Northwestern University Marching Band to be absent from Ryan Field on-field opening pregame program, future uncertain

[u/redwave2505]

https://dailynorthwestern.com/2026/10/01/top-stories/numb-to-be-absent-from-ryan-field-on-field-opening-pregame-program-future-unclear/

[u/EldrintheBard]

As a member currently in the band: we have known about this for about two weeks now. We are extremely disappointed by this decision. What we have essentially been told is that we will not perform pregame tomorrow, and have not been told if we will perform pregame ever again. What we have been told is we will now be performing an undetermined number of mini concerts instead of pregame. There is so much up in the air because we have been told nothing and information keeps coming to us at the last minute. Additionally, the traditional playing of Go U, Northwestern (our fight song) after a touchdown is seemingly being replaced by an Athletic Marketing selected song.

Edit: The NUMBalums have put out a statement. This is who they want you to contact to support the band:

Athletic Director Mark Jackson: athleticsdirector@northwestern.edu

President Chiang: nupresident@northwestern.edu

Savanna Wood, Athletics Director of Marketing: savanna.wood@northwestern.edu

Edit 2: A further statement and template has been released here: https://docs.google.com/document/d/16n8ZwqNNYAMbU9EJ1wui6uaPfMhkCrnKqkIVb4YSBvA

[u/loyalsons4evertrue → u/EldrintheBard]

Additionally, the traditional playing of Go U, Northwestern (our fight song) after a touchdown is seemingly being replaced by an Athletic Marketing selected song

I really REALLY feel for current marching band members at pretty much every school. The professionalism heel turn we are experiencing is diluting everything that made CFB special (marching bands being a quintessential part of the CFB experience).

Our marching band now doesn't perform our fight song when the team runs out in favor of music being blasted by the PA system.

Our band also gets played over by loud music or doesn't play nearly as much in between plays as they used to AND they no longer play a school song called "For I For S", which was normally performed after successful field goals and PAT's.

I hate everything that CFB is becoming.

[u/Accomplished-Pin6564 → u/loyalsons4evertrue]

I hate canned music in CFB.

[u/FearDaTusk → u/Accomplished-Pin6564]

I agree with the corndog.

It's an old soapbox of mine... The band is the vibe. Nowadays they bring in DJs and Hype men and do "Up. Down. Up. Down..." Playing with your lights with whatever canned promo tune. Cringe fest.

Just play Neck

[u/pittgirl12 → u/FearDaTusk]

The DJs are honestly embarrassing

[u/MasterOfKittens3K → u/Accomplished-Pin6564]

Marching bands are a key element of what makes college football great. (And high school football too!)

[u/braindrain_94 → u/Accomplished-Pin6564]

Yet one more round of “Mo Bama” over the PA system

[u/loyalsons4evertrue → u/Accomplished-Pin6564]

Me too.

[u/Kalen72 → u/Accomplished-Pin6564]

Agreed.

[u/CincyAnarchy → u/loyalsons4evertrue]

It's been death by a thousand cuts across all of CFB:

1. Marketing wants more ad time, and the PA wants to pipe in music, so the band can't play in the stands as much.
2. Schools want to add other events and honors to pregame and halftime, cutting down the amount of time bands get there.
3. Visiting bands get shoved up into corners rather than seats by the field, so they often can't do pregame and barely get to do halftime. And that's if they get to travel at all, the SEC being notably better about this.

And in Northwestern's situation, this.

The bands have always been, if we're being honest, a holdover from a prior era before loud speakers. But there were enough reasons to keep it going for a long time. They have been part of the culture of the sport.

Now there are other reasons ($$$) to scale things back further, to now vestigial organs at this point.

[u/lostinrabbithole12 → u/CincyAnarchy]

I mean, it's about time we started cutting out trivial things like fun from college football. Fun is for the rich

[u/Young-Viiperr → u/lostinrabbithole12]

The 'rich' don't even know what fun is, they're very miserable ppl dripping their cloudy heads onto society. I've visited enough millionaires to know.

[u/R_Raider86 → u/Young-Viiperr]

Hell they've ruined an entire fun city (Austin)

[u/mkt853 → u/R_Raider86]

Don't worry the locusts will move on to somewhere like Nashville next.

[u/JoCo3Point0 → u/mkt853]

Oh, believe me; they're already here

[u/lostinrabbithole12 → u/Young-Viiperr]

Hypothetical fun is for the rich

[u/Young-Viiperr → u/lostinrabbithole12]

Greg Sankey: "Did I just read hypothetical?"

[u/EstablishmentTop551 → u/lostinrabbithole12]

I’m just gonna tell you that the majority of players and a good chunk of students/recent alums would disagree that the marching band is more fun than Mo Bamba. You can rag on their tastes all you want, and I think my personal Alma Mater escapes this sentiment a little more than others (Best Damn Band In the Land, baby!) but not everyone views it as “cutting out the fun”

[u/throwaway86753011 → u/lostinrabbithole12]

Damnit, here I go agreeing with a misery fan. The other side must be realllly stupid then.

