Is the Ohio State band coming to Piscataway?

[GeorgeStreet]

If so, I envy all you ticket holders. They are a superb marching band, one that our RU band can only aspire to become. They do a pre-game show in the OSU field house at home games that I was fortunate to attend before last year's game. It was a one hour plus show that was performed in front of a packed, standing room only crowd. Just terrific.

 

[zappaa]

can't imagine it would, it's three times the size of ours

 

[Nosoj]

No. They're actually going to London to perform during the NFL game this weekend.

 

[BumpyAZ]

They'll be in London for this weekend's NFL game unfortunately.

 

[GeorgeStreet]

With national coverage on the ABC network, this would be the perfect time for Rutgers band to perform well, including a new, knock-out halftime show. I know TV doesn't show respect for band performances. But maybe we could sneak in a bit of coverage.

 

[RUtix4me]

Our band should do an nj and dot the j

 

[AreYouNUTS]

can't imagine it would, it's three times the size of ours

Actually not quite my friend. They're 225 members strong, if I recall correctly, maybe 220, but there's is a legitimate 220/225, not "we're 240" but only 170 are ever on the field or in the stands. Big difference is they are all brass and percussion which makes the sound seem as though they're area 300!

 

[zappaa]

They've got enough to spell OHIO in script

 

[megadrone]

Does anyone even ask Tim Smith how many musicians there are in the band?

That was always an interesting, yet difficult, question to get a straight answer on.

 

[rsutton86]

Saw the OSU band at last year's game. They did a rock tribute with a guitar player playing. It was fantastic.

My only disappointment was they also had an alumni band on the field (homecoming weekend) and they did two script Ohio's. By the time I realized what was going on I missed the whole script thing since both 'ohio's were smaller. Guess I'll have to make the road trip again next year!

 

[RUBand]

With national coverage on the ABC network, this would be the perfect time for Rutgers band to perform well, including a new, knock-out halftime show. I know TV doesn't show respect for band performances. But maybe we could sneak in a bit of coverage.

BTN has been broadcasting significant portions of some of the pre-game shows.

 

[RC1991]

They actually march about 190 on the field and the rest of the 225 are alternates. They are also all brass and percussion. I think they also have a larger 300 member band that does other athletic events. That's too bad they are going to be in London - would have loved to see them in Piscataway but lucky for Tim Smith as he won't be made to look like the incompetent he is when the comparisons would have been made. Michigan State is also all brass and percussion with the exception of saxes if I remember correctly.

 

[RUBand]

Saw the OSU band at last year's game. They did a rock tribute with a guitar player playing. It was fantastic.

My only disappointment was they also had an alumni band on the field (homecoming weekend) and they did two script Ohio's. By the time I realized what was going on I missed the whole script thing since both 'ohio's were smaller. Guess I'll have to make the road trip again next year!

They sometimes do two (smaller, one to each sideline) script Ohio's with the regular band. BTW, who was the first band to perform the script Ohio?

 

[AreYouNUTS]

Does anyone even ask Tim Smith how many musicians there are in the band?

That was always an interesting, yet difficult, question to get a straight answer on.

They were telling people 240+ this summer lol.,,

 

[Nosoj]

Saw the OSU band at last year's game. They did a rock tribute with a guitar player playing. It was fantastic.

My only disappointment was they also had an alumni band on the field (homecoming weekend) and they did two script Ohio's. By the time I realized what was going on I missed the whole script thing since both 'ohio's were smaller. Guess I'll have to make the road trip again next year!

They do that sometimes with the regular band, smaller Ohios facing both ways. Alumni band day gets a quad Script Ohio

They sometimes do two (smaller, one to each sideline) script Ohio's with the regular band. BTW, who was the first band to perform the script Ohio?

Oh me! I know, I know!

 

[MADHAT1]

They were telling people 240+ this summer lol.,,

This is what I found:
>Smith has taken the band from 135 members in 2000 to its' current membership of 200.<
http://www.scarletknights.com/band/band-staff.html

 

[RUTGERZ_R00LZ]

They've got enough to spell OHIO in script

BFD, you should see Virginia Military Institute do the script thing and dot the i's.

:cool2:

 

[RC1991]

When the Rutgers band was a legit 225 to 250 in the mid to late 80s we did a script Rutgers - and the alma mater was part of the pre game show itself.

 

[RUBand]

In the 70's (back when the RU band hi-stepped) Rutgers performed both a floating RU and a script R during pre-game (different years).

 

[DJ Spanky]

This is what I found:
>Smith has taken the band from 135 members in 2000 to its' current membership of 200.<
http://www.scarletknights.com/band/band-staff.html

Ummmmmm.....I'm pretty sure they had significantly more than 135 in 2000 when he took over.

 

[DHajekRC84]

When the Rutgers band was a legit 225 to 250 in the mid to late 80s we did a script Rutgers - and the alma mater was part of the pre game show itself.

this is true and it was fantastic. I believe that is also when the Drum Major would high step out in front of the band to lead them out (although that continued for some time although never to the extent it was then).

Back then we had a Marching Band vs. Drum and Bugle Corps. Perhaps even Baton twirlers and Drill Team.

 

[RU-Choppin-Ohio]

Rutgers is a huge school

What's the reason the Rutgers band is so small? How many are in it today?

 

[Kentor404]

tOSU's regular MB sometimes does a double script Ohio, so if it was a double script for the homecoming game it was just the regular MB. The Alumni MB wears scarlet and gray instead of the regular MB uniforms and is there for Alumni Day, which is the first home game each year in September vs. a non conference opponent. The Alumni MB does their own separate ramp entrance and, at around 700 strong, nearly fills the entire field. As was mentioned above, for the Alumni MB pregame they do a quad script Ohio with the regular MB.

