What Has Happened To Grambling's Band Program?


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Philly Jag

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This post isn't smack. This letter was written by a Grambling alum. I know I represent all that's Southern, but I'm not blind or deaf and I totally agree with this brother - something just ain't right! :noidea:

What Happened to the Grambling Band That I Loved?
By Marvin Hurst -- Black College Wire
http://www.blackcollegewire.org/index.php?option=com_ywp_blog&task=view&id=5823&Itemid=36

To assume progress comes with the passing of a baton is conjecture operating at its optimum. In fact, assured progress is not a natural progression unless serious standards are implemented to guarantee that mastery is confirmed and continuous.

That's what came to mind as I watched a travesty in Jackson, Mississippi. I couldn't believe my eyes.

The once almost invincible World Famed Tiger Marching Band had become the locally lamed. The G-Man Band had fizzled down to a ghastly "geeee." Someone please tell me what the hell happened to halftime? Better yet, where is the band I so love? Has it been "band-napped?"

The name is still there but anything that resembled the former greatness of the Grambling band is DOA and/or MIA. It breaks my heart as an alumnus and a hardnosed fan. This is also problematic because the young men and women who are in the band deserve better. But to do better you need to know better. Subsequently, I submit to you the problem is leadership and lack of vision.

If you need an example of how bad things have become for the band's program, view their 2009 performance against Jackson State University. Musically, it was capital murder. Our show, although well-intentioned, would have been best performed for elementary students. I saw nothing that looked like a university band. And, certainly, not a thing that looked like GSU.

I get the Michael Jackson tribute. But, the King of Pop impersonator? C'mon! The Thriller dance routine? That only works for the real MJ and award show tributes.

Please believe this isn't isolated nonsense. The same band had Santa Claus come on the field at the SWAC championship in recent years. WHAT?! It's all been going downhill for years. We need change!

This isn't a personal attack against Dr. Larry Pannell. I like him. But folks, business is business. The marching band is a vital public relations and recruitment vehicle for Grambling State. Um … not so much these days.

Another example of leadership lunacy is taking the red out of the former band uniform for that "yellow stuff" we march in now. Anyone who knows marketing and branding knows better. You don't change a brand after working decades to establish it. Ask the folks at Coca-Cola about their experience with the new Coke.

Other issues? The marching tempo is too slow. The arrangements are rudimentary. The breakdowns are lackluster.

Who would think in an age where dance has become mainstream that we can't engineer an interesting break down?

In collegiate sports, when a coach continues to lose the alumni, the university's symbolic upper brass demands more. That may lead to termination. It's a sometimes painful process to achieve long term success.

We need to take a step in returning our band to its rightful place. Our goal should be to continue a lasting legacy of marching magnificence. First, we need to exercise ourselves from the depths of being laughable.

I welcome all civilized verbal debate on this issue. However, if you open your eyes and ears you can see what I'm seeing. We need to do this together. Demand change.

The late Congresswoman Barbara Jordan spoke of change in the keynote address at the Democratic Convention in July 1992. I borrow and extend cuttings of her powerful words to my dear Gramblinites.

"It is possible to win. It is possible but you must believe we can and will do it … Change: From what to what? … We are not strangers to change …We will do nothing to erode our essence …Our history bears witness to that statement … E Pluribus Unum was a good motto in the early days of our country and it is a good motto today. From the many, one … That is not an easy task, but it is a doable one."

Let us revive our renowned treasure before destruction befalls one of our greatest traditions.
 
*snicker laugh* Marvin Hurst wrote that mess and you got excited when you read that MESS huh???? I would go further but ill keep that info to myself. Marvin Hurst. LOL LOL
 
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Grambling Band hasn't been right in years. Now alot of Grambling alums want to voice their displeasure about the band. Have any of the alums spoke to Dr. Panell about their displeasures about the band. Better yet have any Grambling alums donated their time or money to try and fix the problem. Now this dude wants to write an article about his displeasure with the band. All he's doing is adding fuel to a fire.
 
This post isn't smack. This letter was written by a Grambling alum. I know I represent all that's Southern, but I'm not blind or deaf and I totally agree with this brother - something just ain't right! :noidea:

What Happened to the Grambling Band That I Loved?
By Marvin Hurst -- Black College Wire
http://www.blackcollegewire.org/index.php?option=com_ywp_blog&task=view&id=5823&Itemid=36

To assume progress comes with the passing of a baton is conjecture operating at its optimum. In fact, assured progress is not a natural progression unless serious standards are implemented to guarantee that mastery is confirmed and continuous.

That's what came to mind as I watched a travesty in Jackson, Mississippi. I couldn't believe my eyes.

The once almost invincible World Famed Tiger Marching Band had become the locally lamed. The G-Man Band had fizzled down to a ghastly "geeee." Someone please tell me what the hell happened to halftime? Better yet, where is the band I so love? Has it been "band-napped?"

