Battle of the Bands

[Rekdiver]

When we went to Michigan, their band blew me away. High stepping onto th field.
SCSU and the 101 blew me away and FAMU has shown me their stuff in the past.

I haven't seen other bands that rock like these. Who are the FCS bands that really get after it?

I wish my Band of Distinction would step out of the box a bit after seeing these bands.

[soccerguy315]

James Madison
UMass

if you like the HBCU style, there are a number of solid programs, though I am not as familiar with them.

[JMUNJ08]

Check out the SWAC or MEAC for the most part. Can't remember the exact teams.

JMU's band (Marching Royal Dukes) has been in the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade twice and is playing for the Virginia's governor inauguration in January.

[SU Jag]

Check the fcs band topic in the other sports section. There are a lot of videos from many of the fcs school bands. You can also check out the honda battle of the bands in atlanta in january. It is the biggest band event that features the hbcu bands and it draws over 60,000 people.

[jlcharles]

Hampton took a visit to the Main Line earlier this decade. They were utterly amazing. Only time I've ever paid attention to a halftime show.

[yorkcountyUNHfan]

Hampton took a visit to the Main Line earlier this decade. They were utterly amazing. Only time I've ever paid attention to a halftime show.

Watch JMU or UMass next time they come to town

[jlcharles]

I don't think either has performed at halftime at our stadium. If they have, I missed it.

[RookieWill]

Hampton took a visit to the Main Line earlier this decade. They were utterly amazing. Only time I've ever paid attention to a halftime show.

The Hampton band puts on a tremendous show. The vanillanova fans still don't know what hit them!

[Reign of Terrier]

Wofford has the best band in the history of the world

[Buzzcut]

The Marching Southerners of Jacksonville State are by far the most OUTSTANDING band I've had the pleasure of seeing. Something you must see to believe!

[ElonPride]

I always loved seeing the Blue and Gold Marching Machine from NC A&T.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cBaxgib6ofc

A great band!

[Eagle22]

The Marching Southerners of Jacksonville State are by far the most OUTSTANDING band I've had the pleasure of seeing. Something you must see to believe!


JSU is without a doubt the best band of an opponent I've seen at the FCS level.

Other notables up on that list include FAMU, AppState and UMASS, in no particular order. Chattanooga's is pretty good for their size.

Someone might chime in w/ Western Carolina .. they have a big band with good sound that is solid in the stands, but I'm not a fan of college bands that center their halftime shows around guitars and synthesizers.

[Eagle22]

Wofford has the best band in the history of the world

Certainly the most cost effective one xlolx

[umassfan]

The umass band is great. This year they did music from Pirates of the Caribbean. I made a video of it on my camera but after the show they said it was illegal to post on the web due to copyrights from the song.

[Jackman]

The only four non-BCS marching bands to win the Sudler Trophy:

Florida A&M
UMass
James Madison
Western Carolina

The next "smallest" name to ever win it is Northwestern. After them it's all the biggest college football names.

[GannonFan]

I don't think either has performed at halftime at our stadium. If they have, I missed it.

I was under the impression that nova forbade visiting bands to play at halftime or even after the game - that's the reason why UD's band doesn't go to nova anymore. They went a few times after being barred from the field, but since then they don't go. Pity. xsmhx

[The Cats]

Someone might chime in w/ Western Carolina ...

Why would you say that....

http://cf.wcu.edu/prideofthemountains/new/images/site/main/sudlermain2.jpg

http://www.prideofthemountains.com/

[Longhorn]

The only four non-BCS marching bands to win the Sudler Trophy:

Florida A&M
UMass
James Madison
Western Carolina

The next "smallest" name to ever win it is Northwestern. After them it's all the biggest college football names.

And JMU was the first CAA school to win the Sudler in 1994 (13th overall recipient), and UMass won it in 1998. Michigan's band was the first to receive the award in 1982, and Florida A&M won it in 1985. A program can only win it once.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Philip_Sousa_Foundation

[argh!]

nate schweber.

[SUjagTILLiDIE]

No one is better lol. Why are we even discussing this xnodx . I challenge anyone to post a better halftime performance.

http://vimeo.com/6470265

[Big Dawg]

No one is better lol. Why are we even discussing this xnodx . I challenge anyone to post a better halftime performance.

http://vimeo.com/6470265

Now you know better than to say that...xlolx

FAMU "ATL Classic" Halftime Part 1...The Drill
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K2U_p-_8Jfo

FAMU "ATL Classic" Halftime Part 2...Concert Selection
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mIF92LCPf88&feature=related

FAMU "ATL Classic" Halftime Part 3...The Dance Routine
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JmQMJchZAp4&feature=related

[Big Dawg]

Just one more clip

FAMU "Malaguena" at the end of the Florida Classic Football Gamehttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B0rjQqY1XRU&feature=related

[Rekdiver]

I hope some of the band from ASU is looking at this. This is the way it's supposed to be......

