Student Section rebranded... again

[Pikapppatri8]

If Mason Athletics opened up a "buy bodypaint for our students" fund I would gladly donate.

Be careful what you ask for.....

 

[psyclone]

I'm also not a fan of the vocals but a big fan of the band. A few years ago, they had a very good singer on Aretha Franklin covers, but since then, not so much.
......

I should add, on a more positive note, the soloists that they've used this year to sing the national anthem have been very, very good! Who are these people and where have they been getting them? Mason voice majors/faculty?

I know the one that performed before the NJIT just did a terrific rendition. I didn't catch her name when she was announced. Certainly talented enough to be doing this before pro games at Nationals Park, FedEx field, etc.

 

[GMU79]

I should add, on a more positive note, the soloists that they've used this year to sing the national anthem have been very, very good! Who are these people and where have they been getting them? Mason voice majors/faculty?

I know the one that performed before the NJIT just did a terrific rendition. I didn't catch her name when she was announced. Certainly talented enough to be doing this before pro games at Nationals Park, FedEx field, etc.

As an aside, what in the world are those girls gyrating in the extra short hot pants next to the green machine doing?
Revolting!
Bring back the fat guy with the peeling paint!! Please!!!

 

[GreenLantern]

I should add, on a more positive note, the soloists that they've used this year to sing the national anthem have been very, very good! Who are these people and where have they been getting them? Mason voice majors/faculty?

I know the one that performed before the NJIT just did a terrific rendition. I didn't catch her name when she was announced. Certainly talented enough to be doing this before pro games at Nationals Park, FedEx field, etc.

I wish they had that when I was there. Voice major in the 80s

 

[ProfessorCFK]

As an aside, what in the world are those girls gyrating in the extra short hot pants next to the green machine doing?
Revolting!
Bring back the fat guy with the peeling paint!! Please!!!

They are Emerald Desire, Green Machine's very own dance team. That style of dance team is more commonly associated with marching bands at HBCU.

I for one love the Green Machine's mantra of inclusiveness. It doesn't matter if you want to play civil war music (8th GM Regiment Band), revolutionary war music (Patriots Fife and Drum Corps), drum line (Mean Green), color guard (GMU Winter Guard), dance (Emerald Desire), or any other flavor of school spirit and music that they support. It's one of the things that makes Doc Nix and the Green Machine the greatest pep band in the country.

 

[GMU79]

They are Emerald Desire, Green Machine's very own dance team. That style of dance team is more commonly associated with marching bands at HBCU.

I for one love the Green Machine's mantra of inclusiveness. It doesn't matter if you want to play civil war music (8th GM Regiment Band), revolutionary war music (Patriots Fife and Drum Corps), drum line (Mean Green), color guard (GMU Winter Guard), dance (Emerald Dance), or any other flavor of school spirit and music that they support. It's one of the things that makes Doc Nix and the Green Machine the greatest pep band in the country.

Please don't take this down the racial road. I just didn't think it added anything and seemed to exist only for prurient purposes. I didn't see any cheering. One undulating rear ends.
But whatever. I'm not going any further down this road.

 

[Pikapppatri8]

As an aside, what in the world are those girls gyrating in the extra short hot pants next to the green machine doing?
Revolting!
Bring back the fat guy with the peeling paint!! Please!!!

FFS - HOW OLD ARE YOU???? lol

 

[Leesburg Chankenstank III]

Please don't take this down the racial road. I just didn't think it added anything and seemed to exist only for prurient purposes. I didn't see any cheering. One undulating rear ends.
But whatever. I'm not going any further down this road.

Don’t think he was going down the racial road. He was simply explaining the type of dance done at HBCUs. If you don’t like it, doesn’t make you racist.

Personally I love it and think it adds to the flavor of gameday. But I can understand why some may feel differently if they’re experiencing this for the first time.

 

[GMU79]

FFS - HOW OLD ARE YOU???? lol

A proud 66!

Don’t think he was going down the racial road. He was simply explaining the type of dance done at HBCUs. If you don’t like it, doesn’t make you racist.

Personally I love it and think it adds to the flavor of gameday. But I can understand why some may feel differently if they’re experiencing this for the first time.

Thanks!

 

[JimP]

I should add, on a more positive note, the soloists that they've used this year to sing the national anthem have been very, very good! Who are these people and where have they been getting them? Mason voice majors/faculty?