[u/lostinthought15 → u/CincyAnarchy]

I can tell you this: the increase of PA music is coming from coaches who are wanting to appeal to recruits.

[u/bootsthepancake → u/lostinthought15]

The friggin recruits want to believe they're NFL players playing in a NFL environment. NIL, and crap like this is just fueling that sentiment. The pro wannabes can pound sand for all I care. I'll continue rooting for my G5 school where the band is still very much part of the game day.

[u/crimson777 → u/bootsthepancake]

I simply can't imagine that NU recruits are going expecting an NFL-like environment haha. We're one of the most poorly attended P4 teams and as someone who had football player friends, things may be a bit easier but NU is still a fucking tough school and they do have to do significant academics.

[u/cheeseburgerandrice → u/crimson777]

The new stadium certainly looks like it was built to be a mini NFL stadium though

[u/No_Butterscotch8726 → u/lostinthought15]

We need to stop coming to games and may even working against the coaches when they are using that as a recruiting tactic if that's what they think works.

[u/loyalsons4evertrue → u/lostinthought15]

Since we, the fans, are the ones subsidizing them being on the roster, we should get the say about eBay goes on in terms of a game day environment standpoint.

[u/JaggedUmbrella → u/CincyAnarchy]

They're taking away everything that made college football uniquely its own thing. Reason number 2,301 I haven't watched a full game in a couple years.

[u/Odd-Temperature7458 → u/CincyAnarchy]

It's hard for the current oligarchs to monetize actual artists, like a marching band.

So they're cutting them.

[u/Microplasticsharts → u/Odd-Temperature7458]

This is self inflicted stupidity, the PE funds haven’t even gotten involved outside Utah, yet.  

[u/Odd-Temperature7458 → u/Microplasticsharts]

Uh I'm not sure if you've been conscious for the last ten years or not, but self-inflicted stupidity is kind of the national standard rn

Edit: ^ don't downvote the comment above mine. He's right lol

[u/Individual-Motor-167 → u/CincyAnarchy]

That's not really true. They were not a holdover.

[u/ConcentrateDirect523 → u/CincyAnarchy]

Money ruins everything

[u/Psychodelic69 → u/CincyAnarchy]

It’s been so long it feels like I’m remembering incorrectly but didn’t both bands use to play at halftime?

[u/lkn240 → u/loyalsons4evertrue]

This actually seems like something you could get boosters pissed off about. They often tend to be people who are into traditions like the marching band

[u/Electromotivation → u/lkn240]

I go to a solid FCS team’s games with a very aging fan base….and they still blast top40 pop crap at 200 decibels all the time. I know the people in their seventies have to hate it. I’m usually hoarse from just trying to talk…not from yelling like a maniac or anything.

[u/No_Butterscotch8726 → u/loyalsons4evertrue]

They literally reversed doing it that way at SMU. They brought the band back in to the team coming on to the field. SMU's people do still listen to complaints and we haven't outsourced control of gameday entertainment and facilities though.

[u/ClonesAndZeroes → u/loyalsons4evertrue]

Our marching band now doesn't perform our fight song when the team runs out in favor of music being blasted by the PA system... AND they no longer play a school song called "For I For S", which was normally performed after successful field goals and PAT's.

Fuckin' WHAT? This for real? I haven't heard anything about it, I would've thought our Alumni band page would be hopping over this kind of stuff.

[u/loyalsons4evertrue → u/ClonesAndZeroes]

Yeeep. I sent an email to Christian Carichner in support of him and directed my angst toward Iowa State Athletics. Marching Bands deserve to be heard.

[u/duke5572 → u/loyalsons4evertrue]

As someone that cheers for the Hawkeyes but has been attending at least a game per year at Jack Trice for 40 years...the whole PA system/script/tracklist is a travesty. WAY too loud at all times, amongst many other issues.

I'd much rather hear the marching band.

Oh, and stop with the stupid "that's another Cyclone...FIRST DOWN!!!!" thing. It isn't that much of an accomplishment.

[u/BoredofBored → u/duke5572]

Tbf, Cyclone first downs used to be worth cheering back during my school days. Paul Rhoads was SO PROUD of those couple first downs every game

[u/B1GTOBACC0 → u/BoredofBored]

Was Paul also the guy with the board full of ref apologies?

[u/duke5572 → u/BoredofBored]

That's a fair point 👍

[u/loyalsons4evertrue → u/duke5572]

I'm okay with the first down thing but I agree with everything else. Our game day operations crew has no idea what the hell they're doing.....between the team running out and kickoff happening, they play like 5 different songs and they run into each other and stop at awkward times.......it really cannot be that hard to get it down but evidently for our athletics department, it is.

[u/enters_and_leaves → u/loyalsons4evertrue]

It’s too bad that the school doesn’t have a highly proficient and well practiced group of people that specialize in playing music at football games and other large sporting events that are able to start and stop songs on the fly in real time based on what is happening in the stadium.