 

[ngrant]

Axtually not quite my friend. Their 225 members strong, if I recall correctly, maybe 220, but there are a legitimate 220/225 not "we're 240" but only 170 are ever on the field or in the stands. Big differences there only brass and drums, again if I recall correctly, which makes them sound like there are 300 piece band.

"There","their", "they're". Please don't say you passed Comp 101 at RU!

 

[zappaa]

When the Rutgers band was a legit 225 to 250 in the mid to late 80s we did a script Rutgers - and the alma mater was part of the pre game show itself.

I've been watching games since the late 70s, I never remember us having numbers like that or putting on a show anyone would remember.

 

[knightfan7]

I know every B1G band plays the visiting team's fight song but have any formed a Block R like OSU did last year? Impressive.

 

[phillinois]

Ummmmmm.....I'm pretty sure they had significantly more than 135 in 2000 when he took over.

we marched about 140 my freshman year in 2001...

 

[RC1991]

I've been watching games since the late 70s, I never remember us having numbers like that or putting on a show anyone would remember.

The script Rutgers was part of the pre-game show but unfortunately I can't find any video. I was able to take a picture from the album jacket put out in 1983 which had a photo. There is also a series of videos of the 1983 Star Wars show which is a good example of the size of the band back then - Spanky was in the band that year....some shows from my time which started in 1986 were West Side Story, Cops and Detectives (which included music from Shaft, Bev Hills Cop, etc.), Andrew Lloyd Webber/Broadway (Superstarr, Phantom, Cats) just to name a few...I'm pretty sure a few of the guys from back then may remember more as well.

image1 by rtg1766, on Flickr

 

[highsoxguy]

The best RU halftime shows used to be in the old stadium when the military (Marine?) drill teams would come out and toss rifles at each other...they were incredible! Maybe we could get those kid drummers who come to basketball games to entertain..

 

[srru86]

The best RU halftime shows used to be in the old stadium when the military (Marine?) drill teams would come out and toss rifles at each other...they were incredible! Maybe we could get those kid drummers who come to basketball games to entertain..

The Queens Guard Silent Drill Team was (is?) a separate student organization. In the 80s many members were ROTC but not a requirement as I recall.

From NY Times 1988
Drill Team Puts Rutgers on the Map

Some years ago I met some of the alumni at an RAA event and they were trying to bring the group back to life.

Not sure how they are doing currently.

 

[Nosoj]

They sometimes do two (smaller, one to each sideline) script Ohio's with the regular band. BTW, who was the first band to perform the script Ohio?

Since no one else seems interested, Michigan in 1932 performed formation of the word "Ohio" in script.

Ohio State performed the first "Script Ohio" in 1936.

 

[DJ Spanky]

we marched about 140 my freshman year in 2001...

Yep, it was on its way downhill at that point - I think 2002-2004 was the nadir of membership, as people and assistants were quitting in droves.

 

[DHajekRC84]

OH MY GOSH..everyone needs to watch that 1983 Clip. (my senior year..no I wasn't in the band)

WHAT THE F HAPPENED? I'd give me left nut for THAT band again. That Clip needs to go to the AD or whomever makes the call. I had NO IDEA how far we had fallen.

 

[DJ Spanky]

OH MY GOSH..everyone needs to watch that 1983 Clip. (my senior year..no I wasn't in the band)

WHAT THE F HAPPENED? I'd give me left nut for THAT band again. That Clip needs to go to the AD or whomever makes the call. I had NO IDEA how far we had fallen.

Yep, I marched that show. I was also an equipment manager for the band, so I know for a fact that year we had over 250 in the band: in fact, we had so many that we had alternates for the shows, as the shows had been written for somewhere around 240. Here are the remaining pieces of that show:

 

[RUgrad75]

The Queens Guard Silent Drill Team was (is?) a separate student organization. In the 80s many members were ROTC but not a requirement as I recall.

From NY Times 1988
Drill Team Puts Rutgers on the Map

Some years ago I met some of the alumni at an RAA event and they were trying to bring the group back to life.

Not sure how they are doing currently.[/QUOTE
Would love to see this again as we have all branches of military on campus

 

[RC1991]

Hey Spanky was that performance from the Home News Band Festival? That was the show sealed the deal for me joining the band when I got to Rutgers. BTW - why did the band ever decide to get rid of the pit percussion...that drum solo was killer.

 

[RU1977]

The Queens Guard Silent Drill Team was (is?) a separate student organization. In the 80s many members were ROTC but not a requirement as I recall.

From NY Times 1988
Drill Team Puts Rutgers on the Map

Some years ago I met some of the alumni at an RAA event and they were trying to bring the group back to life.

Not sure how they are doing currently.

I remember the drill team performing in the late 70s - excellent show!!!

 

[DJ Spanky]

Hey Spanky was that performance from the Home News Band Festival? That was the show sealed the deal for me joining the band when I got to Rutgers. BTW - why did the band ever decide to get rid of the pit percussion...that drum solo was killer.

I'm not sure if that was the Home News Festival or the Tropicana Music Bowl.

 

[PatrickRU92]

Ohio State band? Meh, big deal. Wake me up when they have JEDI roaming the field!

 

[PatrickRU92]

Interesting how there a no flag girls in that 80s version of the Rutgers band. Also interesting how Ohio State doesn't either.