Ben
CLAS 1999

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As for learning about football, what are you talking about exactly? I said it doesn’t matter what one wears as long as they are loud at the right times, and I pointed out exactly when that is. How was that wrong exactly? Mmmmmhmmmm.

As for learning about business, I graduated with an Economics degree and now have an MBA. I’ve worked on Wall Street for years and advised numerous Fortune 500 companies on how to optimize their finances. What are your business credentials Michael?

As for Cavalier Marching Band funding by the College, it’s part of the Music program is it not? While the CMB does provide an excellent gameday atmosphere for football (for some reason you call this “marketing”?) it is fundamentally a Music endeavor.

Oh and $20+ million was donated to the College to support the Music department at the same time as the $1.5 million donation for the CMB, have you forgotten that?

Ben
CLAS 1999

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The CMB is supported through academic funds through the College. The funds covered simply the start-up costs for the marching. The ongoing operating costs are funded through the College. The University changed its academic requirements to accommodate its ability to subsidize the Athletic Department marketing efforts.

I have nothing against the CMB and am looking forward to its progress in developing into the upper echelon of ACC bands. I simply believe in honest business and accounting practices. The CMB exists solely for Athletic Department marketing. It has no academic purpose. Therefore, the Athletic Department should foot the bill!

Ben, I am proud of being a former “Pep-Bander.” But, you seem to imply that means I know little of music. I play piano, trumpet and pipe organ. I played with every UVa instrumental and choral group while at UVa (including the Orchestra, have since played with the Hartt Wind Symphony and Hartt Symphony Orchestra, the Hartford Chorale, the new Dominion Chorale, McLean Symphony, the Fairfax Orchestra, a number of church choruses, and other groups.

Now, to the original article in this thread. Do you see all the pearls and polos at Clemson yesterday as they handily defeated UVa? That did not stop the Clemson crowd from supporting their team with a deafening roar. My cousin Facebooked her team’s success last night.

So, Ben, I am waiting until you learn a little about music, football and business.

Michael Ellwood, CLAS 1992

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Uh, nice revisionist history from a former Pep Bander. The Pep Band was dismissed by the University because they annoyed and embarrassed alumni of THIS school, not other ones. The big donors (nearly all of which go back a lot further than 1974, when the horrible “scramble band” idea was born) hated the Pep Band. That’s why the money was ponied up near-instantaneously as soon as there was cause to dismiss it.

Don’t associate the Cavalier Marching Band with “Sea of Orange” or Al Groh. The CMB is a huge success and was recently capped at nearly 300 pieces due to its huge popularity. Unlike the old Pep Band days, we now have a band that actually sounds good and stays in tune. As an alum, I couldn’t be more thankful! The Pep Band made my ears bleed… they were a-w-f-u-l.

Ben, CLAS 1999

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The main thing is to be loud at the right times. Unfortunately, most of the tie-wearing crowd doesn’t seem to know much about football, and doesn’t yell at the right times (it’s when the opposing QB is behind center guys, especially on 3rd down). It’s always been that way. But if you can learn to do that, I could not care less how fratty and toolish you want to look in your best Saturday ties.

Ben, CLAS 1999

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Your argument is weak at best, and irrelevant at worst. Students, alumni, faculty, and community members have been debating the de-facto gameday dress code for several years, and this column adds to the laundry list of uninspired, unimpressive arguments on behalf of the Sea of Orange.

I invite you to wander Scott Stadium’s parking lot before a game and take a look at the tailgates. You will see that many, if not the majority, of fans are also the “embarrassing culprits” of traditional dress, decked out in sundresses, linen, and seersucker in early September, and later progressing into wool sweaters and blazers in October and November. I frequently sit with my parents (who are season ticket holders) in the stands, and I have yet to see an orange tee in their section or the neighboring ones. I certainly have never seen any orange tees in the boxes, either. I have seen U.Va. faculty and staff with their friends and families dressed up as well. Your argument that the student section and the Hill are the ones holding onto the tradition is simply false.

Tradition is one of the things that makes U. Va. stand above the rest. The people whose contributions to the school (be they administrative, professional, academic, or financial) have helped make U.Va. a superior institution of higher education realize this. That is why they, too, proudly don ties and pearls for gameday.

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If you have such a huge problem with it, transfer to Ohio State. I’m sure that you’ll find plenty of new friends there who will be more than happy to trade you a few Buckeyes shirts for the large stash of Orange Crush t-shirts that you undoubtedly possess.

-The Poly that can breakdance in seersucker and linen

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Please don’t let me hit you in the ass on your way out to a different school.

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Riiiiiight.

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