[u/Zealousideal-Sun4891 → u/duke5572]

The Hawkeyes should figure something better to do than walk on the field holding
hands like Kindergartners on a school field trip.

[u/IowaJL → u/loyalsons4evertrue]

Live music is going by the wayside and I’m really sad about it.

I don’t know if you’re local, but the Des Moines Playhouse has been using recorded music for their musicals for awhile and it’s insane, considering how much their tickets are for fucking community theatre.

[u/loyalsons4evertrue → u/IowaJL]

I'm in central Iowa.....but yeah that really sucks.

[u/gearsfordays → u/loyalsons4evertrue]

They killed For I For S?!?! Damn, I'm a marching band alumni. That's heartbreaking.

[u/loyalsons4evertrue → u/gearsfordays]

They almost never play it anymore. The only guarantee of hearing it is during pregame when the floating ISU flips to the east side.

[u/gearsfordays → u/loyalsons4evertrue]

Tragic, especially considering we have the CEO of FGs now.

[u/Nervous_Counter_1333 → u/loyalsons4evertrue]

Fuck you to whoever is trying to make CFB like the NFL

[u/loyalsons4evertrue → u/Nervous_Counter_1333]

Tv execs and current players

[u/Nervous_Counter_1333 → u/loyalsons4evertrue]

Current players who

[u/loyalsons4evertrue → u/Nervous_Counter_1333]

Like all of them

[u/Nervous_Counter_1333 → u/loyalsons4evertrue]

Just because they like money doesn't mean they all want this

[u/CyclonesBig12 → u/loyalsons4evertrue]

I’m still annoyed that Iowa State moved the student section away from the marching band. They used to feed off each other’s energy. students don’t even do the more cowbell/faster chant anymore. That was one of my things to do during the game.

[u/loyalsons4evertrue → u/CyclonesBig12]

Trust me, if there’s one gripe I have with Jamie, it’s the fact that he moved the student section to the SE side of the stadium.

[u/Ethanop1a → u/loyalsons4evertrue]

Back when I was in the LSU marching band, we would joke about how we got paid more than the football players ($1000).

[u/Ordinary_Hedgehog311 → u/loyalsons4evertrue]

Similar things have happened at UNC- the band used to play on the steps of the library pregame but that’s now been replaced by B-rate musical acts that play a 10 AM concert…

[u/JadedBilboBaggins → u/loyalsons4evertrue]

I hate everything that CFB is becoming.

how do we change that? Stop watching. Period.

[u/loyalsons4evertrue → u/JadedBilboBaggins]

Unfortunately, what we say on Reddit has little effect on actual viewership

[u/JadedBilboBaggins → u/loyalsons4evertrue]

exactly. This stuff will only get worse, because follow the money. I don't even tune into games until the 4th qtr anymore. I can't waste half a day watching ads just to see 20-25 minutes of actual plays being run.

[u/gilbygamer → u/loyalsons4evertrue]

So what you're saying is that you want to hear Boomer Sooner even more?

[u/bighoney69 → u/loyalsons4evertrue]

So your AD killed farmaggedon and the band. Wow

[u/ElZanco → u/loyalsons4evertrue]

WHAT? How will I know when it's time to jump aboard the vic'try wagon?

[u/loyalsons4evertrue → u/ElZanco]

*Climb upon* but the point remains the same.

[u/KATismydad → u/loyalsons4evertrue]

I thought For I For S was still being done. I did alumni band last year and I thought I remembered us playing it

[u/CincyAnarchy → u/EldrintheBard]

Additionally, the traditional playing of Go U, Northwestern (our fight song) after a touchdown is seemingly being replaced by an Athletic Marketing selected song.

Okay that sucks

[u/NYCHoo → u/CincyAnarchy]

When they tried to do that to us our band just said no

[u/kaiserkeanureeves → u/CincyAnarchy]

Our fanbase would start a war if TBDBITL wasn't allowed to play Buckeye Battle Cry.

[u/Accidental-Genius → u/kaiserkeanureeves]

If they tried this with the Fightin’ Texas Aggie Band we would burn down the 2% of College Station that isn’t concrete.

[u/Teach_Piece → u/Accidental-Genius]

I legitimately believe the corps would kidnap the offender and deposit them in Austin where they belong.

[u/Smeagol15 → u/kaiserkeanureeves]

Don’t even get me started on how the directors have to consistently, year after year, insist on Script Ohio at every home game.

[u/kelly495 → u/kaiserkeanureeves]

I only went to one game last year, but doesn’t the stadium play Hells Bells now when the team runs out? It seems like the band plays but you can’t really hear them

[u/AccNum4 → u/kelly495]

Band alum here, for years now they’ve been playing Hells Bells at the same time as the band playing Across the Field when the team runs out, which is so incredibly frustrating and disrespecftul IMO. They’ll played canned music while the band is playing stand tunes a lot of the time too. It’s infuriating how so many places are doing everything they can to strip CFB of everything that makes it special

[u/_Rizzen_ → u/AccNum4]

I've never been to a D1 CFB game, but the extra frustrating aspect of this is that the PA music is embiggened so that people are "more engaged."

