Tullahoma at Columbia

[Volunteer87]

I was disappointed the THS Wildcat Band wasn't at the game tonite also. They do a great job and I don't remember exactly why they weren't there. I'm sure they had prior committment for a competition or something and maybe didn't expect the Cats to be playing in the 3rd round when they scheduled this whatever. THS did postpone their bkb games and maybe the band could have done the same. I wonder what it would be like to go to a UT or Alabama football game and the band wasn't there. It just didn't seem right to me, but I'm a little prejudiced. The band booster club has a nice concession stand at Wilkins Stadium and made money off the football program and I just think the football team deserved a little more from the band. Thats just my opinion and I know everyone has one. I hope the band does well at the state competition.

 

The band was there, did you not hear them or see them? They were seated on the end of the field closest to the Wildcats locker room. They were not in uniform and did not perform on the field at halftime since many members were absent due to Mid State Auditions tomorrow morning in Nashville. The band was not just freshmen. I had a senior and a sophomore there. And they played a lot of songs throughout the game. I just got in from driving one of the buses and just had to respond. And I stood most of the game and cheered, trying to make noise when THS was on defense, like many of the other band boosters around me and unlike most of the so-called fans who just sat there. I am not referring to the student section which stood on the opposite end of the field. Many of the so-called THS fans in the middle sections remained seated and only got up to try to catch a T-shirt or football that the cheerleaders were throwing when it looked like they would not have any other reason to throw them. They did stand after the each of the Wildcats scores but promptly sat back down when THS went on defense. And I saw many headed to the exits early and I wonder why they even bothered to make the drive over there? When the team is down is when they need the crowd support. The band's performance agreement only covered the first two rounds of the playoffs so it may need to be revisited. But this is the first time in 23 years that it has been needed. So the band did support the football team tonight but I can't really say the majority of those on the visitors side really did.

[festor]

The band was there, did you not hear them or see them? They were seated on the end of the field closest to the Wildcats locker room. They were not in uniform and did not perform on the field at halftime since many members were absent due to Mid State Auditions tomorrow morning in Nashville. The band was not just freshmen. I had a senior and a sophomore there. And they played a lot of songs throughout the game. I just got in from driving one of the buses and just had to respond. And I stood most of the game and cheered, trying to make noise when THS was on defense, like many of the other band boosters around me and unlike most of the so-called fans who just sat there. I am not referring to the student section which stood on the opposite end of the field. Many of the so-called THS fans in the middle sections remained seated and only got up to try to catch a T-shirt or football that the cheerleaders were throwing when it looked like they would not have any other reason to throw them. They did stand after the each of the Wildcats scores but promptly sat back down when THS went on defense. And I saw many headed to the exits early and I wonder why they even bothered to make the drive over there? When the team is down is when they need the crowd support. The band's performance agreement only covered the first two rounds of the playoffs so it may need to be revisited. But this is the first time in 23 years that it has been needed. So the band did support the football team tonight but I can't really say the majority of those on the visitors side really did.

 

Being that the full band was not there and not in uniform, I would tend to say that the band was not there to support the team. I am glad to see some in the band decide to show up and support the team. As for the crowd, most fans don't stand for the entire game, except for the students and Mr. Fredrick. They do stand in big situations and scores, as they have always done. So it sounded like a typical crowd. I can understand leaving a little early as the game was over and it is one of the longer drives. I am also glad to see that you supported the football team as with many dealings with bands parents, i find they are shocked that a football game has formed around the halftime performance. I hope you continue to support the team as many of the athletes are sophomores and juniors and are expecting big things down the road.

[Whitey]

Forget the band and the cheerleaders too. If that is what it takes to get a team to perform at its peak potential, then the team is not competent anyway. That is problem with the modern day education system that bases everything on "self esteem" rather than competence. They have to be "pumped up" to do their best. Well that may get them through the fantasy world of the public schools but when they hit the real world of work, they will fail. That is why the kids of other countries are blowing our kids out in academic achievement. Teach them to perform and perform well and they won't need a bunch of folks hollering to encourage them on. They will do their job well and run through anyone standing in their way like a hot knife through butter. That is what happened last night. The better team won and that is all there is to it. If the band had been there and the stadium packed with fans from Tullahoma, the result would have been the same.

