Band kicked off the field
“GET THE DAMN BAND OFF THE FIELD,” a parent of one of the football players said at the AHS Marching Atoms “mid show” of their Senior Night performance on Nov. 8.
The Annandale Atoms faced South County in their last game of the season. The night began as a typical Friday night football game in the fall would; cold and under the lights in Bolding Stadium but then turned sour for the marching atoms. In the beginning of the game, the band stood out in the cold weather, making a tunnel for all the seniors in the football team, dance team and cheerleading squad to walk through for their senior night. At halftime, all of the seniors were announced, the band started performing their show, “Music of the Night” with 7:36 left in the halftime period. As they played their first song, the football coaches brought their football teams back on the field to start to warm up for second half. At first, the teams stayed in the end zone, however, that changed when the band began performing their second piece, when both football teams entered the field by going past the goal line in the direction of the performing band students.
Unfortunately, this was not new. Throughout the entire 2013 season, the football team has been known to come too close to our performance, or even interrupt some of the students marching, while they performed.
Then the unspeakable happened. Coach Mike Scott and a few other coaches as well as some players began yelling at the band and Band Director Adam Hilkert to “get the band off the field.” According to the game clock, we had about 4:30 left and halftime wasn’t over.
The screams from the fans and coaches became more intense, and Coach Scott resorted to his own measures by shaking the podium of junior Assistant Drum Major Douglas Nguyen, and then yelling at the other Assistant Drum Major, senior Noah Wolfenstein, to stop conducting and get off the field. Yells came from the stands and the coaches to the press box and the field.
This, in its own right, was very rude. There were parents and grandparents of band members, alumni band members and friends of Annandale, who were enjoying the performance.
Suddenly stopping the performance in the middle of a piece, like they wanted us to, would have been distasteful and wrong from a musicians’ perspective. Putting it another way, would any football team ever be forced to stop playing in the middle of a quarter and told to get off the field?
For the marching band, there couldn’t have been any more disrespect shown to us, the band staff, the band alumni who were present, and the students.
Prior to the game, the band had a special “Band Senior Recognition Ceremony,” where all seniors gave speeches reminiscing about what band has meant to them at Annandale. Principal Vincent Randazzo was in attendance and praised the seniors, saying, “The marching band embodies what this school is all about.” If that’s true, why couldn’t they have been shown respect for us?
According to Principal Randazzo and Director of Student Activities Karl Kerns, the Atoms football team would have received a 15-yard “Unsportsmanlike” penalty if we hadn’t been removed from the field when we were.
According to the National Federation of Schools Football Rule Book, on page 19, rule number three says “As the teams leave the field [at the end of the first half], the timer places 20 minutes on the clock and upon reaching 0:00, places three additional minutes on the clock” to allow the football team to warm up for the second half. If this is so, it was inexcusable for Coach Scott to bring the football team back on the field with 4 minutes still left on the halftime clock.
In any case, the football team would have still received their allotted three minutes. This rule was created to make sure that the teams are on the field by the end of halftime to be ready to warm up, rather than still in the locker room, thus not gaining an unfair advantage against the opposing team.
Before the game, Principal Randazzo discussed with the referees that due to it being Annandale’s Senior Night, halftime might run over and that we needed extra time, and fortunately South County agreed to the time allotment during halftime.
According to sources, many people warned the Athletic Office and Kerns about this dilemma before the Friday night football game and they were advised to have the band perform their show post game instead of during halftime. However, we were told to march during halftime, because there should be enough time.
The penalty is just 15 yards. Yes, it is still a penalty, but would that have really made a big difference? The marching band shows respect for the football team and supports them no matter what. Is it asking too much to take one for the team and allow one “Unsportsmanlike” penalty to allow us to have two extra minutes to show appreciation and respect to the band?
The VHSL and NFS have very strict rules about treating the game, its players, and the whole game experience with the highest quality of sportsmanship in mind.
Apparently, the treatment of the marching band has not been figured into that equation. The way this was handled by the Annandale coaching staff and administration was poor in taste and brought out the worst kind of “unsportsmanlike” behavior. So administration, why couldn’t you respect us for once?
Under the direction of Coach Scott, the football team has won one game throughout their 2013 season while the band received Virginia State Champions and won a National award for their “III-Open” class, (which is the hardest competition division). And all the while, the band stands proud with the football team through every loss and through every win. Since when has administration asked the football team to support the band by going to a competition, whether we win or lose?
It is odd to think about how a team with a head coach that has a losing record during his tenure gets more recognition and respect than the marching band who competed in an open class and won a State Championship Title and their first ever National Award.
The players on the football team were not at fault in this altercation because they were just doing what they were told by administration. Many of the football players even felt bad for the members of the marching band as their coach made them get off the field.
While we understand the rules of the halftime time limit, the way this was handled by the coaching staff and by the Administration was flawed.
Do the Marching Atoms truly embody what this school is about or is that something they say?
h. martin • Apr 18, 2018 at 8:14 pm
This one thread is saltier than my entire school
Laura Dixon • Jan 12, 2017 at 8:32 pm
I am in my high school band and I can relate to this. I heard one kid in my class, a football player, talk about football and how he thinks there shouldn’t be a band and only cheerleaders. Good, that was his opinion and I disagree.. but then other kids in the class started saying about how useless the band is. I believe that it brings schools spirit and if they say that band is useless, What is cheerleading? We both stay at games in the cold and stand up for our team but what do they do for us? Band should be a sport because we go to games, we practice in basically any weather, we start practicing before school, we have tryouts, and we practice all year. We are underestimated. Why is a one season sport more celebrated then a whole year thing. Why can’t we at least get a little love?
Macy Nishimura • Nov 24, 2015 at 2:00 pm
Excellent article . I learned a lot from the specifics . Does someone know where my company could possibly locate a blank IRS 1040 – Schedule E form to fill in ?
Ruth Osman • Nov 14, 2015 at 9:12 am
I came across this story today on my Facebook memories. It was two years ago that I first read this story on the web. I was wondering if things have improved at your school in the last two years. I’m hoping that mutual respect as begun, and that you have a new football coach to represent your school in a positive manner.
Andrea • Dec 6, 2013 at 5:12 pm
So I’ve been looking for a follow-up to this story and haven’t found one. Did the coach apologize? Was there any disciplinary action? Or was an apology from the principal all that happened? If anyone knows, please post a comment on one of my two blog posts about this on: http://www.ihaveagripe.wordpress.com. I want to do a follow-up post on it.
Thanks,
Andrea
Tilly • Dec 4, 2013 at 2:24 am
Band, don’t attend the football games. It’s not a requirement, is it, and if it is, all students should be provided a safe environment.
Even if the coach understood the rules, it’s not about rules, or minutes, or anything like that. It’s about team spirit and respect. What kind of a jerk bullies a marching band? It’s about remembering what he should have learned in kindergarten.
Let there be nothing but whoever else they think they can get – for free – to entertain the unruly crowd at halftime.
Mary Toombs • Dec 1, 2013 at 4:28 pm
Once again, sports triumph everything else. Actually to rephrase that, FOOTBALL is put before everything else. It is very ironic that this is very apparent for most high schools, and for the majority who are like this, the team that receives community and the majority of the school’s funding rarely succeeds while teams or activities that do succeed are given little funding and are barely recognized.
cynthia • Dec 1, 2013 at 12:26 am
It started with a bully and ended with mob mentality. Terrible.
Hannah Loyd • Nov 22, 2013 at 8:47 am
This is sick, the football team, parents, and the coach all need to apologize to the band staff and students. I’m in marching band right now, and nothing like that has happened. If it did the band director would have flipped. The band is just as important for the football team, and most times the band does BETTER than the football team. They seriously should’ve shown some respect for the band.
Deb • Nov 21, 2013 at 1:10 am
Why has this coach not been fired yet? I appears that the Annandale High administration approves of their staff bullying students. How is this acceptable? If this had been a student bullying another student they would have been suspended.
Alex Fluteplayer • Nov 19, 2013 at 7:10 pm
Being a member of a marching band we have every right to stay on that field. No one should be able to change that. We come to play to support the team so why are they going to kick us off the field? Do you not want the support? Just remember when you lose the game it’s because you didn’t have the marching band’s support…
Fellow Flute Player
Alexis • Nov 18, 2013 at 10:44 pm
I am a fellow marching band student but I’m from phoenix, Az. I am apart of the SDOHS Eagle Pride Marching band and never in my 4 years of marching band could I ever imagine this. This year at my school the football team, pom and cheer as well as the marching band have managed to get along and support one another. This is down right disgusting. Who does that man think he is? It should be about the kids! I couldn’t imagine being in that area while the man had a temper tantrum. The band and football tem are apart of a school spirit system that should encourage fellowship and nothing but love and respect for one another. I am 17 and I understand I’m young but that’s so wrong. If I was one of those students Id cry because that would break my heart. That man deserves to be replaced by a different coach and the administration should think twice about who they hire to be around these kids because they don’t need to be put in the middle of these awful situations. They need a coach who will show them what it means to be apart of a team and community. Those football players deserve more out of a coach and a leader whom they try to look up to. Is that the kind of person those parents want their sons to grow up to be? That school deserves better and one say they’ll get what they need. For certain I can tell you this much, that man is not what this school needs.
S Labarca • Nov 18, 2013 at 9:42 pm
To the A-Blast staff: would love to see a facts and follow-up article addressing some of the questions posed in comments. Talk to the football officials working that night. Would a 15 yard penalty have been enforced? Was the time showing on the clock correct, and what are the rules regarding half-time? What communications regarding senior presentations/half-time show took place between the band director and the activities director prior to the event? WAS THE ACTIVITIES DIRECTOR PRESENT DURING HALF TIME? Was the Principal present during half time?
The editorial was well written and heart-felt. Now give us an unbiased, fact filled, follow-up article, and keep up the good work!
Tina Reid • Nov 18, 2013 at 6:06 pm
This is unspeakable, shameful, how dare you think your football game is more important than this band concert. I am so tired of football taking precedence over what is right (google the Steubenville rape case). Enough is enough grow up people and realize there are other sports out there beside football….go band!!!
Christine • Nov 18, 2013 at 2:32 pm
“Jocks rock”, “jocks rule”…..is the way of schools today. Focus on the arts, academics and creating a culture for students to learn not only what is in lesson plans, but what is shown to them by the actions of good teachers, coaches, counselors, cafeteria staff, school security and anyone else that comes in contact with students. I am an old “Atomic Mom.” Back in the day I went to games to support the team, to hear the band, to watch the dancers and above all to watch my daughter cheer. I am saddened that Annandale High School has now gotten a reputation for condoning actions that should be condemned. Shame on the coach and shame on the principal.
RB Tuba • Nov 18, 2013 at 2:24 pm
Wow. Just…wow. I saw this story on the web and I am truly enraged by the coaching staff of your school. Honestly, I have never heard of such disrespect to one’s own music program as this. And all of you defending the coach, shame on you. What he did is deplorable, not to mention incredibly dangerous to the drum major on the podium, and there is no situation where that was remotely okay to do. Having played both running back and tuba in my high school tenure, I can tell you from experience that the band is a positive influence on player morale and can help swing the outcome of a game by keeping the players and fans engaged in the contest. Halftime is part of that and demanding the band get off the field during their field time, something they prepare just as much, if not a bit more for than the football team, is outright disgusting. These are your students, your charges, and you are showing the utmost disrespect towards them and your colleague, the band director. I applaud the band’s work through the season and I hope the seniors who were affected by this indecent act find a college that treats its band like royalty, like LSU, Ohio State, or USF.
Brandon Mangum • Nov 18, 2013 at 8:32 am
There’s only one word to describe this. Sickening.
aubreya24 • Nov 18, 2013 at 6:29 am
I am heartbroken! As an alum, I am so sad to see that Annandale has moved in this direction. At Annandale I participated in both sports (including cheering at all of those football games in the era of Dick Adams!) and the arts. Each was an area that significantly helped evolve me into who I am today, and I will forever be grateful for my high school experience because of it. A well-rounded school not only appreciates, but encourages *both*!
I am an avid football fan, but SHAME ON YOU Coach Scott! He’s done this before??? WHY DOES HE STILL HAVE A JOB?!
An Illinois Kid • Nov 17, 2013 at 9:42 pm
We’ve got a similar problem at my school… In our 2012 and 2013 seasons, the student section decided to get a speaker and iPod, and blast pop and dubstep while we were supposed to be playing. They began to play it over our halftime show, too, as well as pregame.
Martin • Nov 17, 2013 at 3:45 pm
This story is depressingly unsurprising. The good news is that those kind of people only really ever get to win in the school setting. Five years out of college you guys will be doing better in your career than the coach, nevermind the players. Enjoy eating the garbage, it will make your embarrassing success at the reunion even more justified!
Myra Herron • Nov 17, 2013 at 3:21 pm
My kids were in band, and one of the prime reasons I went to the games was to see them perform. This coach needs to be fired, and the principal cautioned, for NOT stopping the coach and the players from disrupting the band performance. This is a new low in school activities. Seems that administrations, country wide, are so inflamed with total control that they have lost all semblance of intelligence. Get back to civility and teaching, like you’re paid to do!!!
Marsha • Nov 17, 2013 at 11:51 am
The coach’s behavior is disgraceful. How is it that the administrator being at the game did nothing to keep the band on
the field. Bullying is bullying and should not be tolerated. The football team at our school will actually come over to the
band at the end of our games (win or lose) during the playing of our school song. Let me tell you, I was very proud the
first time I saw this happen. It shows that they are a part of the team. To do this on Senior night ..shame on him.. these
are suppose to be a memorable experience. I want to thank those on the band for all your hard work and dedication, and
to their director for leading them to their successes. Sounds like the coach needs to take some lessons from the band and their director. You may want to learn some GOOD leadership skills.
K. Martin • Nov 17, 2013 at 3:34 am
If that was my Daughter on the podium, that coach would be getting fired!!~********** Intent to cause harm to a minor **********How does that man still have a job with this school district!!!
Ell • Nov 16, 2013 at 2:23 pm
I would really like to hear from Band Students and Parents to find out if the “apologies” that have come from the Mr Kerns and Mr Scott have been sincere. So far all I’ve heard is that Mr Scott yelled at one of the authors complaining that the “article” (even though it was an EDITORIAL) was one sided. Not surprising – verbal abuse at the game, verbal abuse at school.
Kathy • Nov 16, 2013 at 11:56 am
Unbelievable and unacceptable for so many reasons. Even if the coach has apologized, I think at the very least he should be suspended. I’m so sorry this happened to this band. They are fantastic and deserve respect for the time, energy, and dedication they put into their work. The school should be very proud of their achievements. The AHS music program has a blue ribbon for its excellence. Kudos to the band members for showing professionalism and maturity.
anotherSPORTSandMUSICdad • Nov 16, 2013 at 11:17 am
Let me say it plainly. The coach was WRONG…and it’s not a singular lapse of judgement (which by the way, is enough to get you jailed). It’s an attitude that goes on all year and OFTEN STARTS AT THE TOP OF THE ADMINISTRATION. Athletic Directors are also NOTORIOUS for being unfair and uncaring about anything but sports teams. Yet, they are given the keys to the school and authority over the facilities! Facilities used by many groups in the school, not just ATHLETICS!
All over this country, high school athletics is seriously out of balance. Sports has become a huge distraction to education and often contributes to delinquent attitudes due to poor examples set by coaches who curse at the players instead of teaching them.
Remedy?
1) Written warnings followed by:
2) Suspension, then:
3) Termination
4) Also, Assistant Principals, go to practices occasionally and observe and HOLD COACHES ACCOUNTABLE for UNPROFESSIONAL BEHAVIOR.
5) ASK THE BAND DIRECTOR IF THEY ARE BEING TREATED FAIRLY!!!!
6) TAKE CONTROL OF FACILITIES AWAY FROM THE ATHLETIC DIRECTOR AND GIVE IT TO AN AP WHO CARES FOR THE WHOLE STUDENT BODY!!
7) HAVE A BACKBONE PRINCIPAL!!!!
Jim Holst • Nov 16, 2013 at 10:31 am
I think that “Coach” Scott should take his next year off and work with the band as their personal lackey/coach for the year (the whole year) and see what these kids, parents and staff really do for the school and their community. Perhaps he will see the light.
Sailor Dude • Nov 16, 2013 at 10:08 am
Of course the coach should be fired and the principal punished as well. But I seriously question this business about a penalty. If the referees agreed to extra time, and they were within the halftime period allotted for the band anyway, why a penalty? Can anyone explain that? Any referee that would assess a penalty for such a situation should also be fired.
Karin Duff • Nov 16, 2013 at 9:30 am
Is there no one who caught this on video, so we can go viral with this?
Sailor • Nov 16, 2013 at 9:27 am
The coach should clearly be fired, both for being a bad coach and for setting a poor example. The principal should be fired for supporting the coach. But I do not understand how there could have been a penalty, given they had requested and agreed to extra time, and given the time remaining on the clock. Any referee that would assess a penalty after agreeing to extra time should also be fired.
Can someone explain if there really would have been a penalty?
Tyler Chin • Nov 16, 2013 at 7:29 am
I read that the coach has apologized, but we all know ithe apology is not sincere. The guy only did it under orders so he could try to keep his job. He should be fired for his behavior and endangering students. The principal also should be terminated for allowing this to happen – he was there and did nothing to stop Scott from bullying the band.
jim • Nov 16, 2013 at 2:20 am
Kayla: you must be mentally retarded. The football game is about football players, that’s why it’s a football game.