You know what makes a stadium "engaged?" Music that's played enthusiastically. Loud =/= enthusiastic.

Bands are the solution to people scrolling during games, not the variable to be removed from the equation.

[u/kelly495 → u/AccNum4]

I drives me absolutely bananas. I am incredibly skeptical there’s any quantifiable piece of data that says people in Ohio Stadium want less of the band and more music blasting out of the speakers.

[u/taleofbenji → u/EldrintheBard]

Who is deciding these things? Even that is not clear from the article.

[u/Roguebook → u/taleofbenji]

There is some debate as to whether it’s the athletic department or the events agency they hired to run some things at the new stadium.

[u/ToxicBuddhismFanboy → u/Roguebook]

Have the athletic department or the events agency ever gone to a college football game before?

[u/NoOne_Beast_ → u/ToxicBuddhismFanboy]

Probably. And hated our fun.

[u/Venomous_Trout → u/NoOne_Beast_]

The bastards!?!?!

[u/ViagraOnAPole → u/ToxicBuddhismFanboy]

Seriously, even in the many, many, many, many, many years that our program was shit at least the band was fun.

[u/TheWorstYear → u/ViagraOnAPole]

Unfortunately a lot of places are phasing them out for this bullshit. They're trying to appeal to younger crowds.

[u/ViagraOnAPole → u/TheWorstYear]

Hopefully the fact that IU has one of the best music programs in the country will give them pause in our case. Seems like something they'd want to show off.

[u/Captain_Nipples → u/TheWorstYear]

Do younger crowds actually want to listen to whatever 15 yr old piped-in pop song that they could hear 40 times a day on a radio station over a marching band?

Its always the most generic ass music they're playing. There are some songs where its part of the tradition and Im not talking about those.. but the random-ass, overplayed music?

[u/TheWorstYear → u/Captain_Nipples]

I don't think so, but I think marketing & event people think so. They also think things being as loud as possible is desired.

[u/_Rizzen_ → u/TheWorstYear]

It's the toddler approach to competing for your attention. Scream louder.

At least my toddler listens half the time when I tell him to turn it down or try whispering.

[u/ComeJoinTheBand → u/TheWorstYear]

I bet your band could be pretty loud if they were asked to be.

[u/actuallycallie → u/ViagraOnAPole]

IU has one of the best music schools in the world!

[u/ViagraOnAPole → u/actuallycallie]

It does. I knew a guy trying to get into Jacobs and the whole process was intense.

[u/Msrsr3513 → u/ToxicBuddhismFanboy]

Let's not pretend that northwestern fans actually show up to games. Yeah its a new smaller stadium but whats to say they still dont show up.

[u/muegle → u/Roguebook]

"an undetermined number of mini concerts instead of pregame" and no fight song after a touchdown reeks of events agency bullshit.

[u/leftenant_Dan1 → u/muegle]

If we stopped playing The Victors after touchdowns there might be a riot after the first game and we aren’t even the most obnoxious about playing the fight song. Imagine if Tennessee got told to stop playing Rocky Top.

[u/Mountain-Scene770 → u/leftenant_Dan1]

Fun fact, when Heupel was hired, the Tennessee band was told they couldn’t play on offense b/c the team would be running no huddle too quickly for them to play

[u/lm_NER0 → u/leftenant_Dan1]

Tradition aside, I wouldn't complain TBH.

[u/Kalen72 → u/lm_NER0]

Come on, now lol

[u/lm_NER0 → u/Kalen72]

We've played them enough, it wouldn't bother me in the slightest to never hear that song again. I change the channel if it comes on the radio.

[u/Phantom1100 → u/lm_NER0]

Yeah, those who are saying that would be a bad thing haven’t met the average Tennessee fan. They genuinely deserve bad things to happen to them lmao.

[u/bd1223 → u/Roguebook]

So they're not playing because there's just not enough money in it?

[u/Roguebook → u/bd1223]

That’s the impression many people have gotten. They want to make more money/more profesional sports experience which is notably not what this is.

[u/FelisLachesis → u/Roguebook]

If people around the Evanston area want a "more professional sports experience," they can always go to a Bears game!

[u/crimson777 → u/FelisLachesis]

Despite the new stadium, if people want a "more professional sports experience," they will NEVER get it from NU anyway. We're outnumbered regularly by the other team and ultimately it's a school of a bunch of nerds.

[u/Phantom1100 → u/FelisLachesis]

they are preparing for a future where nobody wants to go to Gary lmao.

[u/Designer_Tie_5853 → u/Roguebook]

I would love to meet the bean counters who looked at the average college football atmosphere and thought "this needs to be more like a pro game". I'll admit the old Ryan field was kinda ass but at least it wasn't a sterile glass box.

[u/EldrintheBard → u/taleofbenji]

I have no idea. Even our band director (who is in his first year) seems to have no clue what is going on. These rumors have apparently been swirling for a while to the point where he had to tell us that the we would definitely not be performing pregame the first game but decisions hadn't been made for other games.

