Richlands

[Trevor_Cash]

So what’s the deal with the video circulating twitter? Shows the team go running right through the middle of the Unions band as they are trying to perform.

Seems very disrespectful from one of the classiest programs in the state

Just rivalry game fun or what?

 

[19GHS87]

So what’s the deal with the video circulating twitter? Shows the team go running right through the middle of the Unions band as they are trying to perform.

Seems very disrespectful from one of the classiest programs in the state

Just rivalry game fun or what?

Very disrespectful. I don't know what's worse, what the team did or the adult fans trying to make it sound like what they did was o.k. Take a big boy pill and apologize for the behavior of the team in that situation and move on. That kind of stuff takes away from what otherwise was a good game.

 

[Gunz41]

I wasnt there so I won't comment on what happened, as there are back and fourths on being on field right time etc. I am sure just like on social media both sides have a different story and without being there have no clue who is "correct"

I'll say I was impressed with the band for not missing a step until they all ran, and even then dont know they did, cant tell from video. But at beginning when it was just the few kids they kept right on marching

 

[schoolboard]

I watched the video. As a stadium announcer(not here, at a different school), I think this was a comedy of errors, and that adults are the ones who probably made a mistake. My guess from watching the video is that the coaches were running late getting their warm-ups done. The announcer was trying to keep with the pre-printed schedule, and after waiting awhile, decided to announce the band so that the game would not start late. The players ended their warm-up the way they always do, and that's where the mayhem occurred. The announcer knew the players routine, and probably should have waited to announce the band. It is a tough situation though. I have seen home teams getting a penalty for not starting the game on-time due to pre-game festivity delays, so hindsight is 20/20.

 

[Ryan4VT]

Here is exactly what happened.

The band was given a time to go onto the field. Some sort of miscommunication happened, and the band took the field 3 minutes before they were told.

Because of that, the football team was still finishing up their warmups. They weren’t late, they were actually a bit early. For the last 20 years, we’ve ended or warmups with 3 punts. On the 3rd punt, the team runs down and huddles around the returnman and then they break and head to the locker room.

You can see in the video and in pictures taken before the video that Richlands has their two punt return guys to the left of the band (punt would be coming from right to left).

The last punt landed in the middle of the band, so the return man grabs it and runs to a spot on the field where there are no band members, but the rest of the team ran through to get to him.

No one was touched. No band member was hit.

This is a simple miscommunication between Mance and Union’s band director. This had nothing to do with the rivalry (which has remained friendly until this).

Social media has blown it way out of proportion.

Both sides are at fault. Union never should have marched a band on the field when a football team is still out there warming up. Ever. As someone who was in band, that’s just not smart. The football team could have run around the band, but by that point the band was stretched from sideline to sideline, so the only way around them would be to run behind them on the track and that puts players near opposing fans and that’s never a good situation either.

All this just needs to die. It’s an unfortunate situation that stems from a simple miscommunication. No malice involved.

 

[schoolboard]

Thanks for the clarification. I only came up with my theory because a band member on twitter said they waited on the sideline for 5 or 6 minutes and only walked out on the field because the PA announcer announced them. I guess you are saying that tweet was erroneous.

 

[Ryan4VT]

Thanks for the clarification. I only came up with my theory because a band member on twitter said they waited on the sideline for 5 or 6 minutes and only walked out on the field because the PA announcer announced them. I guess you are saying that tweet was erroneous.

The band was lined up backfield for quite a long time. But knowing what time they were told and what time they went, it was a little early. Our PA announcer stumbled all over the read, and you could tell he was unsure of what to do. Just one gigantic unfortunate event.

 

[Union_Fan]

Here is exactly what happened.

Thanks for the clarification. I only came up with my theory because a band member on twitter said they waited on the sideline for 5 or 6 minutes and only walked out on the field because the PA announcer announced them. I guess you are saying that tweet was erroneous.

Those are the "facts" according to "some" Richlands people.

The only thing that both sides agree on is the band was on the field and the players ran through them. Those are the FACTS.

The dispute...

Richlands says the band came on the field early. Union says the band came on when they were told. Doesn't matter what Richlands says. Doesn't matter what Union says. Those are not facts nor is it "exactly what happened" because it's he said she said.