Rebecca Harrison • Nov 16, 2013 at 1:42 am
I understand the desire for a coach to respect the rules of the game and wish to put his team back on the field in the best way possible. To me, that is not the issue here. This entire scenario may have played out very differently if this coach had decided to behave as an adult and respond in an appropriate manner. Would it have been so horrible to tell the Band Director of the time concerns and ask him to delay the third piece? I have seen Band Directors relay information to their Drum Majors on many occasions, and while not ideal, it at least would have been 100% more professional. To shout at teens and shake platforms to get your message across not only shows a lack of professionalism, it is juvenile and dangerous. In our world of bullying and school violence, it is inexcusable for any school staff member to engage in intimidation against students. And I do believe this was an act of intimidation. Shame on you coach, and shame on you Administration for not taking an immediate clear, hard stance that such behavior would not be tolerated.
Brenda Kay • Nov 16, 2013 at 1:27 am
The “coach” should be IMMEDIATELY fired and the “principal” suspended and disciplined for not taking charge of this situation. It’s not the nfl, people, its a school football game. That man’s action was inexcusable and those defending him should be ashamed.
Elisa Lindeman • Nov 16, 2013 at 12:45 am
This coach should be Suspended without pay for at least a couple of months.
He has zero business on the football field or in the class room.
What type of individuals is this school district hiring.
The administration should be ashamed, they hired a person with such poor character.
The administration should apologize to the entire school district, for allowing such behavior.
To the coach, the good Lord is watching you.
I don’t know you, but I am ashamed of you.
To the marching Band my sincere apologies, you were treated so poorly.
Just know that one day he will have to answer for his poor behavior and character.
I honestly do not know how this coach can live with himself.
Andrew • Nov 15, 2013 at 10:33 pm
Wow. It makes me feel so bad for you guys to get called out that way. My marching band got kicked off the field when my schools homecoming court took to long, we had a remark made to us which was very similar to the one made to you above. It truly saddens my soul to see someones senior performance be utterly ruined like this, hopefully your school district will realize the mistake they have made and change for the right direction. Our school district admin made no changes in fact they didn’t even issue a formal apology and they have now cut the marching program. Our program was one of the best in the state and it just so happened that we were having one of our best seasons ever. Please Fairfax County Public School District, learn from this mistake and change for the right direction. This is truly unacceptable!
Emily • Nov 15, 2013 at 9:51 pm
Wow. Just wow. At my school, both the football team and the band are decent (mind you, not great), but more importantly, they are decent to each other. We cheer the football team on and we’ve gotten personal thank yous from football players AND coaches for our support. This coach thinks he’s the greatest thing since sliced bread and should be removed (or at least suspended) for shaking the drum major podiums. Those things are not the most stable things in the world in the first place, and if a drum major were to fall, who knows what kind of injuries they might sustain.
In addition, special props to the reporting staff for this school newspaper. You’ve done a great job reporting this story and empowering your peers to speak out. Keep it up!
Jennifer • Nov 15, 2013 at 9:04 pm
I cannot honestly put into words how much this pisses me off. Marching Band is nearly my everything in school. It’s my music, friends, achievements, and almost family. Our band is the pride of the town. Just this week we marched in the Veteran’s Day Parade in New York City – pretty amazing for a small-town Kansas band. District Band auditions are tomorrow morning. To think that other bands are getting treated so horribly makes me sick to my stomach. That Coach and those parents had absolutely no right to treat you guys like they did. It reflects badly on their entire sports program. Band, keep on trucking, and congrats on your awards. If it was me, I would suggest to my director that we stop going to the football games. Respect is a two-way street.
Kayla • Nov 15, 2013 at 8:27 pm
The one’s who are defending the coach’s actions are lacking morals and have no sense of respect. REALITY CHECK! The world, let alone a football game, does not revolve around you.
Ben • Nov 15, 2013 at 8:26 pm
The football team is only the entertainment before and after the band show.
FlareFic • Nov 15, 2013 at 8:18 pm
As an ex marching band member from Nevada, I am completely appalled at the actions of the coach. Shame on him. Heads up, Marching Atoms.
Andrew • Nov 15, 2013 at 8:11 pm
Its a football game not a band competition…get off the field when your told. I don’t care if you have all 20 minutes left.
Marco • Nov 15, 2013 at 7:37 pm
Shawn, you are a piece of work, indeed you are. Clearly you are suffering from SPS.
Jim • Nov 15, 2013 at 7:32 pm
Woody Hayes of Ohio State was a thousand times better coach than this loser could ever aspire to be. Woody ended his career by striking a player on the opposing team who had somehow offended him during a game, without injuring the player. He was promptly fired. Thus act of battery, by shaking a ladder someone was standing on should get him not only fired but arrested. He is one sad, sick loser.
Kristen • Nov 15, 2013 at 7:12 pm
This is shocking and horrible. I believe that if a teacher physically threatens a student he should be fired. I am thankful my school was different. I thought I would share one of my band experiences. I went to a school that supported the band program. Our football program had been suffering so we brought in a new coach. Thursdays were the day the band practiced on the football field to get ready for the game. One Thursday, the new coach was practicing with the football team on the field and didn’t see the need to leave. When it came time for us to practice, our director had us march on the field, all 300+ of us. The football team quickly got out of our way and from then on respected us. I hope that someday everyone will respect and enjoy the different kinds of talent that goes on at school.
Ron • Nov 15, 2013 at 6:14 pm
Shawn you must still be butt hurt from those atomic wedgies you got back in the day….”high school was so hard, sniff sniff”. Sound about right?
Scarlet • Nov 15, 2013 at 5:40 pm
if our coaches or football team did this our principle would’ve punished all of them. probably would’ve made them clean the bleachers and the bathrooms or something along those lines.
Brat Pack 2012 • Nov 15, 2013 at 5:35 pm
The disrespect showed by Coach Scott is not surprising at all. The marching band at Annandale has always been extremely successful. Coach Scott needs to take a trip to see all of the banners, the trophies, and the awards that the band have received over the past decade or so. Annandale needs to re-evaluate the way they hire Football coaches because after all, Coach Scott was a TENNIS COACH for years… Mr. Scott was a great teacher but after what happened on Friday night, he obviously has internal issues to think that it’s acceptable to shake a platform that held a student all to preserve his image of a Hard-Ass coach to his football players. This is runoff of Dick Adams’ “bully everyone but football” mentality and hiring a successor that goes by those same values is setting yourself up for a one win season. After this incident along with run-ins before, no Annandale alumni that are from the Dick Adams or Coach Scott dynasty should ever be considered options for Football Coach. Coach Scott has put a great shame on a school that was already falling down a slippery slope and Annandale can now count on being a school that parents won’t want their children to go to.
BP 2012
Shawn • Nov 15, 2013 at 4:41 pm
Ron, seriously, you are not helping your case.
Fred Staffeld • Nov 15, 2013 at 3:48 pm
I’m only going to say this: Something is up with the football coach’s emotional state of mind, and is not good. Not only did he exhibit poor judgement and zero sportsmanship, but shaking the elevated podium while the drum major conducted????? People, this is not good. This principle needs to be terminated. No only is he a terrible example at a time that bullying is a big problem, but it looks like he has “issues” and should not be around children!
Ann Rainey • Nov 15, 2013 at 3:10 pm
My thoughts before I even read Stephen Craig’s response was,”what in the world are these coaches teaching these students”!! Through Stephen Craig’s response I can see this supports my thoughts!!! Stephen, it all comes down to respect!!!!! A football game is NOT just the football team. It is composed of cheerleaders, flag, band, sponsors, etc. Shame on your coach for teaching you the disrespect that you have obviously learned so well.
Steve • Nov 15, 2013 at 2:52 pm
Just sad. When I was in marching band our seniors got to be recognized ALONGSIDE those of the football team and cheerleaders at halftime, and there would never have been a thought of disrespecting the band in such a terrible manner. The adults involved should be ashamed of themselves for exhibiting such terrible, disrespectful, immature, and honestly, unsportsmanlike behavior.
Perhaps the band should march out onto the field during football practices, yelling at the coaching staff to get their students off the field so the band, the more successful of the two groups, can get in more practice time.
Ron • Nov 15, 2013 at 2:43 pm
Real cute quote there Shawn. It’s just sad that is generation is full of a bunch of pansies (most likely similar to Shawn). The point is stop crying that your recital got cut short and get off the field.
Billy • Nov 15, 2013 at 2:34 pm
In moving forward, I hope the coaches and administration at this school capitalize on the opportunity to learn from the class, dignity, and composure exemplified by their student musicians. It sounds like these band students have set the bar high enough to give them something to shoot for.
Andrew • Nov 15, 2013 at 2:21 pm
First off Mike Scott is the man. Everyone hating on him for personal reasons, let’s be honest, it’s probably just because your soft and he yelled at you a couple times. Dick Adams would have broken 5 flutes and knocked out your director before individually tossing each one of you off the field without as much as batting an eye.
As for “The penalty is just 15 yards. Yes, it is still a penalty, but would that have really made a big difference?” Are you retarded? Seriously though that’s not a rhetorical question… Not only is a 15 yard penalty one of the worst penalties but the fact that you think because they’re down they should take an unnecessary penalty just so that a few tuba players don’t cry themselves to sleep that night shows that you wouldn’t know competitiveness if it kicked you in your throat. Coach Scott (like every other coach) is playing the game to win, no matter how much they’re down. He doesn’t quit, that’s why he’s a great coach. Clearly none of you played for him.
The bottom line is that it’s a FOOTBALL game not a band competition so if the head coach of the FOOTBALL team tells you to get lost; don’t whine, don’t write a stupid article about it, just take your dick out of your trombone and “get of the damn field.” The only disgusting part about this whole ordeal is how the hell this trash got in the A-blast.
And @ Shawn: Clearly Stephen respects the coach, so saying he is “one of his kind” doesn’t come off as a bad thing…way to think that one through
Shawn • Nov 15, 2013 at 1:38 pm
At Stephen Craig: It takes one to know one. Your inability to comprehend the level of disrespect that this coach demonstrated only goes to show that you are one of his kind. Birds of a feather flock together.
Stephen Craig • Nov 15, 2013 at 1:27 pm
This is a ridiculous article. Coach Scott’s not a bully in any way, I would know because I played for him. This was a FOOTBALL game not the band competition. Obviously Coach Scott wasn’t shaking that kids stand in any sort of dangerous way (if he even shook it at all), that was blown way out of proportion. And who cares what the score of the game was, it doesn’t mean the team should give up a 15 yard penalty so the band can play another song. Having a band for the game is a nice touch don’t get me wrong, but they are NOT needed. If they’re going to cause problems like this then just don’t come! I don’t know why everyone on here thinks the football players/coaches/fans will care. The only “appalling” thing about this article is how the coach is being attacked.
MN teacher • Nov 15, 2013 at 12:30 pm
As a teacher, I find it appalling that another teacher would put a student in harm deliberately and bully students.
I also am appalled that people are defending his actions. Perhaps you did not read the article thoroughly. it clearly states that halftime wasn’t over, that the band had over 4 minutes left to finish, and that the officials would reset the clock for three minutes to allot time for both teams to warm up. The way the coaches, the parents, and the administration handled this is horrible.
And the fact that people are defending this says a lot about the sad state of our country in which people chasing a ball around are placed in higher standing than being morally upstanding. Sad.
Marilyn Payne • Nov 15, 2013 at 12:03 pm
Well this is outrageous. Many before me have said that the football coach should be fired. I will agree with that, but this incident goes much further than a shouting match on a Friday night.
When I was a music teacher, I was evaluated twice a year by the principal of my school. She/he would sit in on my classes. And then later, we would sit together and have a conversation about my strengths and weaknesses, about how well the students were performing the skills that I was teaching them. There was always the brief discussion about supporting the other groups in the school, by going to a football/basketball game occasionally or attending a school play, etc. That show of support was not just for the students, it was to build a close knit faculty.
Unfortunately, the politics and finances of running a school play an important part in that closeness of a faculty. As an Orchestra teacher, my students always received high honors at contests, despite the fact that the number of students in my classes was always a small percentage compared to the number of students in band. The reality is, high honors at a contest are much harder to earn with fewer students. Well, I am getting off the subject.
What I am trying to relay is that the football coach’s behavior and the results he is able to get from his students should be of huge concern to the principal of the school and the superintendent of that school district. The principal should be aware that this teacher is not able to put a winning team on the field and that this teacher has anger and superiority issues. The teacher’s evaluations should reflect this and there should be goals set with this teacher to improve.
The principal should be evaluated by the superintendent on how well the teacher’s school is doing in all areas, academically, community-wise and with particular focus on any problems that stem from student or teacher and their respect for all others in that school.
I suggest that the parents, grandparents, and even the students show up en masse at the next school board meeting and make their feelings known concerning the lack of respect this teacher and his underlings have shown to a fellow teacher, to the band students and to the parents and grandparents who support the band.
Don’t worry about the football coach’s tenure as a teacher. They may not be able to fire him, but he can be replaced with a coach that knows that the support and cooperation he gets from his fellow teachers, his administration, the parents and ultimately, the students will be rewarding in itself.
~ Do unto others as you want others to do unto you. ~
Mark • Nov 15, 2013 at 12:02 pm
Shame, shame! I am a _huge_ sports fan and also a professional classical musican. This is what is wrong with the culture surrounding our education system, aka “school surrounding paramount football culture.” Let me ask you: How many of these band members will become professional musicians, arts educators, or administrators in the arts in the future? Compare that with how many of the football players will go pro – or even be HS coaches themselves one day – or even benchwarm in a div III school, and you will have your answer. It’s time to get the educational culture right-side up again, and respect the best and brightest students that you have.
Karin Duff • Nov 15, 2013 at 11:49 am
This coach should be fired. His attitude is deplorable and could be linked to his Losing record. I feel for you fellow Bandies and think that you deserve an apology. I hope you do not have negative feelings for the rest of your life towards the players and other things that I have. Have a good concert band season. Go to the parades ad know that we are all there to support you in spirit.
fairfax citizen • Nov 15, 2013 at 11:36 am
Award winning band cheering a losing football team. coach is a bully. my other daughter’s middle school has
Thursday- Give Bullying the Blues! Wear Blue
Friday- LJ and Bullying don’t match! Mismatch Shoe Day
Bullying is happening at the highest level right under our nose!
Aaron Price • Nov 15, 2013 at 11:14 am
I think Mike Scott has revealed himself. He is an embarrassment to the school, laughable record aside.
denise paoli Battlefield High School Haymarket,VA • Nov 15, 2013 at 10:34 am
SHAME ON THIS COACH! Just shame on him. What a “little” man he is. As Somebody above said, he is just a BULLY. They should kick him to the curb. A public apology to the band … sometimes just saying “I’m sorry” cannot and does not erase what a person has already done!
Edward McNamara • Nov 15, 2013 at 10:23 am
Dear sir,
I believe that this high school coach has condoned bullying. The first responce was to defend the coach. It is only after an extream backlash, that the principal has apoligized. I would not let my child play in the band, and would certainly not allow them to play with this football coach. Who was there to stop the bullying.
As far as the warm up is concerned, There is no need to do it on the field. It could have been done on the side. I find this very upsetting, that what ought to have been a fun noght for all, has turned into a sad experience for many. Shame on the coach and principal, for allowing this to occur.
Edward McNamara
333 Ontario Street
Ronkonkoma, NY 11779
Dave Pawson • Nov 15, 2013 at 9:12 am
As a former band parent all I can say is: who let all these football players on the marching field to begin with? If band were easy, it would be called football. And for unsportsmanlike conduct, the coach, any assistants, any team members involved should be suspended from practice and games for the remainder of the academic year.
Beth Rivers • Nov 15, 2013 at 8:59 am
I’m a high school band director in Ohio. Feeling very grateful that the head football coach at my high school AND our football crowd (including football parents) RESPECT not only our band but also the visiting band every week. Shame on your coach and your crowd – so embarrassing for your school district. ADMINISTRATION – step up and make this right!! Your band is probably one of the largest organizations in your district. BAND PARENTS – demand that this be made right – you are one of your district’s largest group of parents – band together and let them hear your outrage at the next Board of Ed meeting. Make this a positive for your band kids!
sports ref & music fan • Nov 15, 2013 at 8:55 am
As a youth sports ref,
I can tell you that there are many youth sports coaches who are able to get their point across without ever having to raise their voices. These are the better ones. And then there are those whose (warning: band terminology in use..) only dynamic is fortississimo.
These guys (they are usually guys, but now that women are more involved in coaching, some of them have learned to yell, too) tend to be less effective, mostly because the kids have stopped listening. Sports coaches should be required to take music classes and play in any ensemble available. That way, they would learn how to express themselves using their entire dynamic range. If their normal dynamic can be mezzo piano, then the occasional crescendo will have real effect. The coach in question certainly is in need of a diminuendo!
Vince Lombardi ruined youth sports in America by coining the phrase “Winning isn’t everything, it’s the only thing.” For every team that has an outstanding season, there is one that has the opposite. The kids on these teams need to be led by adults who can model sportsmanship and class. If that happens, the life lessons from being on a losing team that sticks together and maintains respect for self and others will be much more useful in the long run than those gained by kids having an undefeated season.
Scientist • Nov 15, 2013 at 8:05 am
I”m sure he’s already regretting this bullying, I’ve seen it all over national news sites last night. He’s likely going to receive a lot of bullying himself, which I don’t agree with but that’s the risk you take for being an immature rude bad example in public. I’ve seen someone fall off a drum podium before and break his arm, THAT’s the most disturbing part to me, that he endangered the safety of a student during his tantrum.
Amy • Nov 15, 2013 at 7:43 am
Hello. I’m from the class of 02 of Tinora High School in Defiance Ohio. This would NEVER happen at my high school or any around this area. For sports to be so cruel as to push the band members off the field is a total backlash at the community. The band works hard to play and should be giving a change to play as part of the school.