[Umass74]

FCS bands I like: JMU, Delaware and Big Dog's FAMU.

UMass Drumline plays cadence in 2007 (http://www.umassdrumline.org/cadence-2007/). Turn your computer speakers all the way up!

[Bam]

Tennessee State's Tiger band just ROCK'S.

[Zangzigger]

Marching Bands---One of the reasons why college football games are more fun than the NFL.

[blukeys]

FCS bands I like: JMU, Delaware and Big Dog's FAMU.

UMass Drumline plays cadence in 2007 (http://www.umassdrumline.org/cadence-2007/). Turn your computer speakers all the way up!

When UMASS comes to the TUB, the UMASS and UD bands offer a joint concert after the game. Among the band administration folks there is a lot of cross hiring. A lot of UD folks at UMASS and vice versa. Both schools have had many hires from West Chester University of PA.

West Chester is not a FCS school but it is an excellent band that has played at Philly pro games and Baltimore pro games.

[jlcharles]

The Hampton band puts on a tremendous show. The vanillanova fans still don't know what hit them!

Clever.xrolleyesx

[jlcharles]

I was under the impression that nova forbade visiting bands to play at halftime or even after the game - that's the reason why UD's band doesn't go to nova anymore. They went a few times after being barred from the field, but since then they don't go. Pity. xsmhx

Nope, just Delaware. The W&M pep band played halftime this past weekend since our band decided not to show up again. They didn't show up for one playoff game. Well, there were maybe 10 of them this time which is better than zero for the first two rounds. Our band is a disgrace.

[Fear the Bird]

Delaware State has put on 2 good performances at the Tub - they played a Beyonce song at halftime of the playoff game in 2007

[ElonPride]

The Hampton band puts on a tremendous show. The vanillanova fans still don't know what hit them!

How's that workin' out for you?

[bluehenbillk]

UMass has the best CAA band I've seen. I'm partial with UD, but UMass is better I think. JMU is by far the biggest, but big doesn't equal better.

[DFW HOYA]

Honorable mention for Cornell--the only marching band in the Ivy.

http://mb.bigredbands.org/index.php

[Fear the Bird]

billk or any other hens fans that probably know way more than I about the band

I've always thought the UD band is very good when they play but never understood why they don't play more often? They are very quiet during the game and although halftime has always been great, this has always altered my opinion of them...maybe it's something I'm not aware of?

[bluehenbillk]

Oh believe me, I'm no band expert.

The UD band plays more now then they have in the past in-game, but that's not saying much. If you ask me a band like Towson is just annoying with the amount of in-game that they play. If we could strike a happy medium between the two I'd be good with that.

[R.A.]

Why would you say that....

http://cf.wcu.edu/prideofthemountains/new/images/site/main/sudlermain2.jpg

http://www.prideofthemountains.com/

The Marching 100 of Florida A&M has one of those...

[bjtheflamesfan]

I was a part of the band at LU for 6 years and I couldnt have been more proud than when I heard of the great reviews they got when they were up at Lafayette. I will also say that I really enjoyed the MRDs when they came to Lynchburg (even if it was in the pouring rain...I hope the kids didnt end up too sick after that one.

[GannonFan]

UMass has the best CAA band I've seen. I'm partial with UD, but UMass is better I think. JMU is by far the biggest, but big doesn't equal better.

I agree with that - JMU's band is huge, but I've always thought the sound and performance from UMass was the best in the conference.

UD's band has actually gotten much better over the years. Still a peg down from UMass, but far better than most bands.

[GannonFan]

Nope, just Delaware. The W&M pep band played halftime this past weekend since our band decided not to show up again. They didn't show up for one playoff game. Well, there were maybe 10 of them this time which is better than zero for the first two rounds. Our band is a disgrace.


Well, then it is just Delaware that's banned from marching there. Shame too, that's another almost 300 tickets nova could sell for the game.

And you're band's fine as a b-ball pep band, but it doesn't translate into a marching band.

[Jackman]

I agree with that - JMU's band is huge, but I've always thought the sound and performance from UMass was the best in the conference.

UD's band has actually gotten much better over the years. Still a peg down from UMass, but far better than most bands.

I keep hoping to catch the UMass and JMU bands at the same game, but it's never happened while I was in attendance. Probably won't ever happen if I haven't seen it by now, given the size of the bands and the expense of the trip. Maybe if we met up in the National Championship game...

