There was a time in my career at the University where I never would have expected to say these words, but I think the time has come: I really miss the pep band.
I began to feel the loss deeply two weeks ago against Florida State, when the FSU alumni band was belting out The Chop while the measly orchestral version of the Good Ole Song created more confusion than concert from the student section. Last Saturday, I couldn't help but hope that the swim team might break the monotony during their recognition ceremony at halftime and scramble into one huge "V." That's when I knew I had it bad; This year, not even a new mascot costume, new intro videos, new LED screens and a huge push in the marketing of Virginia football is enough to hide the loss of a band in the game atmosphere. The current recording of the Good Ole Song and the high school bands at halftime rally spirited about as much mayhem as a whole section of fans with one thunderstick each.
When Carl and Hunter Smith gave their $23.5 million gift to the University last spring --- $22 million for a new performing arts center and $1.5 million to endow a marching band --- I hardly think they intended to do anything but boost the game atmosphere, especially at their own Carl Smith Center. The athletic department then acted in what it believed to be the best interests of the new band: Removing its potential competitor, the pep band, from University athletic events and funding. The unfortunate result? A messy breakup between the athletic department and the pep band and that awkward silence after every Cavalier touchdown.
The hardest part of the whole situation is finding someone to blame. Is it the Case of the Evil Administration? A conspiracy of donation? Or was it long-overdue home improvement -- a glitzy precision band to replace the ragtag rowdies that didn't even march?
My guess is none of the above. Instead, as anyone in crumbling Rouss Hall will tell you, it was a matter of economics: Alumni donations are a huge part of the University's growth and improvement plan, especially with the state of Virginia's financial situation. But alumni donations also shape and guide that growth. The performing arts center that the Smiths' donation will jump-start is the heart of the University's long-standing initiative to make fine arts one of Virginia's strengths. The marching band is both a part of that initiative as well as a mark of the Smiths' continued support of Virginia football. The benefits to this donation were overwhelming. The importance and independence of the pep band was the cost.
On one hand, I am thrilled about the prospect of a marching band. Virginia is the only school in the ACC that does not have a traditional marching band, and there is something about the sharp steps and finely-tuned music that rounds out football halftime like no Frisbee dog can. The pep band never failed to put on a show, but they were also often criticized. Occasionally obnoxious and, for those from West Virginia, offensive, the pep band's real strength was in its unflagging school spirit and not in its musical ability. The Smiths' endowment of the marching band will keep on giving: It may help recruit better musicians to the University, and the big-game atmosphere that a marching band creates can have a huge influence in the impression that football recruits take away from their visits to Virginia. Everyone from cheerleading coach Kelley Carter to football coach Al Groh has praised the changes a marching band will bring to Scott Stadium. And the transition to a marching band fits the direction of Virginia football. If the television commercial featuring Matt Schaub was one step toward Division I notoriety, the marching band was step two.
At the same time, I firmly believe that if Virginia lets the pep band die in the name of promoting the new marching Cavaliers, the University will be losing an important part of its identity. The pep band exemplifies the quirky college spirit that gives Virginia the right to consider itself a "public Ivy."
Does a place where "fourth years" stumble across "Grounds" to cheer on their football team in shirts and ties really need a marching band and that big-game feel? In one respect, replacing the pep band's wacky performances and student self-governance with a marching band seems like selling out to the big state school image.
Though I found the pep band's "death of student self-governance" demonstration at the Duke game somewhat tacky, I have to admire the fighting spirit the band has shown. It was a futile-but-hilarious dig at the administration in the Animal House vein. Really, what university couldn't use a little more of that?
In all seriousness, the pep band should be saluted for its persistence. Without the benefit of athletic department funding or the chance to perform at Virginia athletic events, the pep band has managed to keep playing and scrambling. The band traveled to the University of Pennsylvania over fall break after the Penn scramble band extended an invitation. Thanks to an alumni organization called Friends of the Virginia Pep Band, the band will have the funding to travel to Columbia University for a similar event. According to pep band director Scott Hayes, there have been surprisingly few problems with recruiting -- the 20-25 new members are one of the strongest classes in the past few years.
After several meetings between athletic director Craig Littlepage, future band director Bill Pease, Hayes and other members of the pep band, it seems that the band will get the chance to survive and play on at Olympic sports events under Pease's supervision. Hayes is careful to note that the pep band is still concerned about the level of control the music department would have over the band, although they are glad to be able to play at smaller sports events, which has always been one of the best contributions the pep band makes to Virginia sports.
The University still needs to ask itself an important question: Are we a big football school or a prestigious academic institution? Can we be both? Likewise, will Virginia fans appreciate the precision and performance of a marching band as much as the originality and humor of a scramble band? Can we appreciate both?
At this point, only time will tell.
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