Former Band member/football parent • Nov 15, 2013 at 6:43 am
I missed this event. I left the stands for a break after the Senior Band members were presented. My whole family stayed in the cold to support the Band seniors as they supported our son before the game.
What the coaches and a parent are alleged to have done is rude. But it’s just as rude to make negative remarks about the football team as a whole, especially when they had nothing to do with it. I think most of the football players were unaware this happened until the editorial was published because they were doing their warm up routine and not involved with these allegations. When I mentioned this editorial to my son, he didn’t have a clue what I was talking about. I know for a fact that many of the football players are friends with band members and do support the band. This editorial could have been written without the negative remarks about the football team.
I understand being upset with the coach if these allegations are true and I’m glad he is going to apologize so that the school can move past this ugliness.
In the future to prevent something like this, it would be helpful to cut the band performance short when there are special events like Senior night. Just arrange to cut the last song so that the football team can start their warm up when there are 3 minutes left of half-time.
unknown • Nov 15, 2013 at 6:41 am
wow. They never get any respect. Its not like the 3 minutes the football team got even made a difference…they lost 55-14!
Mike • Nov 15, 2013 at 3:27 am
To Scott above – your argument sounded reasonable right up until you said the reason the band performs is to give them someone to play in front of!!!!!! Are you kidding?! Do you really believe that! What do you think they do the rest of the year? Have you ever gone to a band concert?! That’s incredibly arrogant and flat out untrue. Have you talked to the band members? They play at halftime because all your simpleton football parents get bored by 20 mins without entertainment.
Mike • Nov 15, 2013 at 3:21 am
It would’ve been a great gesture to let the band go as long as they wanted and take any penalty. Fire him. His record shows he can’t teach football, and his actions show he has no ability to teach character, so it’s pretty clear he’s unable to do his “job,” so why wouldn’t he be fired? If he’s retained, the administration and school board must be incompetent too – the local voters could solve that problem…
Ainsley • Nov 15, 2013 at 1:44 am
Under Coach Dick Adams leadership of the football team, this would have NEVER happened.
Susan • Nov 15, 2013 at 1:37 am
Why aren’t high school football rules written to accommodate the band? This is insane!
Jamin • Nov 15, 2013 at 1:22 am
I am an older Bandie from Va. A friend posted a link on Facebook. Marched 5 years , pep band for another 5. I prefis this to say I understand how much band means to the writer. I do think the band should find ways to show to the school all the positive the band provides to the school. But the football game is a football game, just like a Marching band competition is a band competition. People paid to watch the game, and loses can be more stressful then wins. If the coach is having as bad a year as it sounds I would cut him some slack. Remember coaches the loose need to look for a new job. And performing doesn’t change much, if you are a headliner you can organize the preformance however you like. Maybe take a week off from performing at the game. That’s a reasonable protest, I think that would be more impactive then organizing at a school board meeting.
Denise • Nov 15, 2013 at 12:49 am
As a band mom at another school (and a former horn player) I hope all your band parents go to the next board meeting and demand respect. I’m also wondering why the coach was yelling at the band students and not speaking to the band director?
Image if a coach starting yelling and shoving students in the hallway during school? Would THAT be tolerated?
scott • Nov 15, 2013 at 12:44 am
I am a West Springfield grad and football is not just some silly hobby. This is the coach’s profession, and citing their losing season means that his job is most likely on the line. I’m not saying that the lack of respect is okay, but this is a football game, not a music competition. This is not a nerd versus jocks debate, this is a real life situation for some of the parties involved and I think that too many people are letting their personal emotions get in the way of this. I think the fault is that of the school overall for poorly coordinating the schedule of the game. If they maintained greater control of the situation, it wouldn’t have gotten so out of hand. I think it is extremely immature of a lot of commenters on here to be saying “shame on the coach.” This may be the culture of today’s youth to hurt anyone’s feelings, but the purpose of having the band play at half time is to let them perform for an audience because band competitions do not really draw a crowd. Everyone who says they have school spirit and such, sure that may be true, but i can guarantee you a majority of those kids in the band could care less about the football game. Maybe I am slightly playing the devil’s advocate here, but I don’t see myself swaying anyone either way because this is clearly an issue which a lot of people took personally.
Max Pankau • Nov 15, 2013 at 12:30 am
Fantastic article, guys! Just remember that this coach Scott is a person with feelings just like everyone else. What he did was rude and childish, but we’re all that and worse at certain points in our lives. Perhaps he’s apologized already, but whether he does or doesn’t, don’t ever resort to childish insults to or about him (like many appear to be doing in the comments section here). You don’t fix bullying by bullying the bully. All the best to your outstanding marching band in the future!
Brandon Marshall • Nov 15, 2013 at 12:18 am
This coach should be ashamed of himself and must give an apology.
These band members are KIDS who have worked very hard, hard enough to get a national award.
What type of ADULT embarrasses and harasses kids. Also, who are the PARENTS sitting in the stands harassing the KIDS to get off the field.
If I was a member of this marching band I would not attend another football game until there is a formal apology.
Angry Mom • Nov 14, 2013 at 11:56 pm
The people claiming that the coach’s action were excusable and “not that bad” have weak, vague arguments. There is no way, no matter what point of view you look at it, can you deem this incident right. What a deplorable, despicable act on not only the coaches and administration, but from the football parents as well! Any parent who chanted for the band to get of the field should not be parents, peroid. What kind of example are you setting? You’re threatening CHILDREN. Does it get any lower? My daughter was explaining to me how some of the classmates were joining along as well and later went on tweeting about how the band members did not have “school spirit” because they’re upset (rightfully). HA. Highly upsetting that this school severely lacks maturity and divides itself into the jocks and the band geeks. This is like a scene out of an 80’s movie! The coach needs to be fired and the administration reprimanded…probably should teach some of the students the true meaning of school spirit, too. Excellent work, Marching Atoms!
Colleen • Nov 14, 2013 at 11:53 pm
“After the game was over, and even though they were cold and tired, these kids (and their directors and pit crew) stayed behind and put on the complete show all over again! What an absolute touch of class!!!!”
Yes, it is.
Band Mom • Nov 14, 2013 at 11:30 pm
… the record of the football team and the awards of the band are beside the point. If the FB team was undefeated and the band wasn’t competitive, what happened would have been no less wrong.
pat • Nov 14, 2013 at 11:26 pm
This is not football vs music. It’s a morality play. The unfortunate kids on the football team are not being taught the discipline for success which the more fortunate musicians are taught. Marching bands are MILITARY bands. Why do you think they march? They grew from the courageous traditions wrought from earliest times of battle, when drummers, pipers and buglers were the eyes and ears of commanders and warriors who depended on SOUND for DIRECTION on the battlefield. The precision of the drummers and pipers was crucial to any army! All would have been lost without them. Just ask Alexander the Great, or George Washington, for Heaven’s sake! The winning armies are the ones who had the best signal bands…and think of it, the signal bands didn’t even have weapons! If athletic departments included even a fraction of the discipline, strength, stamina, and coordination skills taught in music departments, they’d produce better player-student-soldiers who would possess more sterling life-long coping skills for the real world, no matter what the scoreboard said. Now that would be a win-win situation for sure.
Liz from Guam • Nov 14, 2013 at 11:24 pm
One win? The little coach gets a taste and suddenly he acts like it’s the Super Bowl. The band should be yelling for the football team to get off the field – and frankly, stay off. I saw the news story where the coach apparently offered to apologize. Either you apologize or you don’t. What a loser, with the stats to prove it.
Steven Sharp • Nov 14, 2013 at 11:17 pm
I would stop showing up to the games….or…. get the opposing teams fight songs and start playing for them. This is unprofessional.
Emily • Nov 14, 2013 at 11:16 pm
I am part of the Dennis Yarmouth Regional Marching Band and I would just like to say that this is completely unfair. I feel for yhis band because we used to get the same amount of disrespect. I write and read a lot of articles on marching bands and this one makes me flustered more than any other one I’ve read. I watched you guys on YouTube you’re amazing. Keep your head up, and know that marching band students all over are cheering for you guys.
Rob R • Nov 14, 2013 at 11:07 pm
Unacceptable – spread the word. Start a writing campaign. Include the coach, principal, superintendent, and school board. Start a writing campaign – email addresses for the coach, principal, superintendent, and school board.
Mike Scott – Football Coach
[email protected]
Vincent Randazzo, Principal
[email protected]
Karen Garza, Superintendent
[email protected]
School Board
[email protected]
Hugo Stetz • Nov 14, 2013 at 11:06 pm
Wow.
I do not attend Annandale High School and am not affiliated with it in any way. Rather, I live in California, and am a faithful member of the marching band of the high school that I currently attend. Even so, I read this article and was amazed at the story it told.
At my school, our marching band has a fair amount of respect and support that we have worked hard to gain. Much of the staff supports our program, as well as the surrounding community. We always attend any games that our school’s football team participates in, playing music and marching during half time, and we are thanked for it. On many occasions, after the game the football team will gather and together thank us for our service. We have created routines that correspond with our cheerleaders’, and whenever a match ends we are thanked and praised by a number of people.
Just today I happened to be reading something on the internet and I saw this article on the bottom of the page. It sounded interesting, so I read it. And to find out that there are people who can show such blatant disrespect and disregard for the hard-working group that is marching band amazed me. Shocked me. This article really moved me. It made me really appreciate how strong and respected the program at my own school has become. To hear that a marching band just like us was shown such incivility and treated like a group of liabilities just taking up too much space was horrible. I sympathize with all of the Marching Atoms completely. We have our own share of people that show some disrespect to the band on infrequent occasions, but not to this extent. And especially not from respected staff members and equally hard-working football players that have spent just as many hours as us training and practicing and should be able to understand the strain that we go through for what we love.
I do not know this coach of yours, and I can hardly hope to ever meet him in my life. I do not know if he is a good man or a bad man. Yet it is clear to me that he is prioritizing himself and the group he represents over everyone else. Rather than showing respect to a group of people working hard after putting in hours of practice to perform a show for the audience to enjoy, he decides that he and his football team are the only thing that matter and simply resorted to showing as much disrespect as he could muster, doing what he could to disrupt and end a complex work of art meant to entertain and please. He responds to assistance with fury and irrationality. Completely unacceptable. In school, students, either consciously or unconsciously, look up to their teachers: they are a glimpse as to what they may be like when they grow older and lead their own lives. This is especially true with instructors heading extracurricular activities, where students go through much together and become a second family to each other, with the aforementioned instructors guiding them along as they do what they love and meet and bond with the unique people that participate in the respective activity as well. This man has completely destroyed that figure and image, crossing a line so far that that same line is no longer visible.
The marching band is a group of people practicing an art form that moves them and gives them the opportunity to do something that they can love and be proud of. Forcing them to completely waste their time and energy, as well as ruining their chance to do something that they show clear endearment to in such an aggressive fashion was completely unacceptable. I do sincerely hope that the marching band of Annandale High School may be shown redemption for this, and that the football staff of this same school may learn the qualities that are expected of them as leaders and embodiments of guidance.
Jim Locke • Nov 14, 2013 at 10:56 pm
Urban Meyer with Ohio State has the football team get together with the students AND THE BAND before and after each game. Take a lesson, Coach, from a true leader.
Rodney • Nov 14, 2013 at 10:44 pm
Looks like its time for this coach to be replaced! No group should ever be mistreated like these kids were. I have witnessed our football team enter the field during the performance but quickly to be ushered off the field by the coaches. Its time for the parents and students to stand up and demand he be reprimanded and dismissed for his actions, hes a disgrace to profession as both a teacher and coach, what do the players learn from a person who shows NO respect for those who work hours to support apparently a loosing team and a loser of a coach!! Stand up for your rights and get him removed!!
R. Updike • Nov 14, 2013 at 10:25 pm
Wow…completely unacceptable on every level. This coach should be terminated IMMEDIATELY and charged criminally. The spineless administrator should be too. AND the entire football program suspended for at least a year…I get that it isn’t the players’ fault, but as coaches and parents, they should be displaying leadership behavior. If there are no consequences for this, people should be aware of what their teens/young adults will take away from this incident…that acting like a Neanderthal is acceptable behavior. Do we really need MORE of that??
Fr. Eric Funston • Nov 14, 2013 at 10:24 pm
As a former band parent, I find this appalling. And to all those who say, “But this was a football game….” It was also a band performance. High school bands exist primarily to provide half-time entertainment and to rally the fans to support the football team during the game. These bands also compete in very very tough competitions and the amount of practice needed to do so is no less than that required of a football player or football team. In some respects, it is much greater. — The football coach should be fired!
Karly Casey • Nov 14, 2013 at 10:15 pm
FIRE THAT COACH IMMEDIATELY. This is disgusting, deplorable, disrespectful, immature, abhorrent behavior and it is INEXCUSABLE. My husband is asst director of a university marching band that is currently mid-fight with our own (not very good) football team who has been letting kickers on the field during half-time AND pre-game! DEAR FOOTBALL TEAMS: If you expect the band to be there to celebrate when you get a touchdown, make a tunnel when you run on the field, pump up the tail-gate party or anything else, SHOW SOME RESPECT. Our band has threatened not to march. We’ll see what happens.
Shawn • Nov 14, 2013 at 10:14 pm
Good to hear that an expedient and public apology has been made by the principal to the students (see the link below). How long will it take for the coach to put forth the right foot and humble himself?
http://annandale.patch.com/groups/schools/p/annandale-high-school-princicpal-apologies-for-marching-band-incident
Mary • Nov 14, 2013 at 10:07 pm
This makes me so angry. Reminds me of my freshman year (currently a junior). Our symphonic band converts to a pep band during the football season, and freshman year we went out for one game in the freezing cold to play at the homecoming game. At halftime, we all took a break to get food at the snack bar. When my friend (now a senior) was returning to the stands, some seniors pushed her down, causing her to spill her nachos and drink everywhere and said “What’s it matter, you’re just a band nerd anyway!” When everyone returned to the stands, everyone was shaken, and seniors decided to make it hail on us. The began throwing coins at us, aiming for the bells of our horns and our heads and screaming at us while we were trying to play. Needless to say, we didn’t play at any more games that year.
Tani Miller • Nov 14, 2013 at 10:06 pm
I’m kind of appalled by the comments excusing poor behavior because “it was a football game” . . . Since when does athletic competition excuse disrespectful behavior?!! Shouldn’t sportsmanship occur both on and off the field? Football should never be a good excuse for poor behavior.
The adults in charge need to make better choices and set a better example for their students . . . And yes, football players at a high school are first and foremost students.
From Alabama with love • Nov 14, 2013 at 10:00 pm
I am here to show support for these kids because Band made a difference in my life. Many of my lifelong friends were made in middle school, high school, and University Band. It has been over 12 years since I marched, and I am not even familiar with this particular high school, but this subject still is important to me.
Look at all these people from across the country who care about band! The band folk are everywhere. How many men and women out there can say that band has had a significant positive impact on their life? There are millions of us, everywhere. If band was ever important to you, you should not stay silent.
Dear Coach Scott, the band is one of your team’s biggest supporters. Who else but the cheerleaders can say that they cheered (played) for the team after every touchdown? My friends and I attended every game when we were in the band. How many other students besides the cheerleaders can say they attended every game for 4 years? We did this because we loved our school, and we loved our team, win or lose. Many of us brought our band parents, who in turn didn’t miss a game.
How can you show such disrespect to your biggest, unconditional supporters? I don’t know about your school band, but the numbers in my band did not fluctuate depending on the ability of the football team. Good times, bad times, the band is with the team.
You are not just a football coach, you are a high school teacher. A teacher! You think that because you also coach the football team that you are allowed to behave in that manner? As a public school teacher myself, I’m pretty sure your behavior is grounds for a “conference of concern.” If you were being evaluated as a teacher in my state, you would receive a “1” in the category of environment, respectful culture. “Teacher-student interactions are sometimes negative, authoritarian, or inappropriate.”
(Unlike band competitions, a 1 is the lowest score you can get.)
Shawn • Nov 14, 2013 at 9:55 pm
The Washington Post reports this incident:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/local/education/annandale-high-football-coach-interrupts-half-time-program-of-schools-band/2013/11/14/9c7e564c-4d51-11e3-ac54-aa84301ced81_story.html
Nate • Nov 14, 2013 at 9:54 pm
http://www.thepetitionsite.com/681/802/546/annandale-atoms-marching-band-one-last-performance/
Share this people!!!!!
Hannah • Nov 14, 2013 at 9:51 pm
This article hits the nail right on the head. As an avid member of the performing arts (including performing during football games) , I have first hand knowledge about the lack of support from Annandale’s administration and coaching staff . It is horrible that Coach Scott handed the situation the way he did. He was right in front of me as I saw him shacking the drum major’s podium stand.
I hope the coaching staff will apologize to the band but sadly, knowing them throughout high school, I think they are too stubborn. It is a shame that after a successful band season, they were treated so poorly.
Michael Godwin • Nov 14, 2013 at 9:49 pm
to the band this is not just your bands issue every band that I have been with and worked with never get the backing of the school or school body. I sudgest you perform a protest by not going to a football game next year and just focus on you performance pratices. the band does not get any benefit from performing at haft time shows but the football team boosters gets the consections and gate fee which is divided between the school and the football team, so why perform. the only thing that will happen is a loss of money for the school and football team. At the last school I helped the coach finial had to recognize the band due to the fact that he saw the loss of funds due to the hundred members and their parents were not their to spend the 5 dolor gate fee and at least 10 dolors per person buying food. Once it effects the bottom line then they start paying attention. also I worte a letter to the staff of the school and chalanged them to go to at least one completion not only to see the performance but to come over where the boosters assembled props and where the band warmed up at just to prove what it takes just to put on a show that is only on the field for 15 mins tops. then I asked them to share their experance by a editoral in the school paper thus letting others understand what the band goes through just to do what they love to do. we also put on a music performance to dimenstreight what a band would sound like if the students only played 70% of the notes correctly which per the grading scale is passing . we then turned around and played it like it should be played. at this point we asked which one would be perferd and more important which one would they pay to hear. you guessed it. Thus we proved that the all members have to perform at the highest level 100% of the time.