Delaware may get on the Sudler list someday. They are learning the ways of the Power & Class. Not sure what ingredient they're missing that they need to get over the top.

[jlcharles]

Well, then it is just Delaware that's banned from marching there. Shame too, that's another almost 300 tickets nova could sell for the game.

And you're band's fine as a b-ball pep band, but it doesn't translate into a marching band.

Well, I don't have any proof, but I'd like to think it's just delaware.

[WestCoastAggie]

I always loved seeing the Blue and Gold Marching Machine from NC A&T.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cBaxgib6ofc

A great band!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OopRrIUmw_Q

here's another one. xsmiley_wix

http://www.youtube.com/profile?user=Gentleman1911#p/u/67/VuETLrCdaoQ


and one more. this was a down year for the marching machine.

http://www.youtube.com/profile?user=Gentleman1911#p/u/67/VuETLrCdaoQ

[Big Dawg]

A couple of other good bands out of the MEAC

Bethune Cookman
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3M5CleikNxI

Norfolk State "Honda Battle of the Bands" 2007
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dhL3N1LvvKA&feature=related

[WestCoastAggie]

The MEAC, SWAC & the CAA are the best band conferences. xnodx

[3PeatNation]

i remember watching the delaware vs umass halftime show and umass's band impressed me but MEAC and SWAC are really known for their bands, i seen a few of them like prairie view a&m and florida a&m's, pretty good

[UMass922]

I keep hoping to catch the UMass and JMU bands at the same game, but it's never happened while I was in attendance. Probably won't ever happen if I haven't seen it by now, given the size of the bands and the expense of the trip. Maybe if we met up in the National Championship game...

It happened in 1997, at JMU, in the rain. Very memorable show. xnodx

[SU Jag]

The JukeBox @ Jackson State 2009
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wkLJegRL_uM&feature=related

[SU Jag]

The Marching Storm of Prairie View marching storm
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N2y5TIbYjW4&feature=related

[Longhorn]

Oh believe me, I'm no band expert.


Well, that's obvious when you state you prefer UMass' band over JMU's MRDs. xsmiley_wix

[Longhorn]

It happen in 1997, at JMU, in the rain. Very memorable show. xnodx

That was a very special experience. I wish it could happen every year.

[JaxSinfonian]

I was glad to see my Marching Southerners mentioned twice in this thread (both times by fans of teams other than Jax State, I think?). Ain't nothin' like 'em, nowhere.

Here's this year's production, in two parts:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oW8gKoY6M8A
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lS8OmGs-EUI&feature=related

And 2008:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OrhtdcFn6Wk
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q6x4Bx6jIdU

Of the other FCS bands I've been able to see, Alabama A&M leads the pack. I always love it when we play them because it brings together two excellent bands with two very different performance styles.

[DFW HOYA]

Best private school band? (Cornell is ineligible as it's partially state funded...)

[JaxSinfonian]

Best private school band? (Cornell is ineligible as it's partially state funded...)

Samford has done good things with the small number of students they have.

I'm afraid that's the only private-school band I've seen. All three times JSU played Furman it was either too early or too late in the semester for their band students to be on campus.

[GOODY26]

http://sola.nsu.edu/music/spartanlegion/photo/rutgers3.jpg


NORFOLK STATE MARCHING LEGION BAND AT RUTGER NOV. 2007xthumbsupxxnodxxbowx

[SUjagTILLiDIE]

Southern University Band is featured in todays New York Times xnodx .


Just Like Dancing, With Sousaphones
http://graphics8.nytimes.com/images/2009/12/27/arts/27marching_CA0/articleLarge.jpg
John Oubre/Southern University Office of Publications
Southern University band members and the Jaguar rock.

BATON ROUGE, La.

ON a steamy October evening here some 200 members of the Southern University Human Jukebox assembled on a campus parking lot, braving vicious mosquitoes, puddles and eye-stinging sweat to perfect, among other things, its spry signature step: the Jaguar rock.

As they marched in meticulous rows, creating geometric designs, they lifted their knees to 90-degree angles, swishing their shoulders from side to side to form lines that whipped along like the wavy undulations of a snake. The Jaguar rock — grueling, aerobic, exciting and exacting — is what gives the Human Jukebox its pulse.

“You want to have a lot of flash and action in your marching,” said the band’s director, Lawrence Jackson. “We don’t just march straight.”

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/12/27/arts/dance/27marching.html?pagewanted=1&_r=1

[DX Man]

I was glad to see my Marching Southerners mentioned twice in this thread (both times by fans of teams other than Jax State, I think?). Ain't nothin' like 'em, nowhere.

