Where was The Most Exciting Band in the Land in this year's Tournament of Roses Parade? As a proud alumnus of the Ohio University Marching Band, the band I saw on TV certainly WAS NOT the Ohio University Marching Band I remember of decades past.
In an attempt here to retain a decorum of tact, I will most likely and most unfortunately fail to convey the true extent and intensity of my current anger and disappointment in Dr. Richard Suk and the band. In front of worldwide cameras, with only precious seconds available for showcasing the unique excitement and style of our band, viewers witnessed a lackluster, sloppy and mediocre marching band. And, yes, boring
too.
In one of the world's most prestigious parades, and after the honor of being invited to participate, I would think Dr. Suk would have used common sense in investigating where each and every camera was on that parade route and then made sure the band excelled above all others every time it marched in front of the cameras. Granted, this is a five-mile parade route, but Dr. Suk, Do your homework quit being lazy and have some common sense! Do The Funk every time the cameras are watching! March in our signature high-driving style! With only particular few seconds available those exact seconds are the ones that count! Laziness seems to be the only excuse in failing to make our band shine. The lustrous history of this band in large part built the foundation for the California invitation.
And though current band members were under Suk's direction on how to march and what to play, the parade camera focused in on one majorly crooked line! Crooked lines were unheard of in my years in the band! Parades used to be one of this band's truly exciting highlights, with The Funk and other cadences, tight playing and intense precision. But again, in those few precious seconds, OU's band was just another band. Nothing unique. And I was not the only disappointed marching band alumnus. More than several band alumni called me within minutes sharing similar sentiments.
And, though a much larger band now, if recent YouTube videos are any indication, I see and fear the once excellent quality of the band waning. Is the marching band's once stellar reputation of sweat, extreme physicality, hard work, symmetry, grit and drive for perfection now sacrificed to boast a larger band? The band I marched in may have been smaller, but, just for the honor of being selected a member, each OU Marching Band alumnus possesses extreme lifelong dedication. And it is this deep dedication and pride I have in the OU Marching Band that drives me to sound a dire warning of the potential downfall of this band. Perhaps the average TV viewer noticed nothing at all less-than in those world wide broadcast parade moments, but I and other marching band alumni did take notice. And I found the performance sad and inexcusable. Even The Ohio State Marching Band and some of the high school bands looked more exciting, better than the OU 110! And that's something worth complaining about!
Whatever your thoughts on what I've written, I encourage you to share your Roses Reaction with Dr. Suk, wait... LET ME REPHRASE that... Dr. SUCK at suk@ohiou.edu.
Dennis Sullivan is a 1985 graduate of Ohio University and former member of the Marching 110.
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Opinion