Trey • Nov 14, 2013 at 9:48 pm
Terrible. If I’m reading the article right, the band had time left, so let them use the time that was allotted to them. If the band runs over, take it up with the principal, and DO NOT do something that might endanger a kid, like shaking a podium. Under no circumstances is that acceptable.
People act like this because they get away with it. If 1-9 is the best this coach can do, he needs to go anyway, so get rid of the bum and hire a professional.
Natalie • Nov 14, 2013 at 9:46 pm
Wow. That’s just awful. The thing about it is though – these band members will graduate, go to college, have successful careers as doctors, lawyers, or whatever they want to do. The football players will not. At least that’s how it was at my high school.
Jessica • Nov 14, 2013 at 9:41 pm
I feel terrible for this band! If that were me on the field I’d like to think that unless my director or drum major instructed me off the field I would keep going according to marching band law! Don’t stop unless the leadership says to do so! With 4:30 left on the clock they could have been off the field on time if they hurried and even so it was senior night and it is not like it would have made a difference for that team seeing they have a loosing record. An award winning marching band is something an ENTIRE community should be proud of, band kids work so hard and poor their hearts out on that field every week. Band kids put everything into their shows, band was my life in high school. My life would be completely different if it were not for band. The administration at that high school has some serious issues and the parents and community members should not stand for it. If I lived there I would be at every board meeting until something was done, starting with the dismissal of that football coach. Obviously he could not get the job done, he could not make a winning team, and he could not exemplify the skills of a true leader, and a good person. I would then question the administration of that high school, how could they turn their backs on their own students. I hope that these kids recover from something like this, it is terrible to be treated this way. They are high school kids and everyone involved in this terrible incident who allowed this to happen should be dismissed from the school. I am truly outraged to have heard about this. Congratulations to the band and their courage and their great performing abilities to be an award winning band.
Ryan C • Nov 14, 2013 at 9:32 pm
Okay, as a marching band member myself, I would be livid if my high school’s football team tried to kick us off the field during our show. However, I also believe that the writer of this article was a bit inconsiderate about the football team’s interests. Yes, the seniors deserve to be recognized, and the band respected. But the football team also deserves respect, and saying “It’s just a loss of fifteen yards” is about equivalent to saying “It’s just a loss of one song”. The halftime clock needs to be watched and accounted for by both sides. The football team should wait until the band is done, but the band should also be able to get off the field in time. Starting your show with 7:36 on the clock, the drum majors should have realized that they would not have enough time for their show, and made adjustments (it could differ for this band, but most high school shows run about 8 minutes of music, and maybe 10 minutes total, including the time for getting on and off the field). Cutting the show off between movements at some point could have prevented this entire issue.
Joseph • Nov 14, 2013 at 9:31 pm
As a Staff Sergeant in the US Army, who proudly marched with his high school marching band, marched 3 years in Drum Corps International, currently marching in Drum Corps Associates, and currently on staff at a high school marching band, this would not have happened on my watch. This is one of those times I would start the conversation with the coach with “Who do you think you are?” And end with me saying “Your Mother!”
Keep your heads up and stand proud Marching Atoms! We stand with you!
leslie Walker • Nov 14, 2013 at 9:28 pm
This is absolutely ridiculous. I am the parent of a Marching Band student. Her band works just as hard as the football team. They run the bleachers, run the field, push ups, practices every single day 6 days of the week unless there is a competition on Saturday. There is absolutely no excuse for this type of behavior. The band is there for moral support. The foot ball game would be nothing without the band there. The marchers are just as much athletes as any other team. They come home tired and sore but are still there to support the teams. The coaching and administration staff should issue a formal apology in front of the entire student body. The parents that took part in this should be ashamed of themselves. How dare you teach those kids disrespect? How can we hope to teach our kids ethics and morals when the parents have none?
Zach • Nov 14, 2013 at 9:21 pm
Wow, that is horrible. I was so infuriated just by reading the article. I can only imagine the feelings those kids must have felt getting shoved off the field like that. This all kind of seems symbolic to me, about how schools feel about music programs in general nowadays… simply terrible.
Alex • Nov 14, 2013 at 9:08 pm
Screw the Band they are already known for their musical talents this is a night for the senior football team the band needs to keep in mind this is not their stadium case closed these coaches made the right decision.
Eric T • Nov 14, 2013 at 9:05 pm
This coach should be fired or at the least severely reprimanded / suspended w/o pay for a significant time period for his actions. And if I were a parent of one of those band kids, that coach would get an earful, if not a fistful, in the parking lot after the game. What a douchebag thing to do!
Regina • Nov 14, 2013 at 8:41 pm
How terrible! The football team, coach and administrators should be completely ashamed of themselves! I was on the dance/flag team with the marching band in school and was so happy and proud to be out there on the field and cheering them on ! I would be outraged by this ! The football team always supported us. It’s called Pride. You should be proud of your school and show spirit. Way to show your true colors! Coach should know better than that. They were going to be right back on that field to lose another game soon enough. Great job to the band though! Keep on showing what you’ve got!!! :D
Lindsey • Nov 14, 2013 at 8:36 pm
I thought that it was awful for my friends senior night where the football team practiced on the 30 yard line next to the band. This really puts it into perspective though because they were not kicked off the field. I don’t care who the coach thinks he is, there is plenty of time to practice and plenty of room in the end zone if the extra time is very much needed. Coaches that pull stunts like this need to take an etiquette lesson. They have no idea what it is like. How would they appreciate it if the marching band started warming up at the end of the second quarter? This is just ridiculous. If I had my way I would fire coaches that pulled stunts like these. They need to learn to respect the band. Let’s face it, band members are way more likely to get a job relating to music than any of the football players are to go pro.
Max Bieryla • Nov 14, 2013 at 8:30 pm
Wow. I just cannot believe how incredibly awful that is. What goes through people’s minds? Do they not picture themselves out their and think, “Okay, how would I feel if an extremely disrespectful and ignorant fan was yelling at me to get off the field while I was doing something that I worked hard on to provide for the people?” Marching band is a tradition at school football games. People just need to realize that its part of the game, just like the player’s entry at the beginning, the cheerleaders, etc. I am in band, and luckily our school realizes our place in the game, but I would be enraged if anyone, especially if they were part of the football association, tried to end our show. They get their part, we should get ours, without question.
Marching Band Alum '06 • Nov 14, 2013 at 8:13 pm
In response to the Twitter explosion that occurred in the student body:
Media twists everything. A 30 minute interview (assuming that’s probably how long it took) was skivvied into a five minute blip. Every story gets butchered if you don’t bother to read deeper!
On another note, I also find it funny when people say that varsity letters are only for athletes. We never “walk[ed] around and blew into instruments”. There is constant work to have perfect form, lines, structures, and field shapes. Mayhaps we are not muscular, no. You can easily pass out from doing the work a band does. Respiratory training aka breathing exercises are used. Sounds lame, I know. There are a lot of extracurricular events related to band itself that allows the program to receive letters and stars. Until you start changing the way you think about school programs and clubs, you’ve no right to bash each other.
I support Annandale High School through thick and thin. The football players should NOT be brought down because of their season. The marching band members should NOT be brought down because of the article making headway, nor because of the news blip. There is no need to say HURR HURR WE R BETTER, because in truth, both groups have their different strengths and weaknesses. Get out of the aged mentality. Both groups are equally important. Realise that the dividing lines have now been dug deeper.
You’re a community. Learn from this mistake. Learn from each other. Remember: This is a mistake made by ADMINISTRATION and STAFF. Do not fight each other because of what a news reporter said. A five minute blip on the news is not the total story. Music VS Sports is the worst kind of fight, because you already know who will lose :(
When the apology comes, accept it. Stay humble. Stay classy. Most importantly, stay true to community spirit. You don’t have to forgive, but definitely accept the apologies. Use this opportunity to work towards a less divided school community.
WRohrer • Nov 14, 2013 at 8:11 pm
Looks like a complete lack of integrity. The young men of the football team and the school deserve better role models. Fire the coaching staff — they are obviously not adding ANYTHING positive to the football program or the school. How embarrassing for the school and the community of Annandale. I’m glad this story is getting circulated around the country.
mr.troll-alot • Nov 14, 2013 at 8:05 pm
Woww…football is MAJOR here in Texas, even then, our coaches respect us to let us do our thing and we let them do theirs. This is ridiculous and I am just appalled at the whole thing. There has been times where the game clock ran down to seconds before and yet the team still waited on us to finish. I’m sorry for that horrible treatment you guys got and I hope things get better for ya’ll.
Anonymous • Nov 14, 2013 at 8:02 pm
Who even cares about football?
Alice P. • Nov 14, 2013 at 7:57 pm
Okay, first of all, you DO NOT shake the drum major stand! That endangers the drum major and could really hurt them! Second of all, The team has 4 GODDAMN MINUTES UNTIL HALF-TIME IS OVER. This really should not happen ANYWHERE! This is completely disrespectful and the fact that some of the parents in the crowd joined in, telling the band to get off the field, is just wrong! Utterly and completely wrong!!!
As a senior band member at Allen High School in Allen, Tx I want to congratulate you all on the awards you have gotten because that really is amazing and my band can never really achieve those kinds of awards. I wish I could give you all a hug because I would be feeling so bad after all of that. And to be quite honest, I almost thought this was about my school (since we’re AHS as well), but I knew it couldn’t be because we haven’t had that happen.
Those coaches should be FIRED. Annadale High School band members, I am so sorry you have to put up with this all the time! I really wish you didn’t have to! I am so, so sorry. I hope the coaches get fired and things are sorted out. Good luck with the rest of the season!
Tatelor • Nov 14, 2013 at 7:56 pm
Having been a field commander when I was in high school in Ohio, the thought of ANYONE shaking my podium absolutely terrifies me. I was lucky to go to a high school with an amazing band (Superior rating for over 15 years, competed at BOA) that also was supported by our fellow classmates and parents. When we performed at half-time, people would be excited, cheer and applaud at the end. I’m glad your Principal and community (I live in MD!) is coming together to support you – be proud of all that you’ve accomplished.
Jennifer Mitchell • Nov 14, 2013 at 7:56 pm
First, very nice writing! Second, how is this coach not fired? He was unprofessional. Unsportsmanlike conduct is an understatement. He endangered students both on the field and certainly on the podiums! He’s reckless and completely unfit to lead a group of young people into adulthood. Apologize…..well, he should but he should also never be allowed to coach again! I have one child who is in marching band and another who does football. My football player would not be playing until he was removed. Parents need to demand more!
member • Nov 14, 2013 at 7:53 pm
This is an infuriating article to read, from the perspective of a band member. Anyone that has ever seen a competitive marching show knows that the band cant simply “get off the field” once they start performing a show. It would be like trying to stop a speeding train.
It is irrational and rude to suggest that the band is only there at the football team’s discretion. The football field belongs to THE SCHOOL (and the student body). The band has just as much of a right to be there as the team does, or the cheerleaders. This notion that the band is somehow less important than the football team is absolutely flawed, it promotes bullying, shames the arts and is just disgusting. This coach deserves to be fired or taken to court.
John • Nov 14, 2013 at 7:49 pm
I was in band for a few years while I was younger and we were like a family. I am humiliated for those kids being disrespected like that on Senior night. Note to the football coach: Senior night is not JUST about your football players! It’s about ALL seniors enjoying four years of hard work whether they’re in the band, drama club or an independent student. I hope the coach is fired and relieved of his faculty duties since he clearly does not respect the students and thinks only of himself.
Colleen D. • Nov 14, 2013 at 7:44 pm
I don’t go to this school, but this is just so disrespectful to the band. If I could, I would fire the coach and get a new one. Hell, I would lend you the coaches at my school! If the coaches don’t understand that they HAVE TIME and that the BAND STILL HAS TIME, then they shouldn’t be coaching. I would probably end up sending the principal an angry email about this if I went to Annadale.
Annadale band members, I am so sorry about the lack of respect that those coaches have shown you. If I could, I would be there right now to give you all a big hug because that really should not happen. AT ALL. Congrats on the awards, and good luck with the rest of the football season! I hope it goes a lot better than it did at this game!!!
JMahoney • Nov 14, 2013 at 7:41 pm
As a band mom far away from your school I applaud the band for the accomplishments. Band is a lot of hard work and you were treated poorly. I like many other parents am appalled at the way that the coach showed so little regard for the safety of the drum majors.
I think the fact that the parents, players, coaches and administration were involved shows that the problem is not just with the coach. Here in Utah when the student were disrespectful the players were removed from the team and the team was dissolved until the players earned their spots back. Perhaps you heard about that. Perhaps it is time to dissolve the football program. That money could then be put to use in a program that is winning awards for the school, teaching students character, is mindful of the safety of students and does not encourage or allow bullying.
Keith Owen • Nov 14, 2013 at 7:38 pm
The football coach should be fired. Obviously he isn’t much of a coach, or much of a man to act this way. Doesn’t surprise me out of the football fans.
Corbin • Nov 14, 2013 at 7:36 pm
This is completely unacceptable…One, these kids work their butts year in and year out to put their respective shows on the field for exhibition, at football games, and competition. Two, this “15 yard penalty” Is a bunch of crap. In order for the band to get their team an unsportsmanlike conduct call they need to be playing, quite loudly, while the ball is in motion and distract the opposing teams football players. This principle should be reprimanded and this so called “Coach” needs to be fired. Not only for the amount of disrespect he showed towards these kids but also for shaking the podium. I doubt he has any idea how dangerous it is for a drum major to be on a podium. My fellow drum major my senior year fell off one of our side podiums, 3 feet tall steps just for a little elevation, and now has ongoing chronic neck pains and several slipped discs…
Michael Mitchell • Nov 14, 2013 at 7:25 pm
Hi, I’m the drum major of Urbana High School, who won Maryland State Champions, and second under you guys at states. Your band is incredible, and our entire band adored all of you when you performed at Navy Marine Corps. This is incredibly appalling and I hope that this news gets more publicity, because it is extremely disrespectful and unprofessional in every sense. The band is there to support the football team, and especially for the coaches to act as such is way out of their realm. Please don’t back down from this-it is inexcusable, and should be taken as a serious issue to deal with immediately. We appreciate all that the band does, and you have Urbana’s full support.
Speakout • Nov 14, 2013 at 7:21 pm
I am not in band at my high school, but I am appalled to hear about things like this. To the head football coach, I want you to read this and feel absolutely guilty for what you did.
YOUR FOOTBALL TEAM IS A PATHETIC BUNCH OF LOSERS, A 1-9 SEASON, ARE YOU KIDDING ME?? AND BECAUSE YOUR TEAM IS A PATHETIC BUNCH, YOU CHOOSE TO TAKE IT OUT ON THE KIDS THAT ARE TRYING TO SUPPORT YOU. DID YOU EVER LEARN ANYTHING FROM YOUR MOTHER, DON’T BITE THE HAND THAT FEEDS, OR WAS SHE AS PATHETIC AND JUNKY AS YOU ARE?
And to the administrators at this school, You ought to be ashamed at yourselves. If I as a 17 year old kid can see what is right and wrong, and you can’t, then you need serious help, and do not even deserve to lick the positions that you hold in that school. If nothing is done about this, then you all ought to be banned from ever holding a position of power ever again
Geri Bressler • Nov 14, 2013 at 7:18 pm
My oldest son (now in the Navy), was in the marching band throughout high school. They worked incredibly hard to create amazing routines as well as learn very difficult music. Marching band combines exceptional musical ability with strict physical discipline and coordination, as well as a level of teamwork that I believe is comparable or exceeds what is typically seen in football.
We often had family travel 10 hours or more to see a performance, and we made a point of attending every game. In fact, band parents were often more diligent about attending home games than the athletes’ parents. I can assure you that if something like this had happened here, there would have been hell to pay before the first whistle blew for the second half…and I LOVE football.
This behavior goes beyond reprehensible and sinks straight to revolting.
V Layne • Nov 14, 2013 at 7:16 pm
So let me get this straight. The head coach AND some assistant coaches were badgering the band to get off the field when it was still half time and that attitude spilled over to the crowd.
I think a lot of these comments miss the point. Yes, it’s was disrespectful, but more so, it was a sign of an institutionalized bully culture propagated by the head coach. THAT should be grounds for IMMEDIATE DISMISSAL of all staff members who did that!!! A school CANNOT ALLOW that culture to thrive! else you’re asking for a lot more trouble down the road.
Before dismissal, I’d call the staff in for a steroid use test, document it, pink slip, then ask for all keys to the buildings.
So glad we home school!
Tam • Nov 14, 2013 at 7:16 pm
For those of you saying the band should have gotten off the field, apparently you didn’t read the entire article which stated that there was still 4 minutes left in addition to the 3 minutes added to the clock for the teams to warm up. The coach’a actions were unprofessional. All students should be given the same respect, both the football team and the band.