The heart of the dispute isn't the timing or whether our band was wrong or Richlands PA guy or communications person(whoever told them to take the field) was wrong.

Here's the crux of the issue... even if Union's band was completely at fault and said screw it we're going on the field anyway, the football team still chose to kick the last punt and run through them. The band was already on the field when the second punt hit, so the last punt and the incident itself could have been completely avoided.

If Richlands thought the band was wrong, the football team was wrong too, and 2 wrongs don't make a right.

 

[Ryan4VT]

Those are the "facts" according to "some" Richlands people.

The only thing that both sides agree on is the band was on the field and the players ran through them. Those are the FACTS.

The dispute...

Richlands says the band came on the field early. Union says the band came on when they were told. Doesn't matter what Richlands says. Doesn't matter what Union says. Those are not facts nor is it "exactly what happened" because it's he said she said.

The heart of the dispute isn't the timing or whether our band was wrong or Richlands PA guy or communications person(whoever told them to take the field) was wrong.

Here's the crux of the issue... even if Union's band was completely at fault and said screw it we're going on the field anyway, the football team still chose to kick the last punt and run through them. The band was already on the field when the second punt hit, so the last punt and the incident itself could have been completely avoided.

If Richlands thought the band was wrong, the football team was wrong too, and 2 wrongs don't make a right.

Here’s a hypothetical question for you. I’ve sat in Unions stands and helped cheer them on against Appomattox. I’m a Union fan after week 2.

We always hype up the team entering the field and doing “the walk.” It’s a tradition. How would you react if this week, right as your players got to the end zone, the LCC band started walking across the field and your players walked through them on their way to the locker room?

No one would get hurt. It wouldn’t be anything to disrespect anything on purpose. Judy Union going through their pregame ritual the same way they always have.

I get that both are at fault. And I’ve even said that. “Both sides are at fault.” But if that’s the case, then why is it one sided that Richlands needs to apologize only, and not Union? If blame and responsibility are shared, then both sides to issue an apology. But that’s certainly not what’s going on around social media.

This all just needs to die. I’ll still be right there in the park in November if Union is playing and we aren’t. I have that much respect for your program.

 

[VHSL-helper]

So... here's my .02 ... doesn't matter who says what to who... a band should NEVER take the field while it is BEING USED!

 

[Union_Fan]

Here’s a hypothetical question for you. I’ve sat in Unions stands and helped cheer them on against Appomattox. I’m a Union fan after week 2.

We always hype up the team entering the field and doing “the walk.” It’s a tradition. How would you react if this week, right as your players got to the end zone, the LCC band started walking across the field and your players walked through them on their way to the locker room?

No one would get hurt. It wouldn’t be anything to disrespect anything on purpose. Judy Union going through their pregame ritual the same way they always have.

I get that both are at fault. And I’ve even said that. “Both sides are at fault.” But if that’s the case, then why is it one sided that Richlands needs to apologize only, and not Union? If blame and responsibility are shared, then both sides to issue an apology. But that’s certainly not what’s going on around social media.

This all just needs to die. I’ll still be right there in the park in November if Union is playing and we aren’t. I have that much respect for your program.

That has happened before, so it's not hypothetical at all. Other teams still warming up and bands performing pregrame when Union's football team arrived at the park. Coach Turner directed them away from the team/band and they came down the sideline. It was a little annoying, but it didn't change anything and no uproar was caused.

I don't have Facebook, so I didn't see all the comments. Only what my wife showed me, and what others have relayed. Like I said before, even if Union's band was 100% at fault for the miscommunication the situation could STILL have been avoided and I believe that's why people from other communities, including Richlands, have sided with Union's band. Not matter how you slice it, no matter whose at fault for the miscommunication of the band beingon the field at the wrong time, the 3rd punt didn't HAVE to happen.

It's like someone getting your assigned parking space at work and ramming their car because "they shouldn't be there." No, you park somewhere else, and address the situation later. It's common decency.

But this will blow over and I don't think it will diminish the respect between the 2 programs. May add to the rivalry. I will absolutely pull for Richlands the rest of the year, and if we are fortunate enough to go farther in the playoffs than Richlands, I'll save you a seat.

It's just a discussion on a differing of opinion. I don't think it will cause any major issues in the future.

Honestly, after the game, I would have thought the Polier tackle would have been the big story not the band incident.

