parade from the drumline, who cue up various cadences/horn swings/dances and songs. Where the band goes and what exactly the drums send up for everybody else is at the discretion of somebody on the university's payroll.

The HMB kids did not have the angle that the overhead camera provided.

If I were "fearful" for my well being in a situation, steps A-Z would be to stop blowing a trombone in someone's face.

Anybody playing an instrument in that thick of a hostile crowd is either dangerously stupid or intentionally trying to start a confrontation. Certainly nobody playing an instrument was afraid in the slightest.

 

[Clonefan32]

And to the former band members I've been debating this with, I really do respect the band. I know there is considerable work and commitment that gets put into being a member of the band, and I imagine you do find yourselves in some compromising positions at away games. I don't mean to disparage the band.

I just think in this particular situation the leadership and members of the band were clearly at fault and in the wrong, and I struggle to find any justification for their actions. Differing levels of fault between the leadership and the members? Sure. But fault nonetheless.