Here's this year's production, in two parts:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oW8gKoY6M8A
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lS8OmGs-EUI&feature=related

And 2008:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OrhtdcFn6Wk
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q6x4Bx6jIdU

Of the other FCS bands I've been able to see, Alabama A&M leads the pack. I always love it when we play them because it brings together two excellent bands with two very different performance styles.


Well you can make that "Thrice"!

When you consider the difficulty of the drill, the flawless precision marching, and musical sound that is so sharp that the entire trumpet section sounds like "One", the Marching Southerners are THE best college marching band in the nation. Yes, there are other bands that really get the crowd into it and are very entertaining and fun to watch, but if you will notice they only march from line-to-line and there is so much bass in their sound that most of the time all you really hear is "Thump, thump, thump".xpeacex

[JSU02]

Well you can make that "Thrice"!

When you consider the difficulty of the drill, the flawless precision marching, and musical sound that is so sharp that the entire trumpet section sounds like "One", the Marching Southerners are THE best college marching band in the nation. Yes, there are other bands that really get the crowd into it and are very entertaining and fun to watch, but if you will notice they only march from line-to-line and there is so much bass in their sound that most of the time all you really hear is "Thump, thump, thump".xpeacex

Glad to hear someone who knows what they are talking about.
xthumbsupx

[Menudo]

I marched for Hampton University> Love my band, and some honorable mention would be USC, Ohio State and JMU can really blow. I am not familiar with UMASS, i will have to look them up

[DJOM]

I am amazed that no one has mentioned the Princeton Marching Band. It is a "scramble" band and known as PUB. From 1949 to 1981, the PUB did not miss a single football game. At 32 years and 293 games, it has one of the longest streaks in the history of college marching bands, and substantially longer than the streak of the current holder of consecutive games attended, USC's Spirit of Troy. The PUB has never missed a home football game. I understand some colleges have banned their performances in the past; which caused them to involuntarily break their streak. One of those was West Point; didn't think band was appropriate; and the other LaFayette; whose administration didn't find the humor in the band playing the national anthem during the pre-game show...problem LaFayette saw was that they played the national anthem of France.

[blukeys]

I am amazed that no one has mentioned the Princeton Marching Band. It is a "scramble" band and known as PUB. From 1949 to 1981, the PUB did not miss a single football game. At 32 years and 293 games, it has one of the longest streaks in the history of college marching bands, and substantially longer than the streak of the current holder of consecutive games attended, USC's Spirit of Troy. The PUB has never missed a home football game. I understand some colleges have banned their performances in the past; which caused them to involuntarily break their streak. One of those was West Point; didn't think band was appropriate; and the other LaFayette; whose administration didn't find the humor in the band playing the national anthem during the pre-game show...problem LaFayette saw was that they played the national anthem of France.

I am sorry. I have seen the Princeton band and they are terrible.xthumbsdownx

There is no musicianship to speak of. The lame attempts at humor represent a sophomoric mentality. By sophomoric I mean high school sophomores. I can appreciate the "scramble" aspect as I am sure they are as incompetent with their marching as they are with music and humor.

Inviting the Princeton band to any event is just a dumb idea. They can't march, They aren't funny, and they sound really bad. Unless there is another reason to have a marching band that I don't know of, they need to stay home and try to impress some Jersey girls that they are really musicians. They need to do this before they play a note. Otherwise they have no chance at getting laid.

[PUBand09]

I am sorry. I have seen the Princeton band and they are terrible.

If you happened to see them when they played at your Delaware in '81 (and infuriated the entire state with their mockery), they've changed a lot in the past 30 years.

[blukeys]

If you happened to see them when they played at your Delaware in '81 (and infuriated the entire state with their mockery), they've changed a lot in the past 30 years.

Tell that to the folks at the Citadel. Thier musicianship still sucks.

[DFW HOYA]

There's only one good band in the Ivy and it's Cornell.

For many of these bands, "satire" is an excuse for a lack of commitment.

[DJOM]

Having the longest streak of attending home and away games is hardly a lack of commitment. Having never missed a home game, shows a true commitment. Not only do they play well but they don't appear to take themselves too seriously. But in fact, all of their routines appear to be well planned. Sadly, not everyone "gets" it.

[blukeys]

Having the longest streak of attending home and away games is hardly a lack of commitment. Having never missed a home game, shows a true commitment. Not only do they play well but they don't appear to take themselves too seriously. But in fact, all of their routines appear to be well planned. Sadly, not everyone "gets" it.

So let's give them a perfect attendance award. The fact is they don't march and they play their instruments worse than any group of musicians I have ever seen. Therefore they should not be considered a "Marching Band". Even including them in this discussion is a joke.

