First of all I think it is a sign of the times and a shame how,us, the student section (I'm a senior been sitting in the section since 02) says some of the stuff we do and yes it is probably our faults that tiger rag was removed so far the most part I agree with that. But at the same token I would have to say that in pretty much every section of tiger stadium you have really nice good family people and then you have those who are saying things and cursing and saying way more disrespectful things then simply ***hole. How do I know this? We'll, going to LSU games since a young child I've sat in pretty much every section of our beloved stadium and I've heard some of the crudest, vilest, and inappropriate words spoken as well as some of my first memories of out of control drunken behavior and actions that no young child should have to put up with. Probably most all of you who went to games for many years can remember the many times being splatterred with hard liquor or beer during touchdowns. Don't get me wrong I've had a great time seeing the tigers since I was very young but for me I guess I've just gotten used to this experience by 30-40-50 year olds and have been farely desensitized by the whole deal. My point by all this is not to condone the student section I def believe we should be more respectful and maybe or maybe not taking tiger rag out of the equation was the right thing to do, but quite possibly the first place to start is with the people that taught us to talk like this and act in this way. So from my experiences in death valley I would have to say you cannot simply paint the student section as a picture of drunken, out of control, young 20 somethings cursing and screaming without being realistic about the complete picture and recognize all the charaters that come to the games.
yeah, let me tell you. You hit right on the head. Not on what you said, but that you said in the first place. Way to be mature role model for us all. You and Red both got lost in the context. Remember grammer school; you stop reading at a period. I know it's been awhile guys, but come on. Quote: "......but you are part of a team that we as fans and students have backed verbally and physically because we appreciate you." Don't take my words out of context b/c you want to make a joke. In the long run you humiliate yourself. :dis: P.S. Good comebacks, original and witty.
We earn our respect from people and fans by our performance. We gain fans everywhere we go whenever the band travels. Zona, ASU, Auburn, Florida, any school we have traveled to sends emails and emails explaining how they wish their bands could stand up to us. And I'm calling the bull**** on people wanting to hear Tiger Rag. No one wants to hear the beginning of that song. Honestly, I think it's the worst school song we have up until the part we play after touchdowns (with the TIGERS spell out). Student and other people want a chorus to direct them into chanting *******s.. NOTHING MORE! Oh, and yes I should be glad that I hear chants that for a split second thinking I am hearing chants of "Tiger Band!" but only to realize it's actually "Tiger Rag," which has happened every game so far (even at Auburn). The first things we do every game are to play Hey Fightin' Tigers and then Boogie Down or Ants Marching. After one of these songs the student section has chanted "Tiger Rag" every game so far. I appreciate the FANS, not the students. The FANS were the people tailgating at away games, saw me in uniform, and demanded that I eat some food. The FANS are the ones who show up to the PMAC before games and watch us perform our halftime music (which we know few people enjoy listening to, with a few songs as exception). The FANS are the people who stay at the end of the game and sing the Alma Mater with us. The students are the ones telling us to "Get off your Rag and play Tiger Rag." The students are the ones writing in the Reveille and Tiger Weekly that Tiger Band (yes, the entire entity) took away "30 years of tradition," and refused to put in the opinion section and rebuttal from a Tiger Band alum. The students are the ones following us before the game yelling at us to "stop being pussies and play Tiger Rag damnit!" I'm glad all of these insulting words are really everyone backing us verbally, because I would never have thought that had you not corrected me.
This is the best post I've ever read. If some students, are calling the band pussies for a decision made by the administration, they should no longer be alolowed into our staadium. We have the greates band in the country. I make it a point to be on campus early enough to see the band march down the hill. I'm always in my seat early enough for pregame. I've seen this routine hundreds of times in the 25 years I've benn going to games, and it never gets old. When I took my son to his first game this past weekend, I made sure we were in a position to see the band. If the band doesn't like having @$$hole chanted while they're playing, and the administration doesn't want to hear, and 77,000 of the 92,000 fans there don't want to hear it, then maybe the students need to realize that they are in the minority on this one. The only part of your post I disagree with, is where you say the beginning of Tiger Rag is the worst song up until the song after TD's. I personally LOVE these songs.
Guys I am out of TP and really need to go drop the kids off at the pool. Mind if I use this wasted space here to wipe away?:thumb:
I wonder if Kkille1LSU realizes that Tiger Rag begins with laughs instead of "do"s... As a former Tiger Band member, I applaud BergeGFK for voicing his (and probably the majority of Tiger Band's) opinion and feelings on this. I side with him and say I dislike the 'students' and love the 'fans'. Sometimes old habits die hard, and it now looks like there will be people coming in here trying to keep it on life support. FOREVER LSU!
Berg, I love reading your posts man. I mean do disrespect, but I must point out the obvious here. I am a former "band dork" to quote a previous poster, so I have had this pointed out to me a few times in the past. You mention that the true fans do this, and the true fans do that. How many of those fans would be there if there were not a football game? I love the GBFTL, but they are not the reason I come home for a game once a year. I doubt there would be a tailgater offering you food if it was just a band concert on Saturday nights. I enjoyed reading this entire thread and honestly don't have an opinion one way or the other. I am about 10 years removed from being a student so I think I am still young enough to relate to the students, but old enough to regret some of the immature things I did in the student section. The tone I picked up from the thread was this. The students feel like the band somehow thinks they have the authority to punish them, which breeds resentment. Most of the bandmember posts on here has some resentment towards the students. Did anyone else pick up on this? Maybe I just need more coffee? Also, quick question for Berg and the other band members. I have only been able to attend away games and Bowl games the past couple years, and could have sworn that you played Tiger Rag? Is this just a home game ban?
I think you misunderstood, the fans I am talking about are LSU fans. Not the band, not football. The "I Bleed Purple and Gold" fans. I am not nearly naive enough to think there are GBFTL fans. Though, the turnout to Tigerrama every year is a testament to our support. I've been in band for the 2004, 2005, and this season. The only time Tiger Rag has been played has been in pregame, and ONCE in the stands in '05 by mistake. However, after touchdowns we play from the Presto section of Tiger Rag. Basically, we still play it all the time, without the *******s part.