Reed • Nov 14, 2013 at 7:13 pm
As a band senior from East High School in Lincoln, NE, I am disgusted by the actions of that coach and simply put he should be fired and if he isn’t whoever’s job it is to do so should be also. The coaches behavior was not just insulting, disrespectful, unsportsmanlike, distasteful, unappreciative, unwarranted and repulsive, they were dangerous to a student. His primary job as a faculty member of a school is to help and protect students and by shaking a drum major’s stand he directly endangered that student. Everyone involved in kicking the band off the field and the principle and all admin that allowed this to happen should be ashamed of themselves, and owes the band an apology. Anyone that thinks that this was in anyway excusable or justified should put themselves in the band seniors shoes (which would be impossible for them to do in that prestigious of band) and re-evaluate. Its a high SCHOOL football game and the STUDENTS in that band should never be treated that way by a member of their own school faculty. I hope to god the principle Randazzo was not trying to defend the actions of that deplorable coach by saying they would have received a penalty.
To the band, I cannot imagine what that would have been like and am thoroughly sorry for disrespect you were shown. Never let them get you down and stand tall against anyone that says that a football game is more important than your band. Chin Up and eyes with pride!
kelsey strickland • Nov 14, 2013 at 7:09 pm
For starters the coach should be fired! Whom ever it was that shook the drum majors stands should have charges brought against them for assualt. These children were just that children, and these unexcuseable actions were brought on by full grown adults. There should not be any slap on the wrist for this. I marched in my high school band in Petal, MS during all 4 years of highschool and never did anything like this ever happen. Marching band is a major part of a schools arts program and should never be disrespected in such a manner. All i can say is wow and the ADULTS who acted in such a disgusting manner are horrible people.
Lydia Morris • Nov 14, 2013 at 7:03 pm
I dont attend this school. I dont know what REALLY happened. But either way, this is WRONG. Those coaches need to be fired, or punished in some way. They should be setting an example for their players, no acting like morons. I love listening to the band at half time. As a former band kid, I always cheer them on, especially b/c all my friends play (dont take that wrong- I have just as many friends on the football team).
TBoneMusician • Nov 14, 2013 at 6:54 pm
How horrid. The coach should be supportive of the band, just the band is of the football team. Perhaps a lesson of good sportsmanship should be taught at a school assembly, and then mentioned at the next game. That kind of stuff should not be stood for!
pizzalover • Nov 14, 2013 at 6:53 pm
I have a similar story, my coach took my pizza bc our team didn’t win….. You guys didn’t deserve the treatment the coach gave you. You guys better get an apology letter from him.
VTXDutch • Nov 14, 2013 at 6:51 pm
Luckily our head coach and football team not only respect our band, but have sat in the end zone when we performed an after game performance and for the past two years the coach and varsity football team have attended the Regional UIL Band competition to show their support. As a parent of two band members, one of which is also a Freshman football player, we are so glad for the coaches and administration we have, especially after hearing stories such as this,
Jerome Williams • Nov 14, 2013 at 6:48 pm
Any results on what what happened the day after? I was in band for about 10 years and I have never heard of anything like this. SMH… I’m sorry guys. Stay strong!
Jeremy Brewer • Nov 14, 2013 at 6:48 pm
I think this coach needs to be fired from coaching football. That is insane that anyone could be so rude. I was a manager for the my school’s team when I was in high school and I could never imagine any of the coaches (who also have the same band students in their own classes during school hours) would treat students in such a way. I think this man needs to do some soul searching and figure out what kind of man he thinks he is for his self and his family.
Erin Steffke • Nov 14, 2013 at 6:47 pm
I’m not in this band but as a proud marching band member for my school this just makes me feel horrible I can’t imagine how I would feel if our school did this to us. I try to picture it if this happened to me and my band family and when I do it makes me feel so sad and it makes my heart hurt that’s just how deep my feelings are towards band and how my heart goes out to your band. Just because your school disrespects you just remember you have proud band members all over the country standing by your side ready to stand up for all the hard work and devotion put into what every band does.
Susie • Nov 14, 2013 at 6:37 pm
Your band seems to stand for hard work, good sportsmanship, respect, consideration and school spirit, so I would have to say no, you do not embody what your school stands for- but maybe someday they can figure out how to live up to your example.
Jake • Nov 14, 2013 at 6:36 pm
Video of performance, if anyone’s curious: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KeMp6irMctc
Lee Aloni • Nov 14, 2013 at 6:35 pm
This should be featured on national news, in lieu of the Incognito bullying story.
Barbara • Nov 14, 2013 at 6:32 pm
I am a parent of 2 marching band students at West Johnston High School in Benson, NC!! I wanted you to know how disappointed I am by the lack of support your band program obviously receives from the school administration and of course, the athletic department. I also want you to know that I have drafted a letter and emailed to your Band Booster president (hopefully to be shared with your Director of Bands), the school Principal and Coach Scott.
In short, I hopefully offered some insight into the dynamics of the competitive marching band world. I expressed my disappointment at the leadership at the school admin level and in the football program. And I offered a challenge to the coach to spend a week during intensive band practice. Basically, “walk a mile in a marching band/guard shoes” and perhaps he will walk away – if not with a full understanding and appreciation – at least with a new respect for how hard marching band students work!!
I don’t know if any of this publicity will change their perspective, but for you, I truly hope it does. You deserve so much better from your school!! You deserve their support and their respect!!! I hope that you get that respect and I applaud you on your accomplishments!!! National Championships!!! Congratulations!!!!
Best of luck and I hope to see you sometime on the “Marching Band field” at a competition!!!
Band Mom • Nov 14, 2013 at 6:17 pm
As a band mom, I’d have blistered that coach’s ears, and then made sure every person above his head heard about it. Blatantly disrespectful, and bullying the band kids. Those kids are just as talented as the football players. The disrespect they suffer by the football players is bad enough. The coaches should know better, and set a better example. The coach should be suspended, and the football team should have a couple of forfeited games to teach them how to respect everyone.
Shawn • Nov 14, 2013 at 6:09 pm
At Rachel: the band was told to perform their show at halftime. The ‘penalty’ was only a hypothetical situation that never actually occurred. The band still had 4 minutes to complete their show when the coach stormed their performance.
Adam • Nov 14, 2013 at 6:08 pm
what a disrespectful coach, he should be fired from what I’m hearing from this shaking a podium while someone is on it is not acceptable actions from any adult, especially faculty. I’m spent my time during the summers practicing out on a field sweating and pouring my life into a show so I know how this feels. our football team was never respectful of us either even though they could get a 50% win rate and we brought home 1’s from nearly every competition ( in Ohio that’s the top rank) even though we performed one or two classes above our on field marching members equivalent. We went on to get an II at BOA’s nationals which no band in nearly a 75 mile radius had achieved in over a decade. With that they finally showed some respect but it’s a problem at just about every school.
Proud alumni of the Green local marching cats.
Roger • Nov 14, 2013 at 6:04 pm
Absolutely horrible. The coach should be reprimanded for being such a horrible example to his team, the student body, and his school. He should also issue a formal apology. As for the parents that contributed to this despicable act, they are just disgusting. The example they demonstrated give the appearance that this school appears to be lacking in team and community spirit. I blame the school leadership for this, and hope they take appropriate action to ensure something like this doesn’t occur again.
Igle Falconeye • Nov 14, 2013 at 5:55 pm
I’m older than any of your principals or administrators or athletic coaches. I played in my high school band in Georgia for four years. Like this band, ours was always “state champs”, while our football struggled each year on their won-loss record. But during my senior year, our football team — miraculously — made it to the state championship game, to be played in a city about 200 miles from our hometown. I think it was played in December, and was bitingly cold — coldest I have ever been! About two weeks before the state championship game, the head football coach requested a few minutes to address our band during a practice session. He was not the most articulate man I’ve ever seen, but for a few minutes, he thanked us for the work we’d done all season, for the professionalism we displayed, for the after-hours drudgery of practice, practice, practice, and for representing our high school at a much higher level than his/our football team had ever done. He urged us to be sure and make the trip to the far off game, and promised that if there was any shortfall of funding, he would ensure that the money was there for our travel. Well, as you can see, his comments still stick with me more than 50 years after the fact. I certainly don’t profess to have all the facts concerning this embarrassing situation at Annandale, but I’ve got to believe that the coach, the principal and the administrators could have worked this out with the referees LONG before game night. Oh, yeah. There were occasional teasing remarks made to us by football players. But in the same breath, they would say, “We know. You’ve won many state championships, and we’re always losers on the football field.” We’d smile, and keep our mouths shut. Kids will be kids, right? Even those who’ve been smacked around on the football field. (No, they didn’t wear leather helments! :) To the Annandale band members, you can be proud of who you are and what you’ve accomplished. If you’re so moved, I wish you well in your follow-on musical interests. To the football coach and other administrators who’ve brought shame on Annandale….well….you need to strap on a good dose of humility, apologize IN PERSON to all concerned, and be prepared to NEVER let this happen again.
Abigail • Nov 14, 2013 at 5:49 pm
Wow, that is ridiculous and very rude. I was in the White Oak High School Marching Band, and we never and mean never seen or hear that ever happen. Coach Scott should get with reality, you have 1st 2nd 3rd and 4th quarter with you football team, and the marching gets half time. And you couldn’t even do that. So selfish. Its pathetic, I feel sorry for the people who have to deal with you. If I ever see that happen there either better be a very good reason or my ass will be on the 50 yard line with my flag ready to hit any football player who comes near. And trust me I can leave a few bruises. Not only did you show disrespect to the band, but you showed disrespect to the parents, school, and the community. Its saddening how people are these days. The band shows respect for any sport, at least show common courtesy, and respect for playing on the field at half time. You have no need for it. So Coach Scott, GET YOU FOOTBALL PLAYERS OFF THE BAND FIELD!!!
McLean HS Band member • Nov 14, 2013 at 5:46 pm
This is absolutely horrible. I’m sorry your band has to put up with this kind of disrespect.
Dustin carr • Nov 14, 2013 at 5:45 pm
I am from new Richmond Ohio and in my high school marching band. I feel it is wrong to do that to people who provide music for enjoyment because everyone has a favorite music genre and like it and the whole reason the marching band is there is to pump up the fans for the football team so why should the football coach behavior like this so in response all new Richmond band members (Past, Present and Future) will see this post and will fully support this Virginia band
Christy • Nov 14, 2013 at 5:31 pm
Sounds like “coach” is a little too big for his britches.
Bill Butler • Nov 14, 2013 at 5:23 pm
I want the band to know that their story is spreading far and wide. I STAND WITH THE BAND! I hope Coach Mike Scott is fired and never allowed to work around children again. What he did to the drum major was dangerous to the safety of the child on the stand. There is no room in education for someone who cannot control their actions around children.
Jim • Nov 14, 2013 at 5:19 pm
Sorry for the typos. Emotions got the better of my typing!
Alli • Nov 14, 2013 at 5:19 pm
Let’s all take a moment to realize and fully understand that this is a HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL GAME. To adults, we go to watch the kids play on Friday nights, whether it be players, band members, or cheerleaders. To a high school student, Friday nights are everything.
These kids should be at the games on Fridays TO HAVE FUN. Whether the team wins, or loses in this case, and whether the band sucks or if they support their school 100% those kids should have a good time and make memories…positive ones.
It’s a disgrace on the Athletic Department as a whole and says a lot about being sore losers. It’s pathetic, immature, and flat out ridiculous for an adult to “lead” in this way. Jealousy never looks good on anyone, but this coach sure does show it well.
Keep your heads up, and don’t let a little man belittle you all.
Kayla • Nov 14, 2013 at 5:19 pm
Sounds like it’s house cleaning time at AHS.
Jim • Nov 14, 2013 at 5:15 pm
I’ve taught in FCPS for thirty years and this disgusts me. I’ve seen this type of coach many times (and coached across a diamond or soccer field from a few). The previous “close encounters of the band kind” that occurred showed what kind of respect the coach had for the band and was his intent was. Get them out of our way!
The coach should be fired and the principal suspended without pay. You think this principal didn’t know what was going on and had been going on for some time. If he didn’t, he’s lost control of his school. If he did…. we’ll he’s lost control of his school. I hope the school board will demand some kind of action. We (FCPS) is talking a lot about bullying these days. I hope it’s not all lip service!
Vickie • Nov 14, 2013 at 5:15 pm
Wow….I am a football mom and it would be so embarrassing for any of our athletic coaches to act in this manner. Our whole school loves and supports our band. THEY ARE AWESOME!!!!! Why in the world would the school admins allow this to happen. EVERY SINGLE game our principal AND superintendent are out on the side lines. NEVER would this type of behavior be allowed to happen. Every year we go over a little during Senior night and the opposing team nor the officials have ever gotten upset over it. We always tell them prior to the game. If I was that band director I would not attend another football game with my band… or do the bare minimum play the national anthem then sit there the rest of the night. In Texas, band is as part of the football game as the football.
Maria Minamino • Nov 14, 2013 at 5:14 pm
As a music teacher, this just appalls me. I can’t believe how poorly behaved the administration and football staff were! Because of minds like them, music doesn’t get the support it truly deserves to have! Not only should the football staff be let go after that horrible event, but I’m questioning why they let a Principal who shows such obvious favoritism towards athletics despite the superior music program would be allowed to stay at the school. Principals should support ALL of the faculty and students…they should not show favorites.
Drumss • Nov 14, 2013 at 5:07 pm
If the Board of Education at that school is worth their weight, that Coach should be disciplined (and possibly suspended for a few games next season). That’s childish, boorish behavior, and I applaud the band and the band director for standing up to the idiot fools that run the football team.
When I was in marching band in HS, our football team tried this same nonsense a few times, but we stood up to them and kicked THEM off the field when they tried to shout us down. The imbecile football parents who acted badly are just as guilty as the idiot coaches however…..
a former Marching Atom • Nov 14, 2013 at 4:59 pm
As someone who was at the game I can say this was utterly ridiculous. I was there to support the BAND and I left after halftime. Some of the attendees only go to AHS football games to support the band, cheerleaders, or dance team. Because honestly, who goes to an Annandale football game to see the football? 1-9 season? Big surprise. The AHS football program has sucked for years.
This would have been ridiculous for any game, but this was Senior Night! For the seniors (some of which have been in the band for 4 years) I am sorry because this was the worst way to finish.
Coach Scott and the Administration should be ashamed for the way this was handled.
Rachel • Nov 14, 2013 at 4:48 pm
I think this argument is flawed. The band is there at the football team’s discretion. If the band affects the football team, they have every right to tell them they need to get off the field. I played in marching band, but I play sports too. It doesn’t how much better the band is. A penalty isn’t just a penalty because it truly can affect the game. To me, what it seemed like is that the football team was too aggressive in getting the band of the field; however, I don’t think the whole story was told. I think if the band got off the field like everybody was telling them to, it would not have gotten heated at all.
Either-way • Nov 14, 2013 at 4:42 pm
Were they rude…yes, but how would the band director feel if the football team came in during their performance and cost them a 15 point deduction?
GuardGirl • Nov 14, 2013 at 4:40 pm
I’m not from this school, but I saw this through a Facebook post. I read the whole article in rage. My own football team did something similar to an opposing school’s marching band! On their band day, they performed pre-game with normal band day festivities, and then performed their full show post-game. Our football team and cheerleaders refused to get off of the field, instead choosing to stroll about until our band director had to find someone to get them to leave (halfway through the show). I lost all respect for them because they knew they were not to be on the field and yet decided to show a lack of respect and stick around anyway. It wasn’t like they were watching from the field; they were just hanging out and talking. Yet another example of how music programs are pushed aside. It’s even worse because it was this school’s senior night. I wouldn’t want that memory from my senior night!
Kristyn • Nov 14, 2013 at 4:38 pm
Setting aside the fact the possible danger of shaking a podium someone is standing on and remembering when I was in high school how not structurally sound they weren’t, I think it was wrong for this coach to discourage these kids from doing what they love because someday they could be doing this:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DNe0ZUD19EE
This is a video of the OSU Marching Band’s Hollywood Blockbuster show. These kids could be apart of something like this someday or something even better! I am from Ohio and we love our Buckeyes up here, but the band was always a tradition in Ohio that just made the game experience so much better!
'82 alum • Nov 14, 2013 at 4:37 pm
Just above, I saw a mention of Coach Hardage and Principal Finch – those were Annandale’s glory years, folks – Coach Hardage is a legend and his teams were special. While the coaching staff and administration handled this whole thing in the worst possible way and are taking well earned criticism for it, let’s have a reality check here.
There is no “equality” between the band and the football team at a football game. The band should be appreciated and respected, but the primary focus at the game is the football team, and the premise in the editorial expecting them to take a 15 yard penalty so the band can finish is unrealistic and inconsiderate. Don’t take this to mean I side with the coach’s actions – I don’t. If the timeline presented is accurate, the band had time to finish an appropriate performance (if abbreviated) and get off the field before a penalty would be called. It appears the coach prematurely forced them off the field, and that is ridiculous.
Now, before any band folks get upset about the lack of equality at the football game, try looking at it this way: If this were a band competition, and between performances the football team was putting on a planned exhibition and was close to running over their allotted time – and if they ran over that time, the home marching band would be penalized – I do believe the home marching band would expect the football guys to be off the field before any penalty was assessed, and rightly so.
Bottom line, the band’s performance time and schedule should have been better planned for and time allotted by whoever is responsible for that sort of thing. For them to have been treated as they were is ridiculous when a very little, very simple planning a co-ordination of the event would have solved the problem.
Also, the behaviour of the coach was reprehehsible – it could have been handled much differently and respectfully. It was handled more like a child would have handled it, and he needs to be held accountable for that fact.
Vaughn • Nov 14, 2013 at 4:36 pm
Assistant Drum Major Douglas Nguyen should look into getting the coach fired from his position. What he did was endanger the welfare of a student when shaking the podium, in addition to the verbal abuse and bullying. Coach Scott deserves one thing, and that’s to never be allowed on a football field again after such an egregious act. He doesn’t deserve to be allowed to teach, period.