 

[19GHS87]

You see a band in the way, you don't run through them. Seems like a common sense thing to me. It may have been innocent, but an apology would be appropriate in this situation, I think. Be the bigger person here, even if it was not intentional. Taking the high road may be best in this situation. It is your team's reputation and you don't need that tarnished, we all know how people can get and blow things out of proportion.

From an outsider looking in, the video makes it appear very disrespectful and I think an apology would go a long way.

 

[oldfool]

I may be wrong, but this issue came up last year also.

 

[Ryan4VT]

I may be wrong, but this issue came up last year also.

When? This is the first time I’ve ever seen our players pass through an opposing band.

 

[Ryan4VT]

These are the moments when social media is more of a detriment.

When I was a freshman, I was in the Richland last band and was marching backwards and walked into the kicker of the opposing team who had come back out to get a few more kicks up.

I never once asked for an apology. Me family and I laughed about it. It wasn’t a big deal. This is where social media is helping to aide this along.

 

[schoolboard]

On the lighter side, here is a video edit of the whole thing with music added.

 

[ClarkeFan83]

The football teams should never be on the Marching field when the band is on it, and the band should never be on the Marching field when the football teams are on it.

 

[WilsonFootball]

I do not see anything disrespectful in the video. My question is, how do the adults allow the band to take the field while a team is still warming up???? I do not care if it is 15 minutes past the scheduled start time, you still do not do this. It is up the the officials to make sure the game starts on time, no one else.
Can someone at the game tell me how much time was on the clock when this happened? If there was no time and it was sitting on 12:00 then the refs needed to step in and get things moving. I really do not see this being a major issue for either team honestly. At least the players didn't run over the band which very well could have happened.

 

[Union_Fan]

Hopefully, this will be the final word...

 

[Baseball215]

Thats what I was going say the principals probably already handle this

 

[PigskinPrognositicator]

Did Blacksburg plow through Richlands' band tonight? Seriously, glad Richland's principal apologized for the football team's actions. That says a lot about her.

 

[intrinsicreward]

I will start by saying I have had kids both in the band and on the football team. Contrary to what many believe, the football field does not belong to the football team. It belongs to the school and different groups use it to perform things they learn during or after school. Football team, band, choir, cheerleaders, dance groups, are among those. Many parents follow their kids in these groups and buy tickets to watch them perform. Believe it or not, they do not come to watch the game. Every school should invite and encourage the opponents band to perform pre-game. It's a win win for everyone. Sure..it takes more work to manage all of it but it is worth it. School sells more tickets, the game is much more exciting with the competing bands, and a lot more people there. Don't underestimate how boring just a football game would be without these students included.AND You would lose at about 1/3 of your paid attendance and about 1/2 or your overall attendance...maybe more.

So yes...it is disrespectful to run through the band even if it is unintentional and the band is in the space you normally run through at the time you normally run through it.. By 12 years old, any kid should know better and that is the problem. Too many have not been taught basic manners.

 

[Bo Bob]

Too many have not been taught basic manners.

THIS is a major problem these days!!!!

 

[Hampton Roads 6]

The band should not have gone onto field while football team was on field. That's common sense.

 

[Ryan4VT]

The band should not have gone onto field while football team was on field. That's common sense.

Careful. That’s not a well liked stance on a football board.

 

[PigskinPrognositicator]

It's my understanding that there were two players on the field and the rest of the team was in the end zone; the band was announced and preceded to the field, band director presumed two players would join others in end zone area since band was announced. I'm just going by what band director posted herself. I wasn't there, saw the video. Full padded football players should never run through a band, period. They should have never punted that second time. They're lucky no one was seriously hurt. I don't think the players or coaches are bad peoole just irresponsible in this instance. I know this opinion isn't popular among Blues' fans. We can agree to disagree I guess. I really don't see a repeat after all the controversy this caused.

 

[intrinsicreward]

Quick Story...A while back a local HS band was practicing on the field during their scheduled time, and the football ball players ran on the field screaming for the band to get the #$% off "their" field so they could practice. They even threw the ball around in between the band members. This was coach initiated which made it worse than a few players without manners. Well the band members walked off humiliated, their parents were incensed, while the fball team went on with business as usual. After the game and in the next few days the fball coach refused to apologize saying it's the players field and the band should "get off" whenever the players wanted to take the field. The coach was a championship coach who basically ran the whole town for about a decade so the administrators were intimidated by him and did nothing about it. So the band went on strike with a wink and nod from the band director..