[jaxstatealum]

Wofford has the best band in the history of the world


xlolx xlolx xlolx xlolx

[WestCoastAggie]

We should have a Battle of the Bands and invite bands from all over the country. I would love to see Ohio state & USC go against the SWAC, MEAC and CAA

[gobison.gsb]

We should have a Battle of the Bands and invite bands from all over the country. I would love to see Ohio state & USC go against the SWAC, MEAC and CAA

Unfortunately comparing the Big 10/Pac-10 Bands(minus stanford) to southern bands is like comparing a Corvette to a Porsche. Both have the same basic premise, both impressive, both neat to look at, but completely different in everything in style and everything else.

...and the scramble bands are like the mud-covered pickup that's ugly, unimpressive and only cool to their owners. xsmhx

[WestCoastAggie]

Unfortunately comparing the Big 10/Pac-10 Bands(minus stanford) to southern bands is like comparing a Corvette to a Porsche. Both have the same basic premise, both impressive, both neat to look at, but completely different in everything in style and everything else.

...and the scramble bands are like the mud-covered pickup that's ugly, unimpressive and only cool to their owners. xsmhx

And that would make for a interesting band showcase excluding the Scramble Bands. That looks like a complete waste of time LOL

[DFW HOYA]

Can anyone imagine if an Ivy band when up against a SWAC band?

Take a look at Columbia's finest...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IPMQPwmfGno

vs. the Marching 100:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3YRKq1nkKcE

[Skjellyfetti]

Best FCS band I've ever seen in person would have to be SC State's



Best band I've ever seen is Tennessee's doing the Circle Drill:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ePQSv6aDFh8
(gets good around 2:00)

[DJOM]

Bluekeys, You have a nice winged helmet design---where did that originate at? Why the hate? Art--especially music--is in the eye or in this case, ear of the beholder. Next thing is you'll tell me you don't like the Grateful Dead.

[foghorn]

The Hampton band puts on a tremendous show. The vanillanova fans still don't know what hit them!
Villanova fans wouldn't know what hit them if the Salvation Army Christmas Trio did a half-time show.xviolinx

[soccerguy315]

For many of these bands, "satire" is an excuse for a lack of commitment.


how is the Georgetown marching band?

[soccerguy315]

Best band I've ever seen is Tennessee's doing the Circle Drill:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ePQSv6aDFh8
(gets good around 2:00)

was mildly impressive at the 4:00 mark, except for the people out of formation in every single arc.

I guess I have just been spoiled by DCI and a college marching band show will no longer impress me.

[soccerguy315]

Can anyone imagine if an Ivy band when up against a SWAC band?

Take a look at Columbia's finest...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IPMQPwmfGno

vs. the Marching 100:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3YRKq1nkKcE

the Marching 100 is definitely entertaining as long as you are ok with them only marching for 40 seconds.

[Dallas Demon]

Northwestern State Demon Marching Band. Check this out, this was a great performance. Watch all the way through, the "fiddle" touch is really good.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aXFHQVpAWvo

Also, this one from last year (new turf) was excellent in HD.

http://www.youtube.com/user/mcnsu

[Syntax Error]

should be here? http://anygivensaturday.com/forum/showthread.php?t=17302

[JSU02]

was mildly impressive at the 4:00 mark, except for the people out of formation in every single arc.

I guess I have just been spoiled by DCI and a college marching band show will no longer impress me.

SEC schools seem to love doing these circle drills. My guess is because they are so easy to set up, but the non band people will think its the most difficult drill ever performed. I guess they don't realize its just a follow the leader drill. Now here is some good drill that really should impress you.

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-5357337921707331858#

[Big Dawg]

the Marching 100 is definitely entertaining as long as you are ok with them only marching for 40 seconds.

Check the video I posted earlier

[DFW HOYA]

how is the Georgetown marching band?

If it was half as good as Cornell, I'd be happy.

[SU Jag]

the Marching 100 is definitely entertaining as long as you are ok with them only marching for 40 seconds.

famu is in the meacn not the swac, and if you've ever seen famu in person you know that they march for longer than 40 seconds.

[Cadbury20J]

I was not impressed with the Hundred at all. The last time I saw them live was when they were playing Stars and Stripes Forever at Legion Field. They nearly fell apart 3 times.

I'm a big fan of balance and technicality, so I'm going to have to go with Norfolk State for show style. SU gets an honorable mention because of their drill. However, their way too much treble for my taste.

Corps style in no particular order: App State, Jax State (As close to Drum Corps as you can get), Northwestern, and JMU (VERY clean and loud playing).