[Footballfanatic01]

For the record I would like to say Tullahoma has an amazing band, as a matter of fact I think it's the best band in our district..I wish more schools would put that kind of effort in their band program. I was at the game last night, not to support either team just to see what I thought would be a great game, and I enjoyed listening to the group of band members that were there from Tullahoma. The band just adds a great atmosphere at sporting events and I'm very glad LC's band plays at home basketball games.

Edited November 20, 2010 by Footballfanatic01

[wingman10]

Congrats to the Lions. Their play in the first half was very impressive.

[Volunteer87]

Being that the full band was not there and not in uniform, I would tend to say that the band was not there to support the team. I am glad to see some in the band decide to show up and support the team. As for the crowd, most fans don't stand for the entire game, except for the students and Mr. Fredrick. They do stand in big situations and scores, as they have always done. So it sounded like a typical crowd. I can understand leaving a little early as the game was over and it is one of the longer drives. I am also glad to see that you supported the football team as with many dealings with bands parents, i find they are shocked that a football game has formed around the halftime performance. I hope you continue to support the team as many of the athletes are sophomores and juniors and are expecting big things down the road.

 

I initially was trying to set the record straight that the band was indeed there, contrary to radio reports that may have stated otherwise. Shiny brass instruments should have been easily seen (except when all the stadium lights on the visitor’s side turned off) and heard as they played from the stands.

 

I will have to disagree with "... the band was not there to support the team." In addition to those that were excused because they have mid-state auditions this morning (which is annual event for all middle Tennessee high schools and cannot be rescheduled like a single basketball game between two teams) there was about a dozen that had another event on Friday in Cookeville and did not get back to Tullahoma until about 7:00 pm. The band could have taken the stance that since some of the members could not be there (not a full team) the band would not go at all. Instead they chose to send all they could and not perform at halftime with people missing (imagine the football team missing someone from the offensive line and see how the plays would work out). They were not in uniform because they would not be performing on the field and also since they would not have to get out of uniform after the game it would speed their return to Tullahoma for those that were also going to mid-state early the next morning. To not go to the game would have been cheaper (we took 3 buses and a vehicle with trailer for instruments (side note: The pep bus joined our caravan on the way back!)), safer (thankful the deer in Lewisburg decided to just stay on the shoulder of the road until all the buses passed although there were other road kill like skunks in the road), and easier (especially for the adult chaperons and bus drivers that used vacation time to leave work early). The band could have got back even earlier if they had decided to leave in the third quarter as some of the "fans" did. If this had been a home game (it would have been if the Siegel Hail Mary pass had fallen to the ground or later if Shane Hagen had not been falsely flagged for offensive pass interference in overtime) then the full band would probably have been in attendance.

 

Yes I enjoy football! I don't expect fans to stand but when the other team has a third or fourth down play and our team desperately needs a stop to get the ball back being down by multiple scores and the clock ticking away I would hope that the fans would show a little interest, not that the team needs it for their self esteem. The fans seemed to be more interested in rolled up T-shirts and tiny plastic footballs tossed from the cheerleaders, so maybe that is what the 100-mile round trip was for. I will never understand those that leave early. I go to see the game, the entire game, win or lose. Forget the traffic. Last years victory over Franklin County in the final minutes was fantastic. Who could forget Matt Carter’s onside kick bouncing straight back off the Franklin County player.

 

I was hoping this year’s team would go further, especially for seniors like Shane Hagen who you could tell was playing in pain last night. But Columbia showed they are a good balanced team also and was the better team last night. I will cheer for them to win it all after coming up one victory short last year. I might even go to Columbia Friday night to see the Knox West clash. I moved to Tullahoma in 1987 so I recall that team’s playoff push and was hoping this was Tullahoma’s year. I will definitely be following the football team closely the next two years since I have a sophomore in the band. Sometimes I miss the live action due to helping with band stuff. I replay the games on the DVR and use the pause feature a lot to review key plays.

 

Something that really irks me is a football field without a 25 second play clock. I think it should be mandatory for all fields just like the game clock. (Speaking of game clocks, who can forget the long last "two minutes" of the Lincoln County game after a clock malfunction?) The TSSAA has other rules for facilities to host a playoff game and a play clock should be one.

 

I did not like the Columbia PA announcer constantly blaring from the speakers on the visitor’s side, especially when Tullahoma had the ball and using that as an artificial noise maker for the home team and home field advantage. I think that is why the lights went out. Someone must have saw that switch on the pole and pulled it. The PA announcer then said that switch did not control the speaker. So it was obvious that that had happened before. They should at least be required to lower its volume.