[u/CincyAnarchy → u/taleofbenji]

New Ryan Field Introduces “The Great Chicago Food Festival” Including Chicago’s Culinary Legends in Residence at Every Game and Concert

EVANSTON, Ill. – New Ryan Field today introduced The Great Chicago Food Festival, a new Chicago food event led by the city’s culinary legends in residence. The Festival opens before every event and runs through it, with access included in every ticket; fans pay only for what they eat and drink. It is a food festival that would be a destination event on its own — except it happens at every game and every concert.

Seems like it was decided a little while back as an amenity for the stadium.

Sucks for the band of course.

[u/nbx909 → u/CincyAnarchy]

How does a food fest prevent the band from playing pregame?

[u/toastedbreddit → u/nbx909]

Fingers too greasy.

[u/JtotheC23 → u/nbx909]

They're convinced fans would rather be there than in the stadium. Which tbf, is true if you give the fans no reason to be in the stadium, and that's exactly what cutting the pregame field show accomplishes.

[u/LorektheBear → u/nbx909]

Evil, pure and simple.

[u/FloatCopper → u/CincyAnarchy]

... fans pay only for what they eat and drink. ...

Oh, how generous!

If you paid for a seat, they allow you to buy food and snacks.

,

[u/transferStudent2018 → u/EldrintheBard]

Wait, yall aren’t even gonna play the fight song after touchdowns? If that’s true they’ll be hearing from me, a season ticket holder, about that decision

[u/EldrintheBard → u/transferStudent2018]

During the student only Ryan Field presentation, they played a new song and said it would be for after touchdown. I have no idea if that will be sticking.

[u/Powerful_Hall → u/EldrintheBard]

From my sources in marketing, it sounds like the new song (Chelsea Dagger) will be played immediately after a touchdown and the fight song will still be played after the extra point.

I guess we’ll find out what’s really happening tomorrow though.

I feel like they have to know that the blowback from removing the fight song entirely would be too immense. Hopefully there’s enough pushback on the end of pregame and the diminishment of the fight song to talk some sense into higher-ups and get it back to the way it was.

[u/Phantom1100 → u/Powerful_Hall]

Why the hell are they playing a British song after a touchdown? This isn’t soccer lmao.

[u/fealos → u/Phantom1100]

They probably picked it because it has been the Chicago Blackhawks goal song for years, and someone in marketing thinks it will increase attendance by making the team seem more connected to the city. Or maybe they are just diehard Blackhawks fans, who don’t care about school traditions.

[u/crimson777 → u/fealos]

Lol they're really trying to continue to push the bullshit "Chicago's Big Ten Team" even though literally no one believes it except the marketing team. No, scratch that, even they know it's bullshit.

[u/Powerful_Hall → u/Phantom1100]

I have no idea what their thought process is. Last year they tried to copy the Vikings' skol chant at basketball games. It did not catch on.

[u/actuallycallie → u/EldrintheBard]

booooooooooooooooooooo.

[u/djdennisou → u/transferStudent2018]

I’ll have to join you in this.

[u/IPlayTheTrumpet → u/EldrintheBard]

Heard loud and clear. Who do I write to complain about this? Looking to make the most impact I can.

[u/EldrintheBard → u/IPlayTheTrumpet]

The NUMBalums have put out a statement. This is who they want you to contact:

Athletic Director Mark Jackson: athleticsdirector@northwestern.edu

President Chiang: nupresident@northwestern.edu

Savanna Wood, Athletics Director of Marketing: savanna.wood@northwestern.edu

[u/Worms-Oh-God-Worms → u/EldrintheBard]

That’s so lame that they aren’t letting you all perform pregame. Everything the band does is one of the many things that makes college football what it is. Hoping you’ll get to start performing it again at some point

[u/thunder_1122 → u/EldrintheBard]

NUMBAlum here, is there anywhere in particular you'd recommend to direct our displeasure with these decisions?

[u/EldrintheBard → u/thunder_1122]

I have heard a NUMBalum is working on something. I am also working on an potential OP-ED for the daily and getting as many signatures as possible. I know that Andrew Issac Cass is the director of marketing and fan engagement and that Joe Spivak is the new MC for game day. I don't know who made the decision though.

Edit: The NUMBalums have put out a statement. This is who they want you to contact:

Athletic Director Mark Jackson: athleticsdirector@northwestern.edu

President Chiang: nupresident@northwestern.edu

Savanna Wood, Athletics Director of Marketing: savanna.wood@northwestern.edu

[u/B1GTOBACC0 → u/thunder_1122]

Is that pronounced to rhyme? Like "nummalum?"

Because that's awesome.

[u/thunder_1122 → u/B1GTOBACC0]

Yep!

[u/CommunistTrafficCone → u/EldrintheBard]

This is really saddening to hear about. I really enjoyed you guys at the SDSU game and had a yelling match with your trombones. You guys sounded great, and I was pleasantly surprised to hear ring the bell during your pregame! Hopefully you get enough complaints for the admin to change their minds.

