As money flows throughout the college football world and lines the pockets of coaches and players alike, all the revenue sharing isn’t necessarily making all the roses in the garden prettier.
And if we want them all to smell, look, and sound as they need to, some extra help may be needed for those Redcoat roses.
That sound of a drumline firing up Georgia football fans a couple hours before a game needs a tune-up, according to leaders of the Georgia Redcoat Marching band.
The drums used by the band are about seven years old, about three years longer than usual replacement and maintenance, said John Cypert, percussion coordinator of the UGA band.
As a former Redcoat, I get information from the organization regarding donations and I’m of the understanding that the group isn’t getting equitable financial support from the AA as they used to. If you don’t like all that piped-in music, you might consider a donation.
“Now, we need your help to raise the dollars needed for these instruments and ensure these incredible instruments find their rightful place on the field.
“Our goal: to raise $41,000 to fund 22 newly ordered drumline instruments.”
How can I donate to the UGA Redcoat Marching band?
The band’s Paypal account, Redcoat Band Alumni Association Inc., allows for one-time, monthly and yearly donations.
You know what to do, Refugees. Try to help out and spread the word…or the Redcoats won’t be coming much longer.
Thank you for posting this. Just donated.
One of my favority pregrame things is hearing the drum corps.
The band has been marginalized to playing the national anthem, after TDs and a portion of the 4th qtr start. It’s sad. Also sad UGA or the butt smear doesn’t cover drums. I guess the DJ playing all the loud rap music takes up too much $$$.
200%, band needs to pay more, and it is complete BS that the University or Athletic Association is making them fundraise for this. One of the best things about going to road games back in the day was having the band there, now we are just sending a pep band everywhere (and I think last year no one went to Kentucky, perhaps). Just keep killing what makes it unique guys!!!
Part of the problem with no band is the number of tickets the visiting teams get. Around 6,000 is what I have heard. It’s no thrill to site on the top rows of Kneeland outhouse.
Been there, done that, have the sunburn…. Everyone seems to be pulling back on/increasing prices stratospherically for very poor visitor tickets which, again, is slowly killing part of what makes CFB unique….
Yeah, they need to replace that rap with hip hop.
Thanks. I would double my donation if half of it would help pay severance for the DJ in the stadium.
Write an email to Brooksie and let him know your feelings. He thinks having a dance party is the way to get people involved, yet the loudest the stadium is is when the band is playing on every 3rd down. If what he really wants is noise, he’s not accomplishing his own stated goals. Would be easy to give the band third downs and every other time out and let the dance party go on after first downs…
I may be the outlier here, but I am a former band guy. For the life of me, I don’t understand why the AD can’t pony up $41k for this. That is literally chump change in the current world of CFB and especially UGA situation. In short, they are loaded. Top five in the country I believe. Maybe I am too simple to understand the intricacies but at the end of the day, a donation from the athletic department seems to be in order and appropriate. If for no other reason but to save the university and the band some embarrassment.
You’d figure it would be in the budget.
Kirby could take care of that in one check.
I’d donate the whole amount myself if it would keep Brooks from playing anything other than the band, and Baba O’Reilly to start the game. All that piped in noise detracts from and lessens the game day experience. #getoffmylawn
I guess in the suites its easy to sound-proof out all that noise and be able to speak to the person next to you during breaks in the action….
I was about to say the same thing. The piped in music/noise is to loud. Like you said, can’t even talk to the person next to you.
My wishes about music:
1. Lose the ear splitting piped in music. It’s like a minor league baseball game in there.
2. Redcoats go back to the pregame take the field routine they had in the 70’s with the same drum riff
I spoke to Brooks about wanting to hear more from the band. I pointed out that TN uses speakers to make sure the band is loud all around the stadium. They have quite large speakers pointed to the stands around the bowl and the band music is quite loud. Brooks did add a couple of wimpy speakers near the east stands. But it is not enough. It does not surprise that the band has to raise money to get new equipment,
Having sat in the first 10 or so rows behind the visitors bench there once, it was physically painful….
Let’s talk about the old days. Do you remember the sprinkler shower we got at Auburn after we won the game some years back? Had a conversation with Dwight Satterwhite who told me that shower destroyed most of the Redcoat percussion equipment which was stored on the sidelines. Didn’t get anything from Auburn after that but Vince Dooley, without being asked, spent Athletic Department money to purchase all new equipment. Vince appreciated the Redcoats and knew how much they contributed to the game experience.
Good ole Dwight. Ran into him a few years back and he’s still salty as ever.
Sorry to have to point out that Dr. Satterwhite passed away last October from cancer. He hung in there through some pretty debilitating chemo and radiation treatments but he was a fighter. Not a surprise if you knew him. His funeral attracted a huge crowd and the Bulldog Brass supplied some wonderful music. Even had a member of the Auburn music faculty attending. There was a fund started in an attempt to rename the Redcoat practice field in his honor. Not sure about the status of that right now.
This shouldn’t even be an issue. 5 minutes of beer sales will fund everything the band needs.