Friday night came..no band for the cheerleaders to cheer to, no pep music, no band parents, no band kids. The game was a dud. The coach and many others only then saw the contribution of these students, apologized, and supported and helped the band practice and perform on the field after that. Never ever a problem again and that band has grown into one of the best in the state. If you ever want to know how Friday night would look like without the band, go to a JV game. You'll get cheerleaders, some players parents, a few of the players friends and that is about it.

 

[ClarkeFan83]

Now, if I could just get the television networks to show the college marching bands halftime shows all the time, I could die a happy man!

 

[The G-Man]

You see a band in the way, you don't run through them. Seems like a common sense thing to me.

If you're the band and you see the football team out there, you don't go running on the field until they are off. Seems like a common sense thing to me.

Just remember this, nobody paid to see the band that night...

 

[1bburgfan]

Some of the fans in the stands are band member's parents and buy tickets . I think they prob buy a hotdog or 2 also . Also their tax dollars paid for Bill Brown Stadium as much as the football and soccer parents did , Onward Marching Bruins .

 

[19GHS87]

If you're the band and you see the football team out there, you don't go running on the field until they are off. Seems like a common sense thing to me.

Just remember this, nobody paid to see the band that night...

I know plenty of folks who only go to see the band. One of my best friends has a daughter in the band and thats the only reason he goes to the game. As a parent of 2 wonderful children, I support all of the things they are involved with. Seems like the kids have more manners than the adults in this situation anyway. When Graham struggled a few years back, there were more band parents in the stands than football fans, hell half of them left after the band performance. They were much more entertaining to watch then the football team.

 

[Gunz41]

If you're the band and you see the football team out there, you don't go running on the field until they are off. Seems like a common sense thing to me.

Just remember this, nobody paid to see the band that night...

I honestly think that 2nd sentence is one of the most disrespectful things I have read on here. It reads to me as "I dont pay to see them, so they aren't important, so nobody else does"

Do the majority go to see the band, no. But there are some that do, and some find them more entertaining and some have really good bands. They deserve their respect and time too.

 

[lucustookis]

[QUOTE="The G-Man, post: 317613,
Just remember this, nobody paid to see the band that night...[/QUOTE]

The word "nobody" is a bad choice brother. You mean, nobody as in...….every single person in the stadium and not one paid to see the band? Fact is, "most" people in the audience indirectly did pay to see the band. The word indirectly meaning...…...the atmosphere is a huge component of a football game. The reason scrimmages only draw a few hundred people is certainly related to the fact that the game doesn't count and isn't a true 4 quarter contest with all teams and fans all in, but another factor is the atmosphere. There's no band. Equally important, EVEN IF somehow, someway, not a single person in the stadium paid to only see the band, the band doesn't deserve to be treated like that. What Richlands did was wrong. It was likely an accident though.

 

[lucustookis]

I honestly think that 2nd sentence is one of the most disrespectful things I have read on here. It reads to me as "I dont pay to see them, so they aren't important, so nobody else does"

Do the majority go to see the band, no. But there are some that do, and some find them more entertaining and some have really good bands. They deserve their respect and time too.

Agree with Gunz, and what you described Gunz is titled fallacy. It's GMans mantra.

 

[PigskinPrognositicator]

I think the quote that comes to mind with those bashing the band and not acknowledging the team should NOT have ran through them , period -"Can't see the forest for the trees" ...they see "football players" as the only trees that matter. Every child that contributes mattters whether it's a player, band member, cheerleader, etc.

 

[Ryan4VT]

This was literally a handful of days shy of a month ago....apologies have been issued by the team in the wrong.

Can we not just move on?

 

[19GHS87]

The latest posts are about a response and not the actual incident. Everybody has moved on. This has turned into a different discussion altogether.

 

[swva_havok_fan]

This was literally a handful of days shy of a month ago....apologies have been issued by the team in the wrong.

Can we not just move on?

Has Salem moved on from 1992 yet?

 

[Union_Fan]

Has Salem moved on from 1992 yet?

OMG...you went there!

 

[Trevor_Cash]

The post that will never die