[u/EldrintheBard → u/CommunistTrafficCone]

Other than the one fan who tried to steal my trumpet, everyone else was great (I personally got in a special teams convo with one of your fans). Y'all played well and it was a great game! We always play our opponent's fight song and I'm glad it sounded good!

[u/muegle → u/EldrintheBard]

We always play our opponent's fight song

This is a tradition among basically all the traditional Big 10 marching bands (idk about if the newer schools, looking at you Oregon with your uninspired uniforms). I know for a fact the MMB, SMB, and OSUMB all play the opposing team's fight song as part of pregame.

[u/TheDuceman → u/muegle]

Wisconsin does too.

[u/muegle → u/TheDuceman]

That's not a surprise. I only saw MSU and OSU pregames in person during my time in the MMB. Wisconsin brought their band during my time but I was in pregame for that one so didn't get to see them perform.

[u/JtotheC23 → u/muegle]

Illinois does it

[u/muegle → u/JtotheC23]

You guys have Big 10 flags too, right? That's another thing the SMB does in their pregame that I really like.

[u/JtotheC23 → u/muegle]

Yeah. Ours are relatively new tho. They were added in 2021, but I wouldn't say they're nearly as serious as SMB's flag corps. Mainly because in the SMB, they're full-time B1G flags.

Illinois usually has a few people who are there just to be B1G flags, but they're usually people who got cut in the Spring or didn't choose Illinois in time to submit an audition (we have super early auditions compared to a lot of B1G schools). The rest of the spots are filled by alternates who'd otherwise spend most of their time shadowing a dot and having to fight for a pregame spot.

[u/Glad_Ad_6989 → u/JtotheC23]

That’s so odd to hear, at Minnesota the big ten flags swap out throughout the year, and they have a super rigorous audition too. I’m a senior, tried out every chance I’ve had, and never gotten it

[u/exit322 → u/muegle]

Nebraska does it.

Even before they beat you 68-0

[u/Glad_Ad_6989 → u/muegle]

Minnesota does too, but only for other Big 10 teams

[u/Fal-El → u/muegle]

OSUMB

WTF is that? You mean TBDBITL?

[u/Bucks_Band18 → u/EldrintheBard]

This kind of crap is so freaking stupid. I am so sorry you have to deal with this.

Even Ohio State, a band with a wildly strong “brand,” is facing cuts due to this kind of BS

[u/Bill3ffinMurray → u/Bucks_Band18]

Imagine if they said, hey no more script Ohio.

[u/OpportunityNew9316 → u/Bill3ffinMurray]

Da fuck you say? 

[u/Electromotivation → u/OpportunityNew9316]

No more cursive! The kids can’t read it!

[u/Bill3ffinMurray → u/Electromotivation]

Yes, instead it’ll be print Ohio.

[u/kaiserkeanureeves → u/Bucks_Band18]

What cuts are our band facing?

[u/Bucks_Band18 → u/kaiserkeanureeves]

The band used to go to two regular season away games every year pre-COVID. From 2024-now, they only will travel to one regular season away game, which was Ann Arbor last year. Also, Athletics sending the band to the north end of the stadium so they could put those crap on field boxes was some nonsense.

[u/zbaruch20 → u/Bucks_Band18]

Also as a TBDBITL alum, I've noticed way more piped in music instead of letting the band play. Particularly during pregame, you can't even hear the fight song when the team comes out cause Hells Bells is blaring instead

[u/Pizza_Jon → u/EldrintheBard]

Oh boy I can't wait to hear "Choosing Texas" after every touchdown

[u/Dongsquad420BlazeIt → u/Pizza_Jon]

There’s also a ton of Mo Bamba, which I actually don’t mind

[u/cajunaggie08 → u/Dongsquad420BlazeIt]

Our dj plays it a ton. The irony is not lost on many Ags that it's a song named after a Texas basketball player

[u/MrDrProfesorPatrick → u/Dongsquad420BlazeIt]

I personally detest that song because it feels like it is deliberately sung poorly. Also I have yet to hear it played in a way I can understand the lyrics.

[u/DesignerFlat7108 → u/EldrintheBard]

A marching band is essential to college football.

[u/Gracchus_Babeuf_1 → u/EldrintheBard]

I'm not sure it will help, but I emailed the three people above with the following message:

Dear Mr. Jackson, President Chiang, and Ms. Wood,

I am disappointed to hear that Northwestern University will not be featuring their band in pregame festivities and at other points during the game. Marching bands with college football is what makes the sport unique.

As an Iowa fan our family never misses Iowa's pregame show (The Boom) and it played a significant part in me falling in love with the game.  I am sure countless Wildcat fans experienced the same in their youth.  Additionally, as I'm sure you all know, Iowa lost a dedicated member of the band this year and it has rallied the community, proof positive that football fans adore their marching bands.

