From: aelman@Xenon.Stanford.EDU (Adam Elman)
Subject: Re: Stanford banned again
Organization: CS Department, Stanford University, California, USA
Distribution: usa
Date:  3 Oct 92 19:10:14 GMT

bkowal@aludra.usc.edu (Brian A. Kowal) writes:

>In article <aelman.718010982@Xenon.Stanford.EDU> aelman@Xenon.Stanford.EDU (Adam Elman) writes:
>>mzimmers@netcom.com (Michael Zimmers) writes:
>>
>>>In article <randall.717877452@seashore> randall@informix.com (Randall Rhea) writes:
>>
>>>>This is the problem that I have with so-called "humorous"
>>>>marching bands.  It is very easy to do a "timely",
>>>>"witty" show in front of 50,000 people and cause offense
>>>>to a lot of people, especially when you try to deal with
>>>>politics.  Frankly, I go to a college football game to
>>>>get away from day-to-day conflicts like politics. 
>>
>>>You know, Randall, after reading your post, it occurred to me that
>>>the Stanfurd and U$C bands have at least three things in common:
>>
>>>1. Both are at schools where money talks
>>
>>Whatever.

>Lets talk about yachts...

Again, whatever.  That whole thing was a REAL crock 'o' you-know-what
-- I'm not even going to go into that.

>>
>>>2. Both know that what they do irritates other people
>>
>>Yeah, but at least we have a group that we're trying to entertain (our
>>students).  The USC band's sole purpose appears to be annoying everybody else.
>>

>The Trojan Marching Band only annoys those that do not cheer for USC.
>Stanford urinates on their own field, and exposes themselves to their
>own student body.

Never.  The urination-on-the-field incident was in Seattle, and has to
my knowledge never happened before or since.  

>Everone at USC loves the Band.  The Ohio band (another great band)
>partied with us last year, they liked us too (kindered spirits).  The
>Notre Dame band gives us punch and cookies and their alumni give us
>apples during the game.  Many non-USC alum come for miles just to see
>us.  The only ones that hate us are those that can not entertain and
>measure up to our great performances.  

Actually, it's just the bands that have the most contact with you --
we've had a lot of contact with the other Pac-10 bands (some of which
I would agree are not as good at marching as USC, but the Husky band
is certainly as good) and they all hate you as much as we do. :-)

>>>3. Neither care
>>
>>This is incorrect -- the USC band LIKES to offend everyone. 

>We are good, if that offends you - tough.  We are proud of our past
>and enjoy what we do.  Our post-game concert is filled with quality
>and spirit for all.  And at every game that I have been at, our post
>game concert usually draws numerous people... including many of the
>opposing teams fans.

So does ours.

>I do have to agree, during the game, we like/love to irritate the
>opposing team and fans... I guess that we have done a good job by the
>responces I've seen on the net.  But by irritating the other team, we
>too become a factor in the game - It's called Spirit!!

That's nice.  We prefer to entertain our fans, kick back, and have a
good time.  If your version of having a good time is to harass the
other team, then so be it.

Here's another incident which has made me dislike USC: In 1990, when
USC played here, there was a letter in the Stanford Daily (or maybe it
was to our band, I forget now) from a woman who had attempted to pass
through the USC fan section in Stanford Stadium and was denied access
because she was wearing a Stanford shirt.  As I remember, she was
treated very rudely by the USC Band and fans, and this really does
bother me.  In contrast, the Stanford Band is never anything but
courteous to our fans and everyone else (except, of course, when we do
field shows :-).  And the same goes for the other marching bands I
have had contact with.

Most of the time, when we're waiting before halftime to do a show, we
hang out a little with the opposing band and chat.  But USC just hangs
back and taunts us.  Real mature.

>>
>>>There you have it: Stanfurd's and U$C's bands are as alike as two 
>>>peas in a pod.
>>
>>That'll be a cold day in hell. 
>>

>On this point I gotta agree.  I like the idea behind the Stanford
>Band... but in practice there is no band that disgusts me more.

What exactly is it about the Stanford Band that disgusts you?  Our
music?  Our satirical field shows?  Or incidents which happened long
before 90% of the current band even entered college and which have not
been repeated (and will not be repeated) since?

Adam Elman
aelman@cs.stanford.edu