The name is still there but anything that resembled the former greatness of the Grambling band is DOA and/or MIA. It breaks my heart as an alumnus and a hardnosed fan. This is also problematic because the young men and women who are in the band deserve better. But to do better you need to know better. Subsequently, I submit to you the problem is leadership and lack of vision.

If you need an example of how bad things have become for the band's program, view their 2009 performance against Jackson State University. Musically, it was capital murder. Our show, although well-intentioned, would have been best performed for elementary students. I saw nothing that looked like a university band. And, certainly, not a thing that looked like GSU.

I get the Michael Jackson tribute. But, the King of Pop impersonator? C'mon! The Thriller dance routine? That only works for the real MJ and award show tributes.

Please believe this isn't isolated nonsense. The same band had Santa Claus come on the field at the SWAC championship in recent years. WHAT?! It's all been going downhill for years. We need change!

This isn't a personal attack against Dr. Larry Pannell. I like him. But folks, business is business. The marching band is a vital public relations and recruitment vehicle for Grambling State. Um … not so much these days.

Another example of leadership lunacy is taking the red out of the former band uniform for that "yellow stuff" we march in now. Anyone who knows marketing and branding knows better. You don't change a brand after working decades to establish it. Ask the folks at Coca-Cola about their experience with the new Coke.

Other issues? The marching tempo is too slow. The arrangements are rudimentary. The breakdowns are lackluster.

Who would think in an age where dance has become mainstream that we can't engineer an interesting break down?

In collegiate sports, when a coach continues to lose the alumni, the university's symbolic upper brass demands more. That may lead to termination. It's a sometimes painful process to achieve long term success.

We need to take a step in returning our band to its rightful place. Our goal should be to continue a lasting legacy of marching magnificence. First, we need to exercise ourselves from the depths of being laughable.

I welcome all civilized verbal debate on this issue. However, if you open your eyes and ears you can see what I'm seeing. We need to do this together. Demand change.

The late Congresswoman Barbara Jordan spoke of change in the keynote address at the Democratic Convention in July 1992. I borrow and extend cuttings of her powerful words to my dear Gramblinites.

"It is possible to win. It is possible but you must believe we can and will do it … Change: From what to what? … We are not strangers to change …We will do nothing to erode our essence …Our history bears witness to that statement … E Pluribus Unum was a good motto in the early days of our country and it is a good motto today. From the many, one … That is not an easy task, but it is a doable one."

Let us revive our renowned treasure before destruction befalls one of our greatest traditions.

Hurst is just bitter because he got dismissed plain and simple. The real question is if you're not a Gramblinite what is it to you? I mean like you peeps really care.Love anything negative and drama.
 
This post isn't smack. This letter was written by a Grambling alum. I know I represent all that's Southern, but I'm not blind or deaf and I totally agree with this brother - something just ain't right! :noidea:

Yeah gram does sound even worse than they did in years past! Is that site still up...pannellgottago.com or something like that?
 
Hurst is just bitter because he got dismissed plain and simple. The real question is if you're not a Gramblinite what is it to you? I mean like you peeps really care.Love anything negative and drama.

Look who's talking. Stop crying and go fix the problem. :lol:
 
Well, they looked DAMNED GOOD on Good Morning America last Saturday. So to Marvin Hurst and all the haters: Kiss Our Whole Family's Azzes. :lecture:
 
That's not your bizz or anyone that's not a G-nite or supporter. The current and past World Famed Members know the problem and hopefully it gets resolved.

um okay homie...:retard:

Next time i go to the crib, s'port... ill just talk with my true gramblinites fam. :lecture:
 
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OOOOOO, no you di n't!!!!

Like I said, they looked DAMNED GOOD on GMA. (You know that stands for "Good Morning AMERICA", right?) :lol::lol::lol:

Ok and? Last I checked SU, FAMU, and other bands have been on GMA so what? This thread is not about that. It is about an article that one of YOUR own gramblinites wrote. Obviously y'all ain't happy and its understandable. Don't come on here with that bull.
 
They are worrying about the wrong thing they need to worry about constant hazing problems and fighting other bands. SU is in the negative press every other year for negativity(HAZING) and trying to kill peeps and they have the nerve to be in our bizz. Sweep around your own front door.:lecture:
 
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First of all, they need to get a damn head football coach!

As always you're a day late and a dollar short. Not only do we already have a football coach but our coach also has a staff full of NFL vets. Again, why you mad at us? A gramblingite wrote the article. :lol: :lol:
 
They are worrying about the wrong thing they need to worry about constant hazing problems and fighting other bands. SU is in the negative press every other year for negativity their all in our bizz. Sweep around your own front door.:lecture:

:whine: :whine:

Stop crying. Again you need to be mad at Marvin and who ever created firepannell.com. :lol: :lol:
 
:whine: :whine:

Stop crying. Again you need to be mad at Marvin and who ever created firepannell.com. :lol: :lol:

LIKE I SAID up there ^^^, Marvin and the rest of the haters can kiss our whole family's azzes. Marvin first, the rest fall in line behind him. PERIOD!
 
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