[DebowsDad]

I did not like the Columbia PA announcer constantly blaring from the speakers on the visitor’s side, especially when Tullahoma had the ball and using that as an artificial noise maker for the home team and home field advantage. I think that is why the lights went out. Someone must have saw that switch on the pole and pulled it. The PA announcer then said that switch did not control the speaker. So it was obvious that that had happened before. They should at least be required to lower its volume.

Someone was sending a message to the PA announcer to shut up while Tullahoma was trying get their plays off. It was un-professional, but I think he got the message. When the lights came back on, he would speak between plays rather than during them. Now, the train horn was absolutely abhorrent. I have no idea how many dB's it was, but it was hurting several people's ears on a cold night. And, being hidden inside the enclosed sign above the tunnel created a megaphone effect that directed the sound directly at the Tullahoma crowd. Funny how the person who flipped the switch was escorted out of the stadium, but the horn operator was asked to come to the press box to speak with an officer. What's up with that?

[tullahomafanatic]

Someone was sending a message to the PA announcer to shut up while Tullahoma was trying get their plays off. It was un-professional, but I think he got the message. When the lights came back on, he would speak between plays rather than during them. Now, the train horn was absolutely abhorrent. I have no idea how many dB's it was, but it was hurting several people's ears on a cold night. And, being hidden inside the enclosed sign above the tunnel created a megaphone effect that directed the sound directly at the Tullahoma crowd. Funny how the person who flipped the switch was escorted out of the stadium, but the horn operator was asked to come to the press box to speak with an officer. What's up with that?

 

I agree about the PA announcer. I think it is great to be excited about your home team, but in general he/she should be neutral in his calls. And definitely not use the PA to lead cheers! That and the horn were just VERY bad sportsmanship. It's one thing to bring your own noisemaker with you, to have an installed noisemaker at that dB level should be banned by the TSSAA.

[naildriver247]

I'm not surprised at Columbia winning as I stated earlier. I was leaning towards Columbia due to home field advantage. I never expected such a dominant win though.

 

Congratulations to both teams and good luck to Columbia next week.

[volunteercat56]

To everyone from Tullahoma who is complaining about the PA announcer and the horn...Have you ever heard of HOME FIELD ADVANTAGE?? Of coures, a PA announcer will be partial to his own team, do you really expect anything different? and for the horn, it was only blown after scores to celebrate big Columbia plays. It's all a part of playing on the road, you are the opposing team and are hated. That's just the way it is. Deal with it!

[volunteercat56]

As great of a team as LCHS had I can't believe Tullahoma was Heavily favored against them. It is a good thing they have girls Basketball in Lawrenceburg. They seem to be the only championship team you have!

 

REALLY? REALLY? ABLB, are you four years old and attend preschool? Of all the classless things to say, that's up near the top! Lawrence County has made it to the 2nd round of the playoff the past two years, and our BOY'S basketball team won the district championship last year, if you are gonna attack LCHS, at least have some ammunition to attack with. If you want to continue this converstaion, I will be posting frequently on LCHS basketball this year.

[DebowsDad]

To everyone from Tullahoma who is complaining about the PA announcer and the horn...Have you ever heard of HOME FIELD ADVANTAGE?? Of coures, a PA announcer will be partial to his own team, do you really expect anything different? and for the horn, it was only blown after scores to celebrate big Columbia plays. It's all a part of playing on the road, you are the opposing team and are hated. That's just the way it is. Deal with it!

I have no problem with a PA announcer being partial to his own team, as he/she should be. My dad has been a PA announcer for many years. And yes, he is partial to the team he is announcing for whether it be Tullahoma, Shelbyville, or Moore County. Yet, he will show the opposition some professional courtesy and not be running his mouth when the opposing offense is at the line of scrimmage. That's the fans job. There's nothing wrong with pumping up the crowd while teams are in their huddle or approaching the line. After that, leave it to the fans. As far as the horn is concerned, I really don't have a problem with it. Lots of teams have different noisemakers to celebrate scores such as cannons, fireworks, etc. The fact that it was pointed directly at the opposing crowd and hidden in an enclosed sign to give it a megaphone effect was totally obnoxious. However, I don't recall it being sounded once in the second half when columbia scored twice or at the end of the game to celebrate the Columbia win. Go figure.