Tani Miller • Nov 14, 2013 at 4:28 pm
I have marched and instructed marching bands for over 30 years.
The problems here are not with the students, but rather with the adult instructors, coaches, and school district administrators. It sounds to me like the adults are allowing an environment to be created that is not mutually supportive. This was evident to me when I read that the senior program was for the band members. Why was the senior night program not for band members, cheerleaders, and football players? These kids all go to the same school, they should be part of the same senior recognition program.
Yes, the behavior of the football team was unacceptable. However, their coaches were culpable in allowing them to move on to the field. Most marching band shows run between 6-7 minutes. There seems to have been plenty of time on the clock. Halftime is for the band to provide entertainment. The football coaches, band director & instructors, and the high school administrators need to find some ways for the students to spend time together. They are all part of the same activity. Yes, its an athletic event. However, football games are no fun if there are no cheerleaders or music entertainment. School spirit is part of what brings kids together.
I’m a music teacher and I support all of my students’ athletic endeavors. The football coach should come to a band practice some time and watch the band show. Same goes for the cheerleaders. The cheerleaders and band should work out some cheers that involve both groups.
Band members, yes. They were disrespectful to your performance. Take the high road, accept their apologies (which are surely coming after this article!!) and move on. These are your classmates. You will graduate with some of them. You may have gone to school with some of them and may live in the same neighborhoods. Don’t be arrogant if an apology comes. Be humble. Be classy, accept the apology, and move on. Perhaps YOU could take the initiative to plan some social events for band members, cheerleaders, and football players to hang out and get to know each other. Band members, I feel your pain. This is not the first time I’ve seen this happen, sadly. I am a proud band geek! I know from experience that my elementary orchestra students and our school’s band students are among the best and brightest. We know how hard it is to play music, much less march and play music. We know how much meaning we get out of this activity. Keep that secret and move on. Having clicques and grudges within a school environment is not healthy. Take the high road, set the better example, and you’ll be the better person. Know that there are lots of band members and band alums out there who support you!!!
I plan on writing a letter to your high school principal and superintendent. Let people like me give you support! You don’t need to fight this battlte. Just keep making music and you’ll be the winner.
Deb Lambert • Nov 14, 2013 at 4:19 pm
It’s a shame that this is what your high school is now known for nationally, as this is making major news. I hope the school administration realizes the blunder it has made and makes it up to the band by giving them the honor and appreciation they deserve.
Tony Bardo • Nov 14, 2013 at 4:06 pm
The great Bob Hardage would have NEVER pulled a stunt like this. Disgraceful. It doesn’t matter what the team’s record, although as an alum from the late 60s, it’s hard to imagine an Annandale team at 1-10. But I digress. What a bully! Discipline his or even remove him from coaching. Tell those FB parents to take a hike, too!
Stephanie Jimenez • Nov 14, 2013 at 3:59 pm
This is shocking, surprisingly enough because this unfortunately happens so much. I am speechless. Such disrespect! I hope that the band gets some kind of recognition or apology for having to go through this , especially on such a special night: senior night. The principle needs to get on board with his authority and discipline towards the coach, and if its not him then the superintendent does because this does not reflect well upon them.
Tic sto • Nov 14, 2013 at 3:57 pm
It is astonishing to me that a the coach, a role model and teacher, would have acted in such a manner and not be punished. Forget “unsportsmanlike”. Try BULLYING. An adult who deliberately shakes the stand that a minor is standing on, in an effort to remove him, should be fired. That was dangerous and not adult behavior. That is a child acting out cuz he isn’t getting his way. What a baby.
Kaeli Duffy • Nov 14, 2013 at 3:53 pm
I think my band is lucky not to have this problem. We may not be funded by our school but our football team and coaches at least respect us. Sometimes the players even take a knee and watch our show.
Fred Chandler • Nov 14, 2013 at 3:50 pm
The Principle and the Coaching Staff should be held accountable for this. I went to Annandale High School. I was in the Band. Coach Hardage nor Principle Finch would have never stood for this kind of action. This is shameful action at any level of competition.
Shame on you Coach Scott.
Disobedient Children • Nov 14, 2013 at 3:45 pm
I wasn’t there, but any reasonable person would think that this coach asked the DM to stop before any “shaking” of the DM stand occurred. For a situation to have escalated to that, the DM had to have disobeyed and order from a school faculty member.
It’s cut and dry to me that the DM was simply insubordinate and rattling his cage was what it took to get the message into his head that he was screwing over the football team.
This kid needs to learn what it really means to be a good community member and needs to respect authority.
Amy Engelhardt • Nov 14, 2013 at 3:29 pm
Wow. I don’t even know where to start on this one. As a professional musician who teaches workshops for high school vocal groups and choruses, I am appalled at the lack of respect for the band’s hard work – and the pride they take in what they do. It is no less meaningful to them than the game is to the athletes. The kids may not know this, but THE ADULTS SHOULD. Then again, in an age where music has little to no value as a commodity, maybe this is inevitable. I do know that, despite our celebrity/money obsessed culture, those young athletes actually have about as much of a chance at being rich professionals doing that as the musicians do. But the musicians will likely have less brain damage when all is said and done, and what they contribute to the world will last a lot longer than an afternoon at a high school sports game. In the end, music wins.
Jasmine • Nov 14, 2013 at 3:26 pm
I was at marching band at another school during HS and come from a family whose mother was in marching band as a flute and later color guard, whose father was the first drum major at the HS I went too, whose sister was also in color guard, and myself who was on drumline. If I got treated like that when I was in marching band I would have been livid. Most marching bands in the country do not get the respect that the deserve but this is more disrespect I thought that could happen. It doesn’t matter if the coach won every single game he played and the band was the worst in the nation nothing excuses it and even more so since the coach has lost every game and the band is great. Marching band is hard work from learning the music and drill, it is very physical and tiring, and teaches the members many lessons that the coach apparently never learned. He should have to learn what is like to be in band and also get fired. This makes sick to my stomach.
Dave Kropf • Nov 14, 2013 at 3:22 pm
Reposted over at Drummer Talk, and you can bet we’ll talk about it in an upcoming podcast episode.
http://drummertalk.org/2013/11/14/marching-band-kicked-off-the-field-by-football-coaches-at-halftime/
Anonymous • Nov 14, 2013 at 3:20 pm
This article was written as an editorial, and by definition an editorial is a newspaper article written by or on behalf of an editor that gives an opinion on a topical issue. The student that wrote this was giving their opinion on an issue. If the football team or coach want to give their opinion, they should write an editorial too. Some comments are attacking the student that wrote this article because he or she was being “bias”. Well, you can say what you want to say in an editorial.
Everyone should be appalled as to how this coach behaved. He is an adult and an educator. He should support every club, sport, group, music program in his school. Teachers and coaches are supposed to be leaders and demonstrate the proper behavior for students. That coach is sending a terrible message to his players.
Also, this is high school we are talking about. Band and football of insanely important to these kids. They want happy, fun memories of their time, especially the seniors. They work so hard for 4 years and just want to be recognized. I did not participate in football or band when I was in school. We had a terrible football team and a great marching band. I remember everyone getting along though, and if they didn’t, they kept it to themselves!
I am shocked that this ADULT endangered a CHILD by shaking the podium like that. I would love to see a video of this. Teachers get fired for less and I believe that this man sealed his fate by shaking that podium and needs to be fired from his position.
Overall, this is terrible behavior from an adult. I’m glad this kid stood up and wrote an editorial to get his/her feelings out about the situation. These kids will forever have a bad taste in their mouths because of this incident.
AnnandaleHighSchoolFootballRulez! • Nov 14, 2013 at 3:18 pm
VIDEO or it didn’t happen!
Ray • Nov 14, 2013 at 3:10 pm
If that is the way they want to have it, I would not bring the band to the games anymore If the band is not there neither will the audience I’ll bet that the stands are filled with more band parents than football parents. Doesn’t sound like there is much of a “Team Spirit” exhibited by the coach maybe thats why they have a loosing record.
Terri Schoone • Nov 14, 2013 at 2:59 pm
Football coach should be fired. There should be a school district policy for zero tolerance for bullying and that is what the coaches actions represent. School Board and school administrators should make a statement that bullying is not tolerated in any form, by anyone representing the schools. If I was the superintendent or on the school board I would also request an investigation of the school principal as well for allowing this behavior to continue, since the interruption of the band performance was not unusual. Mixed messages of bullying and professionalism should simply NOT be tolerated, particularly since the schools should be setting a clear example. I hope this goes viral, gets national attention and all involved who did not stop this are reprimanded.
Ellen • Nov 14, 2013 at 2:57 pm
The whole incident is disgusting and shameful. However, I am MOST bothered by the part about the coach shaking the podium that one of the drum majors was standing on. I wasn’t there, but I’ve seen those podiums and they are not the most stable things. The drum major is lucky not to have fallen off. I question that the coach shouldn’t be arrested for assault. At the very least he should be suspended for that act alone. He put a student’s safety in jeopardy. Inexcusable.
Jeff • Nov 14, 2013 at 2:49 pm
There are three (or more failures here).
1. This should have all been worked out ahead of time. Games with special events and time crunches are nothing new at high school football games
2. The coach acted so inappropriately it is unthinkable. Even if there was a problem – even if you are RIGHT – you don’t make a spectacle of it in front of everyone. You sort it out after with the director, the AD, and the principal. Like adults. This is a guarantee that you don’t get negative national attention.
3. The Principal is just as responsible by taking no action and supporting the coach’s poor behavior.
The football team was obviously following the “glowing” example their coach was providing. Wrong – yes – their fault not really. The parent/community reaction – crowd mentality based stupidity. People act before they think.
Yes it is a football game. The team shouldn’t be expected to take a penalty. However, the band is an official school organization – performing with permission/as expected at an official school event. They had every right to be on that field during the time provided at half time. If they were going to run over they should have cut a number from the show – however 4min and 30 seconds left on the half time clock sounds like it is still enough time to complete the performance.
This should never have happened. It is the responsibility of the adults involved to communicate and when that communication breaks down teach students by example. Coach, you are the one who comes off as the bad guy in this situation – rightfully so. School groups and organizations need to support one another – instead we have the age old sports vs. arts battle. So stupid when you have so much to be proud of.
Keep your chins up Marching Atoms! Continue to represent yourselves with class. Football team – you might not want to follow your coach’s example. Parents/community – these are kids you were yelling at – time for some deep thought about that.
I’m so glad this isn’t my community.
Shawn • Nov 14, 2013 at 2:44 pm
Band Parent: the fact remains, regardless of the supposition spoken before a game, that there were 4 minutes left. That is halftime. And no, the coach should not be allowed to ‘take the field’ until it is his time. The situation would be completely different had the time run out and the band continued to play during the team’s 3 minute warm-up. However, according to the article, that was not this coach’s habit. According to the article, the coach has a habit of bringing his team on to the field regularly during the band’s performance:
“Throughout the entire 2013 season, the football team has been known to come too close to our performance, or even interrupt some of the students marching, while they performed.”
Aside from this, the band was TOLD by administration prior to this event that they should perform during halftime. This means that the coach took it into his own hands to overstep the authority of the administration:
“According to sources, many people warned the Athletic Office and Kerns about this dilemma before the Friday night football game and they were advised to have the band perform their show post game instead of during halftime. However, we were told to march during halftime, because there should be enough time.”
In all seriousness, the only thing that really matters is that this was a moment that the coach could have showed some class. He could have supported the students, but chose to make a spectacle of himself and the community.
Jeffrey Beatman • Nov 14, 2013 at 2:40 pm
As an alumni of Annandale in 1969 and the parent of two girls who proudly played in the marching band at LC Bird HS in Chesterfield, VA (current State champions by the way) there is ALWAYS room for both football and marching band. At LC Bird, the band marched 200+ and, like Annandale, was a Commonwealth of Virginia Honor Band for 14 straight years. Always the band and football folks have complimented each other, not competed against each other. So sad to hear the Annandale is forgetting the value of the Arts.
Gavyn • Nov 14, 2013 at 2:37 pm
Being a band kid myself and having spent four years in a high school marching band, I was initially very outraged upon reading this — it’s unthinkable to me a marching band would get kicked off the field in the middle of their routine, especially in such a demeanor.
Being as open-minded as I am, I then tried to see it from the perspective of the commenters who supported the football team and coach in the situation over the band — I failed. The prevailing argument seems to be that it was poor planning on the band’s part. But the article also mentions that the band was told to go ahead and perform during half-time. Granted, it does not specify who gave the go-ahead, but still. In my experience in marching band, my band director was not ever in charge of planning for football games. In the event that time constraints were an issue, someone would have notified our director BEFORE we ever got up to take the field that things weren’t going as planned.
Besides, they still had time left. Seven and a half minutes is just enough time for most marching band shows. When the show was over, the director could have simply yelled to the performers to forget about the snare tap and run off the field to allow the football team their time. The pit would not be in the way for warm-up. Also, as I am not knowledgeable of such things, is there any rule that states that the football players HAVE to be on the field to warm up — at least to stretch? Most any serious injury can be avoided with the proper precursory stretching, and since the coach was aware of time constraints, he could have simply stressed to the team the importance of making sure they stayed as warm as possible.
Reading about such an event makes me ever more proud and thankful for my experience with marching band, and band in general. Even in my school there was always a little bit of tension between the band and the football team, but never to my knowledge did a band member cause a problem make a scene out of it. Marching band stresses the importance of discipline, maturity, and respect. This coach has proven himself incapable of teaching any of said traits. No matter whose night it was, at the end of the day, this was an experience for everybody in question. More than anything, it is the duty of educators — especially directors, coaches, etc. — to set a good example for their students and to lead them in a program that teaches them some kind of values. Playing football isn’t just about having fun. It’s about learning how to work with people, how to push yourself. And, yes, it’s also about knowing how to have good respect, good sportsmanship.
Finally, in rebuttal of the person who directly criticized the author of this article for being immature by complaining about what happened — on the contrary, I think they should be commended. They COULD have smack-talked the coach. They COULD have taken it out on the football players. Instead, they chose the political, diplomatic route. In my opinion, this displays MUCH better judgment than even the coach. (All he needed to do was walk over to the director and calmly ask him for assurance that his team would have time to warm up.) I wonder if the kids on the football team would have been able to keep their cool if they were run off the field in this way — if their coach’s actions are of any indication, I doubt it. So, if this article helps to bring about any bit of remission from the coach and the parents who took part in this incident, or sheds any more positive light on the AHS band program, then I say all the power to them.
Christina (Former Color Guard and Band Member at RCHS) • Nov 14, 2013 at 2:32 pm
That’s absolutely deplorable. All of those adults (parents and educators?!) should be absolutely ashamed of themselves.
And to those saying that the Coach and football team aren’t getting “fair coverage”, did you miss the part where this has happened repeatedly? And, the band had NOT gone over their allotted time. The ref had already agreed to the possibility of an extension without penalty, and halftime still had several minutes left when the team hit the field and the coach began harassing the band.
Also, the coach shaking the podium with a STUDENT standing on it (those are raised about 5-6 feet off the ground, mind you) should be considered endangering a student.
This whole thing reeks of bullying; what are these adults teaching their students with this kind of behaviour?
Thoughts to ponder • Nov 14, 2013 at 2:28 pm
Another thought…
There is a lot of talk about how the football teams disrespect the band in many schools including yours. Think about the dynamics of the two groups.
There is no doubt they both practice numerous grueling hours:
Although band members do have a physical component – marching carrying their instrument and possible dance moves their goal is to focus on the mental aspect of gaining precision and a calm demeanor while preforming so they play and move flawlessly in unison.
Football players practice to gain offensive and defensive skills. They do have a mental component – learning plays and the rules of the game. Most of their focus is on physical ability. They face injury daily. They run and condition for hours to get agility and athletic precision. They learn to let adrenaline take over so they can overpower the opposing team and make it through the pain of getting tackled.
So you have the band who is calmly playing their pieces to precision and the football players who are riled up and looking to knock someone down. When conflict occurs between the two groups, of course the football players are going to seem like bullies – the sport grooms them to be that way, unless you have staff who are diligent about making sure respect is a two sided street between both groups. It sounds like your school needs to work on that. Right now it sounds like you have oil and water dynamics going on in your school.
Mark Mill • Nov 14, 2013 at 2:20 pm
The football coach should be fired, and the Principal should apologize to the band.
Autumn Campbell • Nov 14, 2013 at 2:18 pm
I have no relation to your school whatsoever; I saw this story on Facebook. I just wanted to compliment the writer of this story who answered rude behavior with well-written and well-thought-out judicious argument. I hope this unfortunate incident will shed light on the unfair discrepancy between the treatment of athletic and music programs in our culture in general.
Charles H. • Nov 14, 2013 at 2:17 pm
The solution is simple. Football coach apologize, Principal fires coach.
Brad • Nov 14, 2013 at 2:13 pm
Wow. Just wow. Sounds to me like the coach is jealous of the band’s success, was probably angry that he was losing so badly, and took it out on the band. I hope he loses his job. And the football parents yelling at the band to get off the field too . . . classless. People need to grow up.
Noah Jones • Nov 14, 2013 at 2:10 pm
This is unacceptable. I am a senior in high school and in the marching band at Saraland High School in Saraland, AL. The coaches here respect the band becuase they know we can have a key play in the game. Because of the volume of the band, we have cause several false starts because the other team could not hear. If the football team can not appreciate the support that the band brings during their time of the game, then the band should be thinking of other things to do such as contests year round because they would get a lot more respect their than they would at a football game.
