The End

Three and Nine and Feelin' Fine!

This December marks the second in a row of my four years where the Gophers football team ended the season with a .250 record. Despite the impediment of the team not winning as much as we like, it was still a season full of fun, frivolity, and friendship. We laughed, we cried, I managed to overheat during the first game of the season (It's not a fun experience to watch the entire game from the MRH). Despite these and other problems along the way, the marching band continued to retain our usual high standards of performance and sportsmanship. Great Season Everyone!

To the Graduates: It has been an honor working with you over the past four years. I know that I am senior to most of you, I hope that I have been able to provide some sort of benefit to your experience along with mine. To the others: I hope that you continue to make the baritone section a wonderful destination for anybody who wants to play the instrument. You are such a talented group of musicians and have such great personality. In the immortal words of (the real) Jerry Luckhart, "Look at me . . . I love you." Also, I still need a webmaster for next year.

“All you need in life is ignorance and confidence; then success is sure.” – Mark Twain

-- 01/01/2012

Homecoming: Is it worth coming home for?

Reflections at the half

Well, the Gophers have a 1-5 record at this point in the season. However, since it is our buy week, we get a nice break from cringing while watching play unfold. Even though the team has been gone, the band has been busy. We've partied on boats, kicked off the pep band season, and even performed for a bunch of fans at the Prairie Colors Festival. It seems that we stay busy even when the team is gone.

Although the possibility is not quite gone yet, there will more than likely not be a bowl this year, we may have to be content with a beautiful stadium, good friends, and a whole bunch of awesome halftime shows. Enjoy the time that you have remaining this season. I know from experience that it goes by far too fast.

Live Long, and Prosper,

-- 10/14/2011

Early Enough to Not be Procrastination

Well, another spat camp has come and gone and with it, all of my spare time. this means that the chances of the website being updated go down drastically as of tomorrow. Rejoice, However, for I have not had a class today (like the rest of you suckers) and consequently do not have homework or readings to do yet. Therefore, I shall regale you with tales of the world of baritones.

Why are You Wearing Two Left Wings?

That's right, Spat Camp 2011 is complete and I believe that all of the rookies came through with flying colors. This year introduced something very rare into the section, musicians whose primary instrument is the baritone. Since the band consists of 321 members and there were 80 more on the list, auditions were held, and the most talented were chosen. This added two music majors as well as three other talented individuals (But don't mention Mr. Bigglesworth around certain rookies). We marched, we State Faired, we had fun, it was your typical spat camp. However, I don't have any photos, so we'll have to use an inspirational Aaron instead.

*Joe Birkholz Approved*

Baritone Weddings

This summer, a baritone was again lucky enough to get hitched. Nick Pekarek wedded Katie Stiller on August, 6th (Happy One-Month guys). A group of some of the more experienced tones were there to witness the marriage, the wedding, and Skywalker drinking 10 *ahem* juice boxes during open bar. Congratulations to all!

Well, that's it for me, in the words of the famous Callihan Gibbons, "Keep your stick on the ice."

-- 09/06/2011

Roster and All-Time Roster Updated as of 09/06/2011
Schedule updated for 2011 season as of 06/08/2011

A New Order

Welcome,everyone, to a new year in the UMMB and the Baritone Section. To any potential rookies in our section, welcome to the Baritones. To the returning Veterans, 79 days (depending on financing of the band). This season brings in an exciting combination of new and old to TCF Band Stadium. First we shall start with old traditions.

Traditions of Excellence

Well, as the bards proclaimed in 1978, the wheel in the sky keeps on turning. That being said, The UMMB keeps on marching. In fact, the Pride of Minnesota is revving up for its 120th season of music and marching. Along with 120 years, this season begins with the 50th Drum Major in the band's history. Congratulations to Brandon Folkes on becoming No. 50! Also continuing in this, the third year in TCF Band Stadium, are the traditions of the difficult home series (only three games this year) and the second annual Thanksgiving weekend game. Finally, this year marks the 50th annual indoor concert and the end of our Northrop farewell tour (since the auditorium is currently being gutted, it is not an ideal location for a marching band).

Traditions of Next Year

Well, for those of the readers who are not good at analyzing the modes of speech from this and previous posts, one new change is the introduction of a new Webmaster. I Grover, bringer of Destruction and Doom, have replaced Kunde/Skywalker/Grandpa/Guy-who- yells-near-obscenities-at-the-refs for this year. Since I am not going to be around much longer, anybody who has interest in the webmaster position for next year, please contact me. However, I am not the only new face in public (to the band) positions. Our new team lead is Baritone extraordinaire/German Cook/All Around Good Guy Ian-Mathew "Helm's Deep" Hornburg and is supported by Brett "I don't have a nickname" Baldauf and Aaron (formerly literally, currently figuratively) "Jailbait" Turnquist. Into the property room for this year is Tim (Ask me why I'm) "Hotdish" Grimes. It is fitting that there is so much new blood this year since this year also sees the introduction of Jerry "I don't need a nickname" Kill. In the spirit of not making grandoise predictions, I will not say that I will be better at posting this year, but one can always hope.

-- 06/08/11

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