Welcome Visit
It's refreshing that fans who never travel to South Bend got a chance to hear the Notre Dame band. And they laid down a marker at halftime when they formed a car and had smoke come out the back of it.
They received a rousing round of applause at the end of the number. I especially applaud band director, USC graduate Ken Dye, who not only rebuilt the band, he has a small enough ego to let the students direct the band instead of positioning himself atop a ladder.
Art Bartner followed up with a Jackson 5 song, ``I want you back.'' Zzzzzzzz.
Uh, "I walk you back"? Try the Jackson 5 "I want you back"! Geez, how did you ever get a job in the newspaper industry? And how did you ever graduate from USC (or did you really)?
Now how did you just change it from "walk to want". Please....
The notre dame band was simply amazing. Having gone to several away games, I've come to appreciate other temas bands SOOOOOOOOOO much more. But I can say without a doubt the Notre Dame band tonight was one of the best I have ever seen. The car was awesome. The Treadmill ok go song was very cool. And yawn, yet more 70s and 80s songs from USC. Its time for some fresh blood.
Bandgate 2008. The only hope the Song Girls have. I can feel it coming...
Here's my suggestion for the band at the Rose Bowl. Mix Axl Rose, Dr. Pepper, and Mentos into the halftime show. The Internet geeks will go wild.
Ken Dye is a former USC band teaching assistant
under Art Bartner. He was very popular at USC and the students and band alumni are all hoping to bring him back to replace Art when he retires...hopefully soon. It'd be a great slap in the face to Notre Dame to steal him away - that band was absolutely awful before he got there. And at USC his halftime shows would not have to be pre-approved by the campus priest. Seriously.
Scott Wolf in his typically, fair equitable ways failed to mention that the TMB also played songs from the 80's, 90's and 00's in tribute to what the Notre Dame band missed in the 35 years they've not been to USC games. Meanwhile, the Notre Dame band made a gimmicky car on the field and moved it. Really difficult.
Call me ultra competitive (because I am) and very traditional, but I could have done without the marching midgets or whatever they are called. All I know is the smog spewing car, as I was told it was, was a knock on Southern California not an accomplishment of marching band prowess.
At least Dr. Bartner played over them at every opportunity.