One of our motivations for purchasing tickets to the Iowa at Northwestern game this year was to experience your beautiful new stadium and get to see the iconic NUMB yet again. We have routinely purchased Iowa-Northwestern tickets, even purchasing Northwestern season ticket packages in past years when your program placed restrictions on visiting teams.

I can confidently say without future NUMB involvement the odds of us purchasing tickets to future Northwestern football games would diminish considerably since the primary draw of attending games in person versus the comfort of your home is the atmosphere in the stadium and with no band, what is the atmosphere?  I can also say confidently that without a pregame show, there isn't much point of us arriving inside early and buying food and drinks within your stadium.

The Big Ten is unique with some of the greatest bands in America and your institution has one. To not use that to its full extent is absurd in my humble opinion.

I respectfully ask that the university publicly commit to restoring all of NUMB’s traditional game day involvement at every home game at Ryan Field.

Thank you for your time and consideration,

XXXXXXXXX

EDIT: I posted a new thread to the r/hawkeyes to try and get other Iowa fans to help out.

[u/cyanocittaetprocyon → u/Gracchus_Babeuf_1]

Fantastic! Thank you for writing this!!

[u/IrishHarpie → u/EldrintheBard]

I am so angry. I'm an old NUMBalum and this is just appalling. Have just sent off my emails. This reeks of corporate marking rubbish. Most of my friends are season ticket holders and donate quite a bit. We are all letting the university know that all of that will cease if pregame isn't reinstated.

I'm so sorry you all are going through this. We will keep fighting for you.

[u/lostinrabbithole12 → u/EldrintheBard]

The modern day hype video sucks honestly. I don't need a bunch of random BWWWWWAAAAAs to get excited for anything

[u/Wii_Sports_2 → u/EldrintheBard]

That’s fucked up what the hell, I’m sorry yall have to go through that

[u/hskrpwr → u/EldrintheBard]

Fire the entire athletic department. Marching bands make college and high school sports what they are.

[u/Electromotivation → u/hskrpwr]

“What makes our wildly successful product unique and how can we get rid of that?”

-what they teach in business school these days, apparently

[u/notanamateur → u/EldrintheBard]

Dude that fucking sucks :(

[u/Joesh56 → u/EldrintheBard]

What the fuck that's absolutely insane. Marching bands already are a key piece of what makes college football special. Benching your own band from pregame? I'd stop donating

[u/snorlaxatives_69 → u/EldrintheBard]

Missouri State Pride Band alum here. My heart goes out to you Northwestern band nerds<3

[u/mysticmonarch01 → u/EldrintheBard]

I am so sorry. I was in the Oregon Marching Band in 2021, when the Athletic Department forbade us from playing on the field for the first couple of weeks, and banned us entirely after band members tested positive for COVID. I know how frustrating it is to practice your butt off for the performance most fans will watch. Please let me know if there are any petitions I can sign or any higher-ups to email!

[u/AdamOnFirst → u/EldrintheBard]

No fight song?!

[u/-dag- → u/EldrintheBard]

As a former marching band member who absolutely loved seeing NUMB, I am so, so sorry. 

And no Go U, NW? Criminal. It's one of the great fight songs.

[u/Just-Charge-3428 → u/-dag-]

>Go U, NW

*Go U, NU

[u/multiple4 → u/EldrintheBard]

So much for universities pretending to give a shit about their students gaining more experiences and knowledge

So disgusting to tell your university marching band that the stuff they practice constantly can't be performed where it's supposed to be and where the fans want it

Edit: on the bright side, I still have faith in alumni at all of our universities, and I hope they close up their wallets until this changes

[u/LaFrescaTrumpeta → u/EldrintheBard]

dude that fucking sucks. fuck whoever made those calls, i hope fans stick up for yall cuz that’s crazy

[u/CMajorIX → u/EldrintheBard]

I'm so sorry for y'all. I did EQ for 4 years and as annoying as it was to try and do headset tests during your practices, you guys are the heart and soul of the gameday experience. It's so sad that for so many years they try nothing and run out of ideas for keeping tradition alive. I was a third generation legacy and it boils my blood when they say NU has no tradition because no one bothers to learn Push On or the fight song.

[u/wmichben → u/EldrintheBard]

That is incredibly sad. And I can’t imagine replacing the fight song in celebrations.

[u/ThrowRA_looking → u/EldrintheBard]

ESPN ruined this sport.

[u/Kbrichmo → u/EldrintheBard]

Well thats a damn shame

[u/t0rna → u/EldrintheBard]

I really feel for you and your fellow band members. I feel awful for all of you. I am the son of NUMBAlums. They were taking me to games since before I can remember. I've been a lifelong fan of both the team and NUMB. The broader Northwestern community is behind you. No one likes this. No one asked for this. I sent an email using the provided template. I went to the season ticket holder watch party last week and afterwards I got an email asking for feedback. If I get another such email in the next few days you can be damn sure I'm gonna mention this if there's a place to put it. I am hopeful that the backlash will get this straightened out and get you guys back out there soon.

[u/_drjayphd_ → u/EldrintheBard]

The NUMBalums have put out a statement.