I know the one that performed before the NJIT just did a terrific rendition. I didn't catch her name when she was announced. Certainly talented enough to be doing this before pro games at Nationals Park, FedEx field, etc.

When I went to the Austin Peay game with my brother, he told me that the guy who sang it also does so at Nationals games.

 

[psyclone]

When I went to the Austin Peay game with my brother, he told me that the guy who sang it also does so at Nationals games.

I'd believe it....There have been soloists at 3 of the games and each have been at that caliber.

 

[jessej]

Don’t think he was going down the racial road. He was simply explaining the type of dance done at HBCUs. If you don’t like it, doesn’t make you racist.

Personally I love it and think it adds to the flavor of gameday. But I can understand why some may feel differently if they’re experiencing this for the first time.

I would strongly suggest that all basketball fans attend a home MEAC game at Howard, especially vs Hampton or Norfolk State to see what they are trying to achieve.

 

[jessej]

New video by Jesse Johnson

photos.app.goo.gl

Hope you can see this
Just for reference

 

[Pikapppatri8]

New video by Jesse Johnson

photos.app.goo.gl

Hope you can see this
Just for reference

That's entertaining and ummm inspiring. If you get my drift.

 

[gmubrian]

New video by Jesse Johnson

photos.app.goo.gl

Hope you can see this
Just for reference

That helps to see the goal. Hopefully the emeralds can recruit some more dancers as it seems to be more impactful with a larger crew.

 

[jessej]

That helps to see the goal. Hopefully the emeralds can recruit some more dancers as it seems to be more impactful with a larger crew.

There is also a cultural component at HBCUs.
These are very sought after and status defining positions.
Tryouts are held and many of those cut will have bad feelings.

I never went to college in the south but others have told me it is a similar situation there

There are about 25 cheerleaders for football games
Then they split into a varsity and JV for basketball games with the JV cheering on the women's game.

You can also the band members, including the flag bearers and baton twirlers also have their own cheer/dance groups for basketball games

The dance team performs on the court at halftime
And during some extended timeouts but the bulk of the time they perform from the stands

As with all 17-21 year old girls/women, you can imagine the degree of competition and pettiness going on between all of the groups

 

[Pikapppatri8]

I would strongly suggest that all basketball fans attend a home MEAC game at Howard, especially vs Hampton or Norfolk State to see what they are trying to achieve.

Well after their game last night - would definitely watch another Norfolk State game - they were good.

 

[TweederGMU]

Don’t think he was going down the racial road. He was simply explaining the type of dance done at HBCUs. If you don’t like it, doesn’t make you racist.

Personally I love it and think it adds to the flavor of gameday. But I can understand why some may feel differently if they’re experiencing this for the first time.

Agreed...Has nothing to do with race so let's not even try to play that card with anyone.

Watched them a lot last year and 95% of the time they don't dance but just stand or sit there. They take up 4-8 rows in the front which is valuable fan cheering space and can be utilized by Mason to stick students or teams there and really pack that area yet instead they put 4-8 dancers there.

Not a wise choice to maximize the fan experience.

 

[99 Patriot]

Might just be where I sit, but do others see and feel the tension nearly every timeout between the DJ/hype guy and the band? The amount of time one starts playing over the other or they literally squabble with each other feels petty.

I realize it's sacrilege, but I'd love to see our new hype guy and the DJ get a few more timeouts to themselves each game. The students/crowd seem to respond better and a DJ can play music our team actually listens to. Definitely a place for both, but these first few games have felt like a turf war most stops in the action.

 

[MasonByMarriage]

Might just be where I sit, but do others see and feel the tension nearly every timeout between the DJ/hype guy and the band? The amount of time one starts playing over the other or they literally squabble with each other feels petty.

I realize it's sacrilege, but I'd love to see our new hype guy and the DJ get a few more timeouts to themselves each game. The students/crowd seem to respond better and a DJ can play music our team actually listens to. Definitely a place for both, but these first few games have felt like a turf war most stops in the action.

I see the same - they obviously all need to get on the same page and figure things out. That said, I don't think the band has gotten enough opportunity to play this season so far. But again, my perspective. I will say this though - until we get better CHEERING crowds (and cheerleaders who, um, LEAD CHEERS each possession), including a consistent turnout and active participation from the student section, sometimes the band is the only group supporting the team. And please, PLEASE can we get to a point where I never have to hear the visiting team/fans chanting defense?