Anon Ymous • Nov 14, 2013 at 2:07 pm
Besides the band, I hope the Journalism program at Annandale High School gets some State and National recognition for their excellent column and amazing website in response to this school situation. THIS is what high school journalism should be all about.
I hope the Football coach and/or administration gets an opportunity to respond here as well. It seems like a situation that was handled poorly (although I realize this column was opinion rather than reporting). Hopefully the coach and administration learns from this situation and makes sure all parties that are part of the football game experience are on the same page. The first step is a public response to this column and addressing the frustration and anger that many student and parents are feeling. As this becomes a national story (being shared through social media right now), their response will dictate what happens next. Situations like this can sometimes reveal character … if the coach and school administration feel this article doesn’t reveal their character, their response (and sooner the better) to the column hopefully reveals something they feel is more accurate.
Carolyn Lawson • Nov 14, 2013 at 2:02 pm
Mark Segraves at NBC4 will be covering this story this afternoon.
Suzi Swygert • Nov 14, 2013 at 1:58 pm
I posted your story on WUSA 9 FB page today https://www.facebook.com/WUSA9/posts/10202531802802597?comment_id=7243146&offset=0&total_comments=1¬if_t=share_comment and they responded – they want to HEAR from you!!
“WUSA 9 Suzi, we are trying to cover this story today. If you have some info about the incident that you’d like to share please email us at [email protected]”
Please contact them.
I am a Fort Hunt HS grad – all our students and alumni were and ARE still so proud of our Marching Band, and therefore we are so proud of all the students in your Marching Band! I also want you to know that there is a HUGE amount of people across Northern Virginia (and the world!! as I currently live overseas and even I have heard your story) that are very proud of YOU students that are speaking out and publicizing the outrageously disrespectful situation that developed during the final game of your football season.
Glad to see you using your journalism and internet skills so well!!
Good luck to all the students at your high school.
Daralyn Troutt • Nov 14, 2013 at 1:55 pm
Your football Coach needs FIRED! Sure would’t my child under his supervision, and given his record looks like the football team would benefit from a new coach too.
debbie • Nov 14, 2013 at 1:53 pm
My daughter, while not in the marching band is in the color guard. I have seen how hard these groups practice. Most of the time they practice longer than the football team. At our high school if the band is still on the field when the team comes out of the locker room, the team stands in the end zone and patiently waits for the band to exit the field. Every group deserves it’s time in the spot light. What the parents and coaches did to this team is despicable!
bandy • Nov 14, 2013 at 1:53 pm
Lets look at this both ways here. I understand the coach did not handle it the right way, but is anyone thinking about the football team (students) who also work hard to prepare for their games each week.
“excuse me band, the football team is going to have a practice in the middle of your competition”
“oh, the band will be penalized if it doesn’t take the field in time”
“it’s okay, they aren’t going to win anyways so it is fine if we delay their show even though they will be penalized for it”
“the football team is more successful so they should be able to interrupt the band competition, Right?”
One sided article… focus on the actions of the coach, not the lack of success of the football team as a whole for the reason to write this article.
David Ness • Nov 14, 2013 at 1:41 pm
I’m sure what the parents and coaches meant was, “Bands belong in concert halls.” OK, maybe not.
Andre • Nov 14, 2013 at 1:41 pm
and to add, I’ve setup that Drum major stand before when I did MB, it’s pretty damn flimsy, so yes Noah could’ve easily fallen off or had the stand collapse on him
Jamie • Nov 14, 2013 at 1:39 pm
Yes, this was a horrible incident and those who kicked the marching band off the field were BEYOND wrong. However, special night or not, it is up to the music directors to keep the program within the allotted time-that’s simply part of Marching Band. I’m not saying it’s the music director’s or the band’s fault or that they deserved to be treated so poorly. The band shouldn’t have gone over their allowed time, but they also should never have been treated that way either.
Andre • Nov 14, 2013 at 1:36 pm
as a former Football player and Marching Band member, I was in disbelief that a former coach of mine could act this way. I’m not even a parent and this upsets me. Coach Sholders and Coach Maglisceau(Wrestling and Lacrosse coaches) always taught their athletes to “speak softly and carry a big stick” and to have class and decency. none of this was displayed here. During Football season I loved hearing the band play, they even played during Pack the Pit for Wrestling season. Yes everybody makes jokes about Band and Chorus but 9/10 no student,parent or coach would do this. the Band is appreciated by many others if not the Football Coaching staff.
Lisa Mulvehill • Nov 14, 2013 at 1:34 pm
The football coach behaved disgracefully and should be reprimanded by the school. This is not the “sportsmanlike” behavior we want to teach to our kids. Shame on him and the school for allowing it.
Maria • Nov 14, 2013 at 1:25 pm
Shame on you Annandale Football Coach, this is one of the reason your team is doing so “WELL” is this 2013 season, only one game won, right? That sucks, Go band!!! Keep up your great job!!!
South County parent
Caitlin B • Nov 14, 2013 at 1:15 pm
Wow. Just wow. This would never happen in my town. Our school is mostly driven by sports even though our team is only average. Our band isn’t as good as they once were but the football staff and the band director are good friends and get along very well. Our band is highly appreciated and respected by everyone. I couldn’t even make out words to describe how much this story boils my blood. How could anyone be so rude when they can’t even win more than one game and this band has won a national award?! And the parents? They have children, why would you treat someone else’s child like that? I don’t think they would like it if the band yelled at the football team to get off the field. They weren’t going to win anyways so why did it matter if they ran over? They weren’t even supposed to be on the field yet! Gosh this makes me so mad. Rant over.
Emily • Nov 14, 2013 at 1:14 pm
First, congratulations on a great article, Megan and James! Your editorial was well-written, logically structured, and engaging as hell (if the staggering amount of page views can be considered a reliable measure of entertainment value). To the critics of this article–and you know who you are–I would say: check your definition of “editorial,” it IS clear that at least one of the authors is in the marching band, and I don’t think you’re using the word “smut” correctly (in fact, I know you’re not). And to the authors: flak is a natural by-product of journalism; use the criticism as a tool for growth, but don’t take it to heart. And remember, you, as high school students, have accomplished something remarkable by producing a nation-wide, viral story, so enjoy this moment of triumph!
Also, I have nothing to say that hasn’t already been said by hundreds of angry band geeks, but as a veteran band geek myself (with 9 years of experience between my high school and college careers), I am outraged to hear that a high school band would be treated with so little respect. I understand that it was a FOOTBALL game, as some commenters have pointed out, but that hardly means the football players and coaching staff have the authority to do whatever the hell they want. There are rules of the game (see the National Federation of Schools Football Rule Book, as mentioned by the authors), and there are “rules” of basic human comportment, both of which the coaches seemed to disregard. As officially-sanctioned participants in the game (after all, it’s not like students randomly showed up at a football game and said, “Now seems like a good time to run around on the field and play music, just because.”), marching band members have a right to the rules and protections of sportsmanship that football players often exclusively claim.
I hope those responsible for what happened that night receive their “just rewards,” via official and/or public reprimand. I hope this story gets the attention it deserves, and draws attention to other instances of poor sportsmanship directed at marching band organizations across the country. And I hope Coach Scott realizes what he did wrong and is SINCERELY sorry for the way he behaved; an empty apology is not enough.
Stay classy, AHS Marching Atoms! And keep up the good work!
Kahn Nyan • Nov 14, 2013 at 1:12 pm
I’m in marching band and the same has happened to us at MGM Band. Even at my old band, Saraland. The football players start coming onto the field before their time. I say that they need to march for once and see how it feels. I would also say, the marching band go on the field during a game but that would be too dangerous and instead, put the team on Hiatus and disband them for a season.
Jean in California • Nov 14, 2013 at 1:10 pm
I graduated from Annandale in the 80s, back when the football team was winning National Championships. I was in the marching Atoms, which was also winning awards at competitions at that time. Kids from both programs respected each, and that was because the adult leadership modeled mutual respect. This incident is truly appalling. I live in California now and heard about this incident because my children’s band director posted it on his facebook page. This is the first time I have ever been embarrassed to be an Atom. The actions of this coach and these parents are appalling. It’s bad enough to be frustrated and yell at the kids, but to physically shake the drum majors’ podiums could have caused them to fall. Time for these coaches to be relieved of their duties. Admin should be ashamed of letting this culture develop.
Peter Doherty, Director, Nat'l Association for Music Education • Nov 14, 2013 at 1:09 pm
Hi Annandale. I’m a lifelong resident from Northern VA and have visited Annandale H.S. many times. You have a proud heritage and reputation, and this just cannot stand.
Either the coaching or administration issues a formal apology, or it may be quite a while before this goes away. I am sure that the (COMPLETELY out of control) parents shouting to have the band leave the field need to do some soul searching also, but we, the residents, don’t pay their salary.
Have some respect for your school, and your alumni, and do the right thintg next time. Don’t let this happen again.
Peter Doherty
Director, Membership Campaigns
National Association for Music Education
P.S. – Go Atom Band!
Sean • Nov 14, 2013 at 1:09 pm
This is a poorly written article. Stop writing in the first person. We don’t want to know that you are a nerdy band member, we want to read it like the news and feel bad for you.
Also, don’t try and say a 15-yard penalty is no big deal. It is.
The story is there, it just needs to be written better. What you want to say is that the team should get an unsportsmanlike penalty for kicking you off the field.
Keep it to the point. The coaches were not “very rude”. The coaches are a bunch off bull-headed pigs that need to realize the world is bigger than a football game!
See? Add some emotion. Don’t rationalize your argument. This is media; it’s not the debate team.
WGNelson • Nov 14, 2013 at 1:01 pm
I am not a fan of marching bands. Most of the time I don’t think they add much to the game experience, and I think we could easily do without them.
That said, once the decision is made to have a marching band, and to have it perform at football games, I believe they are entitled to have their role respected every bit as much as the football team. It requires a significant commitment of time by marching band members to put together a decent halftime program, just as it requires a significant commitment of time by players to put together a decent football team. Also like it or not, it is highly possible that many spectators are showing up to watch a halftime show that is preceded or followed by a football game. Certainly that was the case when I was at UVA.
Ray • Nov 14, 2013 at 1:01 pm
This is unbelievable. As a former marching band member and high school football coach, I am at a loss for words.
Don’t email the school; jam their phone lines and complain directly to the principal’s office and to the superintendent.
John • Nov 14, 2013 at 12:58 pm
Let Coach Mike Scott know how rude he was to act the way he did. This cannot be tolerated and is a horrible example to set for the students.
This is his school email addresss publicly listed on the school’s website:
[email protected]
teann • Nov 14, 2013 at 12:56 pm
to all the band members AHS keep kicking butt this year and let this couch sit on his loosing sidelines at the end of his season, a couch like this will never have player respect and just remember your director will always be there for you .
As a former band girl and now a mom of a former band girl and a two foot ball player , I stand up and say thank you for being there for the team and for supporting them every friday night . You all are awesome . keep up the great work .
Kate • Nov 14, 2013 at 12:52 pm
This article reminded me so much of back when I was in high school and did marching band. I’m from a 2A Utah high school where our band was pretty small but we were the only team in our high school who had placed first in a state competition. We god no respect. We had to practice very early in the morning, which is normal for most bands, but the field was always overwatered and never had time to dry that early in the morning so it was a miserable experience. The football team would always complain about us “ruining” their field but would not allow us to practice at any other time. During half time the drill team and cheerleaders would always take most of the time allotted so we would usually get kicked off the field in the same way this band did. I think most bands have problems with the football team at their school and get no respect. It’s an endless cycle sadly.
Blake Hopkins • Nov 14, 2013 at 12:52 pm
As a band member and lover of marching bands, this pissed me off to no end. I almost had this happen to me while my band was marching on the field, but our director was bigger than our coach, so he held the coach back and told him to shut up. We finished our performance and left the game, instead of staying and supporting the football team like we normally did.
A parent from another HS • Nov 14, 2013 at 12:43 pm
Thank you to the newspaper for having the courage to publish this well-written article.
Mike Ditka • Nov 14, 2013 at 12:40 pm
Who gives a cold crap about the band??!!! This wasn’t a concert or a parade. It was a FOOTBALL GAME. You don’t see football players marching across the stage during intermission of a band concert.
Band and Football parent • Nov 14, 2013 at 12:37 pm
@ Shawn I understand that there was over 4 minutes left for the band to finish preforming and leave the field before the team would take over. That is one part of the reason I said the coach (and fans) acted in bad taste. However, according to the article there was discussion prior to the game about the half-time events taking more than the allotted time potentially causing a penalty. Knowing this the coach I am sure was stewing during half time wondering if this was going to be the case and jumped the gun trying to boot the band off the field to make sure it wouldn’t happen. If there was a chance that this would happen, the band should have preformed their second piece after the game. The coach should have been able to take halftime to focus on preparing his team for the second half of the game, not worrying about whether or not they would have to start at a disadvantage (penalty) due to the band who should be there to support the team not cause penalties.
Beth • Nov 14, 2013 at 12:32 pm
As a former marching band and color guard member and as a mother with a marching band member this really makes me angry. The coach should be fired for this sort of behavior. It’s bullying and it shouldn’t be tolerated. In addition to that — shame on the football players for lowering their own morals to think it was acceptable to set foot on that field while the band was performing. I would never have thought of stepping foot on the field while the game was in play and our football players would never have thought of stepping foot on the field while the band was playing. There should be a mutual respect for one another. When I was in high school…our football team was terrible. The football players knew that if it weren’t for the band there wouldn’t be anyone in the stands to watch the game. All of the band parents would come to the games and sit there in the cold for the entire length of the game – even if they were only there to watch their kid play in the band. They still supported the football players. This coach makes me sick.
Robbie Ward • Nov 14, 2013 at 12:31 pm
I was in band through my high school years and can’t imagine this ever taking place at my school. The actions of the coach and the ref are completely inexcusable. To go so far as to shake the drum majors stand to get them to stop. Its about school pride and the least of what the coach s7hould have done was to defend that. I can assure you that if anyone ever barked at our band or shook our stand that someone would be feeling the physical repercussions of their actions.
Bill • Nov 14, 2013 at 12:20 pm
To be treated like this is deplorable. We also had to put up with the football fans talking loudly to each other in the stands during halftime at nearly every game at the school my kids attended.
Michelle • Nov 14, 2013 at 12:18 pm
@Mike Daimler. Your comments bring questions. Are you a parent or do you support a family member of the football team? I am a parent of age and when I came through high school students nor teachers (coaches) did not show bad behavior like the article reads. I have the mind set that we are present to show support for ALL the students that participate in a football game.
Yes, it mentioned it was a football game not a band concert. Competitions are the correct name. The lack of respect by the coaching staff, football players and their parents proves what to the children watching the game or the others that are performing. That it is perfectly fine to yell “Get off the field” go shake the riser that the student is directing from. You believe that this is behavior is acceptable. Do you want your children to do this or have this done to them. Is this how we want every aspect of our life to become???
Sad to think this is the reputation that this school football team and coaches now own!!!
Erica CAssidy • Nov 14, 2013 at 12:17 pm
That coach should be fired! period. Shaking a podium with a student on it?! REALLY?!?!??! How is this even looked past, absolutely unacceptable!!! That man has no business or right to be a coach. This school should be embarrassed and ashamed and do what is right and send him packing. I hope this story gets shared to the point that the school gets put under pressure to make this right! Shame on them!
Nicole Antoun • Nov 14, 2013 at 12:17 pm
I read this article and rolled my eyes repeatedly. I was a student at this shithole back in the late 80s/90s and I see nothing has changed: the music program gets the shaft while the football coach acts like he owns and runs the school. Perhaps the only thing that has changed is that this particular coach has a craptacular losing record, which only increases the WTFery of him flipping out on a bunch of high school kids in band uniforms. But honestly, the image that stays with me is that of a supposedly grown man–egged on by a bunch of asshole parents, nice example you pricks are setting there!–SHAKING A PODIUM and bellowing at kids who are working like hell to generate some enthusiasm for a team with that kind of sucky record (and no disrespect to the players, I’m going to guess they have been busting their humps trying to play well for their douchebag coach, he doesn’t deserve them).
This is what society is becoming: a bunch of angry people with an entitlement streak a mile wide acting like the whole world owes them something, like they own everything, bullying the nice, hard working people. And getting encouragement for that appalling behavior from other so-called “grown ups.” What a lovely lesson to teach young people as they begin to make their way in the world: hard work is not what counts, character is not what counts. It’s how loud you yell and how awesome you think you are just because that matters. Even if your record is 1-9 and your emotional IQ hovers somewhere around Neanderthal.
S. Clark • Nov 14, 2013 at 12:14 pm
My children march in a band across the county from you. We are all very sad that this happened. I hope that the Marching Atoms feel the support from other marching communities!!! I know from many kids and parents that marching band “saves lives” in so many ways. It gives you a community, a family, a team. Marching kids have each other’s backs. I have heard many kids say that they know a new class will be ok as long as there is ONE band kid in the class. One. It also took just one adult to try to rip apart that family. One adult that quickly was followed by other adults that should all know better. Shame on the adults associated with this bullying.
Marching Atoms- March on!!! Hold your heads high and know that every single marching band in this country has your back.
Band Parent in Tennessee • Nov 14, 2013 at 12:11 pm
This article is spreading around like wildfire, provoking the ire of band students and parents everywhere. Shame on you Coach for your lousy attitude. You are teaching football players, parents and supporters to behave like bullies. I would assume this coach will be looking for a new position next year, hopefully not within the great State of Tennessee.