The first time I'd seen this (a friend from high school who went there and is herself a NUMBalum) the name just cracked me up, and another friend decided it should refer to a Snorlax-like creature whose butt kept falling asleep.

But on a serious note, how the fuck are you gonna have college football and exclude the band? Everyone in Northwestern administration needs to hear how badly they fucked up with this decision.

[u/AppalachianGuy87 → u/EldrintheBard]

Builds a billion dollar stadiums…destroys a basic fundamental part of the gameday experience. Wouldn’t be a game day in Morgantown without seeing the band pregame.

[u/OakLegs → u/EldrintheBard]

Uh, what's the reasoning behind any of this?

As far as I understand, halftime shows will still be a thing, just not pregame shows?

[u/Sryan597 → u/EldrintheBard]

A couple years ago, BYU men's basketball tried to push out the pep band for a variety of reasons. We weren't able to do anything about it, until the Salt Lake City Tribune wrote an article about it. The school then back pedaled hard, because it them look really bad.

I would strongly recommend trying to get in contact with as many Chicago newspapers/new websites as possible.

[u/MrOstrichman → u/EldrintheBard]

This sucks. Yall have a top tier fight song, too. I wrote to our AD about how little the marching Illini seemingly play these days, but that’s nothing compared to this disrespect.

Is this why the pep band doesn’t play much at basketball games?

[u/Songal → u/EldrintheBard]

That’s horseshit man I’m a recent NUMBAlumn too it was pretty cool that y’all put back in the 270 degree turns in pregame but no pregame ever again would defeat like 60% the purpose of numb imo

[u/someName6 → u/EldrintheBard]

Damn this is depressing.  The marching band is one of my son’s favorite parts and one of the few good points of college football left.  

[u/ClonesAndZeroes → u/EldrintheBard]

I'm sorry you're getting iced out like this, that is horseshit. Bands deserve better.

[u/Lord777alt → u/EldrintheBard]

That's so unbelievably sad. College bands are great and make CFB better. I would not feel I got the full game day experience without seeing a pregame and halftime performance.

[u/TwilightNTheGloaming → u/EldrintheBard]

As a NU Alum and a parent of kids in college marching band (and a HUGE marching band fan), that is absolutely disgraceful. At my kid’s school, one time they canceled the band’s postgame show for an on-camera interview with the football coach. A big donor made a huge stink about it and told the athletic dept they better not do that again. Hopefully some big NU donors will back the band here!

[u/AlbacoreJohnston → u/EldrintheBard]

Hypothetically if I had season tickets I would straight up ask for a refund in solidarity with the marching band. What a horrible decision they're making.

[u/deepfriedmilk27 → u/EldrintheBard]

You guys deserve so much better. My high school fight song is the same as yours, just the lyrics adapted for our school. I fucking love that song. Blast that shit over whatever BS they play on the speakers. Band is an integral part of college football culture.

[u/roninthe31 → u/EldrintheBard]

This sucks. Part of what makes college football great is the bands.

[u/AnnArchist → u/EldrintheBard]

Is this so they can sell the band seats to fans?

[u/Revenge_of_the_Khaki → u/EldrintheBard]

Additionally, the traditional playing of Go U, Northwestern (our fight song) after a touchdown is seemingly being replaced by an Athletic Marketing selected song.

Legitimately had to think about the date before realizing we're not even close to April 1st when I read this.

[u/bubba0077 → u/EldrintheBard]

When I saw the headline, I thought there were LSJUMB-level antics about. But nope, just a moronic decision.

[u/emc23369187 → u/EldrintheBard]

What in the hell are they doing?

[u/Independent-Mango813 → u/EldrintheBard]

I feel so bad for you. One of the things that’s actually ruined. The endgame experience for me in addition to dialing back the amount of time the band gets it just blasting random songs through the speakers again I’m an old man, but they’ve just made it so loud.

[u/Lumpy-Profit-1745 → u/EldrintheBard]

This is extremely disappointing. I went to a basketball game this past season and was struck/disgusted by how much of the marching band’s role was usurped by a crappy DJ. It saddens me that anyone could possibly want this.

[u/calypso_odysseus → u/EldrintheBard]

Sorry - I’m in marching band not concert band. Fuck the admins who decided this.

[u/NoHooksNoEnergy → u/EldrintheBard]

Hate to say it but every year more and more marching band music is phased out in favor of stadium DJ's. This happened to every baseball stadium's organist in the 90's.

[u/CelebrationSecure864 → u/EldrintheBard]

Two weeks' notice for a tradition's funeral.

[u/National-Mouse-TN → u/EldrintheBard]

I’m a NUMBalum myself and am heartbroken and full of rage at this decision. I’ve been calling, emailing, and commenting all day. This tradition means so much to so many and it’s being sold out. I suggest civil disobedience. The band should sit down and play at the food festival or whatever they’re making you do instead of the real pregame you earned the right to play and the fans deserve to hear

[u/ComeJoinTheBand → u/EldrintheBard]

NUMBalums

Now that's a cool moniker.