From: hbawl@usmi02.midland.chevron.com (Wilber L. Baker)
Newsgroups: rec.arts.marching.misc
Subject: Re: SWC antics
Date: 16 Dec 92 16:41:41 GMT
Organization: Chevron

In article <dct.724357053@odin.mda.uth.tmc.edu> dct@odin.mda.uth.tmc.edu (David C. Tuttle) writes:
>jstripli@mailbox.fwrdc.rtsg.mot.com (Jeff R. Stripling) writes:
>
>> The UT band also reherses without whistles for the Rice, OU, and A&M
>> games for various reasons.  Noise is a problem at OU and A&M.  Extra
>> whistles might be a problem at Rice. ;-)
>
>Ha ha ha!  I'm impressed -- the Power of Myth is demonstrated again!

   Yeah, but Myths are fun.

>
>The infamous Aggie Band halftime screw-up at Rice Stadium in 1981 will
>be forever blamed on the  MOB, accused of blowing  whistles to confuse
>the Band, who use whistles during their shows.
>
>Of course, it  didn't happen  that  way -- a  line of seniors counter-
>marched 5 yards too soon early in the show, and the mistake propagated
>until  the  end  when,  finally,  the  traditional Flying  Block T was
>instead  the  Flying  Gamma.   This  was  verified  by the  MOB  after
>exhaustive  examination  of  a  videotape of the show.  Also,  several
>contacts with Aggie Band members since the incident confirmed that the
>Band itself knew the true cause of the mishap.  No whistles were blown
>by the MOB from the sidelines -- this I know because I was down there.

   I always believed that it was the MOB's fault...and excepted
   it as just one more 'wacky' thing in the SWC.   Now, having heard
   the 'TRUTH' from more than one  former MOB member,  I don't
   deny that it probably was the Aggies' own fault.    I remember
   marching in a U.of H. game my sophomore year in the Astrodome
   which was probably 3/4 as messed-up as that Rice game.  It was
   clearly a combination of Bugle-rank,Drum-rank,and football/baseball
   field markings that cause 1/3 of the band to be way off.
>
>The fallout  of  this has perpetuated  over  the  years.  Most  Aggies
>simply cannot be convinced that the  MOB is, in this case,  completely
>innocent.  In fact, many of the  MOB's  purported antics against other
>bands are myths with little or no truth to them, but I digress...

   Yeah, but Myths are fun.

   There are some Non-Myths...  mainly the Rice mascott coming
   onto the field while we were performing (my Senior year)....
   I know this was was in no way connected with the MOB, but it
   re-enforces the enmity between the schools.

>
>Some apocrypha I've heard, but cannot confirm, are that:
>-- The incident cost some Aggie senior band members their coveted
>   Senior Boots; and

      In the  '70s , I'd bet this was true.
      In the mid '80s to '90s, We're a 'kinder & gentler'
                               (and wimpy-er) band.

>-- A copy of the videotape was made by the MOB and sent to the UT
>   Longhorn Band, which watched it so many times that the oxide was
>   worn off the tape.

     I think I'll "choose to believe" this until someone proves it
     wrong.   Myths are fun.

>
>But I guess the UT Band can be forgiven for being cautious since even
>the MOB's director, to this day, refrains from using whistles at, and
>forbids MOBsters to bring whistles to, Aggie games.

    Yes, We were all warned, and big deal was made of not using
    whistles for Rice games...but in four years, I only heard
    one whistle during our halftime performances...it was faint
    and definitely didn't come from the MOB.

    But you see,...it's now it's an  "Aggie Tradition"...

>
>--
>David C. Tuttle, Biomathematics   ----> dct@odin.mda.uth.tmc.edu <----
>University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center         (713) 792-2606
>Mail Stop 237, 1515 Holcombe Boulevard, Houston, TX  77030-4096
>Today's anagram of "David Charles Tuttle" is:  HELD CULTIVATED RATS