Marlana • Nov 14, 2013 at 12:10 pm
I saw this article on facebook, and just had to read it all. I myself am a band director and if this had happened to me and my kids I would be extremely upset. There is absolutely no reason for that sort of behavior, especially from adults. I have to agree with the statement about how would they react if someone made the football team stop playing in the middle of a quarter, there would be outrage. I completely agree with previous comments that the coach owes those band members a public apology, and so does the administration because they let it happen. They didn’t have to just stand by and watch it happen. They could have put a stop to it. AND not to mention the danger the coach put the drum major in. I don’t know how big the podium is at this school, but it sounds like you have a very well established band program and if the podium is tall it is extremely dangerous to be shaking it. My heart and my thoughts go out to this band! Try not to let ignorant people bring you down, GO BAND!
Kimberly Page • Nov 14, 2013 at 12:04 pm
As a band parent
laura • Nov 14, 2013 at 12:04 pm
Maybe the school needs to invest in a practice field so the band can have the lime light during halftime and the football players don’t have to be on the field.
TotallyJock89 • Nov 14, 2013 at 12:04 pm
PUT A SOCK IN IT, YOU NERDS.
I HOPE YOU ALL GOT THE WEDGIES YOU DESERVED, GEEKS
Shawn • Nov 14, 2013 at 12:02 pm
@ Band and Football Parent: there was still 4 minutes left on the clock when the coach came onto the field. The means the band had a full 4 minutes to march their show. The football team gets an extra 3 minutes after that to warm-up. To say there is equal blame is not recognizing the facts. The coach should have never stepped on the field until that 4 minutes was over. He has his time. The band has theirs. It’s about respect. It’s about valuing all the students.
Desiree • Nov 14, 2013 at 12:01 pm
Shaking the podium during the performance and telling the drum major to stop??? This whole thing is disgraceful and I hope that coach is made to apologize publicly to all the band members and especially the seniors. This event is something those kids won’t forget and it needs to be made right. This band deserves respect and they respect their football team and provide school spirit at the games-games that I’ve read the football team LOSES often it seems. The coach, or coaches were way out of line. I agree with the person who said they team should have some home games without the band and see how it feels without the extra support the band gives to them. Especially when the opposing team’s band plays when they score. The school must do something. This article is being passed around all my friends on facebook and I’m sure it won’t be long before a news media outlet calls the school regarding this.
Lori • Nov 14, 2013 at 11:56 am
I’m a teacher in New Jersey, an alumni of both the Clifton High School and the University of South Carolina marching bands, and currently a soccer coach. I find this behavior appalling from a fellow coach and as an educator. New Jersey has a new policy this year concerning coaches and bullying their athletes. Although this coach wasn’t bullying one of his athletes or a member of the opposite team, he was bullying one of the students who attended his school and a fellow teacher as well. This is most certainly bullying. Coaches are supposed to role model sportsmanlike behavior for their athletes. They are supposed to not only teach their team to be good athletes, but also how to be good human beings. This would NEVER be tolerated at the school that I work at, who by the way has received numerous awards at the state-level for our athletic programs and sportsmanlike behavior. This coach is teaching his athletes that its ok to bully. The band members deserve a public apology from this man and his job should be in question.
Mola Lenghi • Nov 14, 2013 at 11:56 am
Hello all. I am a reporter with WUSA9. Does anyone have any video of the incident from Friday night?
[email protected]
Jeremy Buck • Nov 14, 2013 at 11:49 am
Are there any campaigns underway to oust this coach? It is absolutely unacceptable practice! If there were any way to help get this thug, I bet myself, and a few (many hundreds) would jump at the chance!
Band and Football parent • Nov 14, 2013 at 11:44 am
I agree partially with Band Dad.
Band has several venues in which it displays it’s talents, concerts, parades and sporting events. Football however has a handful of Friday nights to display their talents.
Bands put in a lot of hard work preparing for their performances, so does the football team – whether it is a winning or loosing team. I am the parent of both a graduate band member and a graduate football player. Both won individual awards for their outstanding performances. Both groups made it to state competitions and did well. Both my sons missed family vacations and just hanging out during the summer because of their commitments to band or football. I would not say that either put more or less time in tuning their abilities.
We had a handful of concerts and parades to go to for one in addition to the football games where both preformed.
It was always the understanding that football games were for football. The focus was on supporting the football team and their success on the field, the goal to win and show sportsmanship while doing so. The half – time activities were allotted to the time given. If the band needed more time, they would preform after the game. Our band would never have expected the football team to take a penalty so they could finish their performance at a Football Game -showing respect to the football players. Under the same note, our football players would have stayed out of the bands way while warming up during halftime – showing respect for the band.
The way the coach treated the band players was unnecessary and in poor taste, however the idea that causing a penalty for a football team on one of their few home nights because the band did not plan accordingly is also in poor taste. Both groups should take a serious look at their behavior in this case – it should not be placed solely on the coach’s/football teams shoulders. I know football coaches can become very heated during a game. They have to – teams seem to do much better when the coach is yelling from the sideline and showing disapproval for unnecessary mistakes and congratulating for making good plays. Once pumped up to that level, I could see how he was able to transfer his aggression to the band when they were on the verge of causing the team to loose yardage in an already disappointing game, even though his actions were in very poor taste and was not at all acceptable.
So to sum it up, I would say there is equal blame for what happened on the field that night.
Bonnie Barker O'Leary • Nov 14, 2013 at 11:43 am
What an unspeakable outrage. I don’t know what angers me more – the actions of the coaches or the parents. Hope this gets into the Washington Post, on ESPN and that those who ruined the evening for the band are not only called to account but face the wrath of the public.
Elaine • Nov 14, 2013 at 11:41 am
Despicable actions on the coach’s part. I’m in the marching band at the University of California, Davis, and in my eight years of being part of a marching band (through high school and into university), the football team has always treated the band with respect. The band goes to football games to add spirit and colour to the event and to keep fans entertained. Our football programs have always been lacklustre, so there aren’t many people in the stands who are exclusively there expecting to watch a good game. Even after losses, though, our football team stays on the field (when they would probably prefer to be retreating to the locker room to debrief and hang up their disappointment) to sing the alma mater with us and thank the band after the game.
Coach Scott is an immature, unprofessional smear on the school’s image. The selfish, entitled “parents” who shouted down the marching band should reevaluate their grasp of parenthood. What if they had their precious football children booed off the field in the last few minutes of fourth quarter?
candi beamer • Nov 14, 2013 at 11:39 am
I am appalled at the coach and the school and the fans behavior on this. Geesh. I think that the coaches involved should be fired, and I think that a special honorary event at the football field-should be given to the marching band….plus dinner, yup….where the coach has to stand thru an hour of their performance silently.
O.G. MIKE • Nov 14, 2013 at 11:38 am
Sounds like “AMERICAN PIE by Don McLean:
Helter skelter in a summer swelter
The birds flew off with a fallout shelter
Eight miles high and falling fast
Landed foul on the grass
The players tried for a forward pass
With the jester on the sidelines in a cast
Now the half time air was sweet perfume
While sergeants played a marching tune
We all got up to dance
Oh, but we never got the chance
‘Cause the players tried to take the field
The marching band refused to yield
Do you recall what was revealed
The day the music died?
Denice Paxton • Nov 14, 2013 at 11:38 am
The coach is unprofessional, unsportsmanlike, and classless. He shouldn’t be leading a team; he should be fired, and for his own etification takes some anger management classes and brushes up on his manners. Here’s an example of what a coach with class does for his supporting band. https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10153507996135105&set=a.314273330104.323053.33749375104&type=1&theater
Denice Paxton • Nov 14, 2013 at 11:37 am
The coach is unprofessional, unsportsmanlike, and classless. He shouldn’t be leading a team; he should be fired, and for his own etification takes some anger management classes and brushes up on his manners. Here’s an example of what a coach with class does for his supporting band.
Soldiergal • Nov 14, 2013 at 11:29 am
Even if…you think this is about the band taking too much time on the field (they didn’t, btw)
Even if…you feel that since football is the main event, so the band should shut up and stop whining…
Even if…you feel it’s unjustified to point out that the team has had a terrible season, and unfair to mention they would have lost this game anyway, and mean-spirited to compare them to the stellar record of the marching band…
There is ZERO justification for coaches–purported authority figures and educators–to deliberately endanger the physical safety of the student drum majors. Even if somehow you feel those individuals were correct in their verbal behavior, they should be immediately suspended and reprimanded for their actions towards the physical well-being of these teenagers. You want to understand the actions of a Richie Incognito? It starts with the actions of every Mike Scott.
Parent of future AHS students • Nov 14, 2013 at 11:22 am
Ouch. Just… ouch. As a parent of three kids who will go to AHS some day this makes me cringe. I’m a former public school music teacher – and tax payer in Fairfax County – and this makes me very nervous. My kids, all of whom show interest in both arts AND sports – are going to attend a high school that doesn’t give weight to each equally? How deeply, deeply disappointing. Who do we contact about the priorities at AHS?
Kate • Nov 14, 2013 at 11:15 am
I think this is awful. I was a member of the marching band in my high school for 4 years and I know the amount of time and energy it takes to put together a half time show. Competition bands work too hard for this kind of disrespect. The coach was way out of line and I believe there should be corrective action taken against him. There were seniors in that marching band, too, and they deserved to have their night as much as the football seniors, if not more so!
facebook_tamaraneowin • Nov 14, 2013 at 11:12 am
Assuming the facts presented above are true (and recognizing this was an Op-Ed, not an investigative report):
1. The school had arranged ahead of time to make sure there was time for the band to play. So there was zero reason to rush them off the field, aside from arrogance.
2. The coach assaulted a student. Shaking the podium (not to mention screaming abuse) while a student is conducting is, you guessed it: ASSAULT. Don’t bury the lede here, guys; an educator doesn’t get to assault a student with impunity. Coach screwed up, Coach should have consequences.
3. The 200,000+ angry band alums reading this article aren’t mad because our feelings are hurt–we’re mad because this is DUMB. The band supports the team, and the band gets an allotted amount of time, and the Band DID NOT go over time; yet AHS admin let the coach bully the team and endanger a student. And for what?
I’m an AHS alum. In 2000, we had a great relationship with the football team. Celebrated after wins with the fight song; lots of high-fives; even some crossover between musicians and football. This divide is nonsense. Halftime is band time, and in exchange, the band boosts the energy onfield during the game (which absolutely helps the team play better). If AHS for one hot second thought about how each program benefits the other, this hostile attitude wouldn’t be an issue (and a kid on a podium wouldn’t have gotten assaulted by a freaking EDUCATOR).
Get. It. Together. Atoms.
Blanca Mendoza • Nov 14, 2013 at 11:11 am
That coach should have to make a public appology at their next home game! What he did was distasteful and 100% unsportsmanlike. I’m truly saddened.
Band Mom • Nov 14, 2013 at 11:11 am
Linking to this article, I’d like to first congratulate the A-Blast students for having what appears to be a spectacular, well-developed, mature news organization. Browsing your online paper, and it’s extremely impressive and the student journalists and their staff sponsors have A LOT to be proud of. Bravo.
Second, as a band mom of a student who marched on a BOA Grand National winner band, DCI, and in college – I’m aghast.
My children have played on varsity HS football teams, rugby, track and wrestling – and the focus, teamwork, time, and physical stamina required to be competitive in those sports is demanding, but frankly doesn’t compare to what’s required for competitive marching band. I’d dare anyone to carry a 50 lb tuba while playing memorized Beethoven at concert quality, simultaneously marching drill – while a color guard member spins a rifle 15 feet above your head while performing a pirouette next to you,. … and stay in time and step with 150 or 200 other members while it’s going on. And then take a bus to compete at 9 pm, after practicing 3,4,5 hours outside – regardless if it’s 100 degrees in August or 20 degrees and snowing in November.
Here’s an idea, how about every school that has a marching or pep band – require that every member of a sport team benefiting form the band’s attendance, be required to attend at least one of their schoolmates marching band competitions every season? Bobby Knight used to take his IU basketball teams to observe the practices of drum corps groups – to demonstrate discipline and teamwork.
The fact that this article has become viral is a testament to the dedication and appreciation band students have for each other. Regardless of their competitiveness with each other (and here in Indiana it’s fierce!), it’s clear that these students have each others’ backs because they alone GET IT!
Atom Marchers – Keep your heads Up! You’ve earned the right to be proud of your accomplishments. And, congratulations for having more class than some of the adults and school leadership in your community.
CRW • Nov 14, 2013 at 11:07 am
Im sorry…. Are we forgetting one very important ASSAULT charge. In this article someone came over to the drum major podium and shook it. Now at one rehearsal our drum major fell off the podium and broke his ankle. HOW THE HELL IS EVERYONE LOOKING PAST THIS OBVIOUS SAFETY ISSUE!!! And the football teams caused a riot making it CLEARLY unsafe for the kids. If this was done anywhere else (obviously) most of those people would be in front of a judge right now. The nonchalant reaction to this whole thing makes me sick. Good job parents for keeping your kids and others’ safe. And the award for most unsafe school to study at goes to this one!
2000 Alum • Nov 14, 2013 at 11:04 am
Anyone who went to Annandale knows that the only reason to go to an AHS football game was to see the band; it sure isn’t for the football (except for those two years in the early 90s) But this bullying behavior shouldn’t surprise anyone. While the music program has consistently produced top accolades for the school, and is the only good thing about the school, its lackluster athletic programs continue to steal the spotlight.
Tim Grissom • Nov 14, 2013 at 11:02 am
I went To Annandale HS and I was in the Marching band back in the day (76-80) I remember the same thing happening way back then Not quite as agregious as this display though.
AHS was a football school. Considered a Football dynasty back then; state champs and voted National Champs one year. (Still no excuse) The band was decent but definitely not respected. But now? As the article points out, look at AHS’s football record the past several years?? Even if arrangements were not made ahead of time for an extended half time, This display of disrespect for any student organization by a coach, teacher or any county employee should result in disciplinary action.
This coach would hate it in Texas. Not only do Both bands play at half time, But both teams also have their dance squad perform. Football is a big deal here in Texas It is not uncommon for a HS game to have 10000 fans attend. But the band and other student organization is every bit a part of the friday night light experience as the football team. Even at the BIG football schools. e.g Allen HS, The perennial powerhouse, state champion, nationally ranked football program. Their band is 550-650 members large year after year. You cant get a band that size on the field, and off the field in 10 minutes much less play their 7-8 minute competition show. The football rules are similar here as VA but if the football team tried that here…. The fans would be calling for the coaches head.
Mike Daimler • Nov 14, 2013 at 11:01 am
If it was coach Adams he would have gone nuts and just sent his players right into the band. Did the coach overact. Yes. Yes he did. But letting the band stay on the field and the football team getting a 15 yard unsportsmanlike conduct penalty is not going to happen. The band director knew what time they needed to be done and how long it takes them to get off the field. Both teams need time to warm up. Does Annandale suck this year, Yes. But south county is 8-2 and are going to the playoffs. If one of their players blows out a acl because they aren’t warmed up is a problem. Guess who just lost their college scholarship
Dusty Saxton • Nov 14, 2013 at 10:58 am
The next time the team is LOSING, yell at them to get off the field…sounds like the band could probably win a football game or too for the school.
Also…shaking the drum major’s podium is a sign of small and insignificant genitalia.
David Correll • Nov 14, 2013 at 10:56 am
I am a retired band director from Tennessee. I taught 17 years in Virginia and 19 in Tennessee.
I had this to happen to my band in Virginia Beach back in 1978, and after I, along with several band parents notified the director of schools in our district of the football coaches actions, he was fired the following Monday morning. He was a winning coach at that, and been there for several years.
What this coach and his staff did is simply wrong and extremely unprofessional. His contract also needs to be terminated.
The administrative staff must support their expectations of hiring quality people to teach the children of the community, and holding their teaching staff both in the classroom and out of the classroom accountable for their actions.
Ronjon Ray • Nov 14, 2013 at 10:55 am
This is appauling. I am a former drum major and I certainly feel for the students of the band. I am proud to say at my high school, our football coach, poms coach, cheerleading coach, and band director all worked closely to foster a culture of respect. The band members went out to support all groups, and they did the same for us. Even at our band competitions, the football players came to support. And guess what, we won. We were state championships, won multiple competitions in band and cheerleading. The positivity drove us to do better. The fact that our peers were there to support made the organization that much better. I am sad to say that since that time (about 8-10 years ago), the leaders who were there went to different schools and now the program is run by a hostile coach similar to what is displayed by the coach and this institution. The saddest part is not even the band getting kicked off the field, it’s that the “adults,” who are viewed by the students as leaders, are instilling poor leadership and behaviorial skills to them that will last generations.
All of them should apologize, including the parents, starting with the coach — run a fundraiser for the band, and come out to support them at their next competition. If they don’t, I sincerely hope the administration takes action and fires the coach, and issues a statement to the parents.
Best of luck to the band — hoping to see you perform at competition. Life is full of idiots, don’t let these fools get you down.
Ronjon Ray
Drum Major Class of 2004
Northwest High School – Germantown, MD
bdsweetie21 • Nov 14, 2013 at 10:55 am
If this would have happened back when I was in the Colorguard at my High School, I would have seen that I was NOT-AT-ALL careful with where my flag pole ended up if-ya-know-what-I-mean… Jus’say’n. Would have had to buy a new pole or possibly relocate to another school, but either way it would have been worth it :P.
Shawn • Nov 14, 2013 at 10:50 am
Absolutely classless. As a former band director, I always encouraged my students to respect other teachers, students, and organizations within the school. We support one another. We are supposed to be like family. We stand up for one another. We have each other’s best interest at heart. That’s why the band plays in the cold, in the heat, and sometimes even in the rain. We go out to the stadium to support our team and we give it everything we have to make them look good. We practice day and night to learn stand tunes, fight songs, and school songs. When the team gets a touchdown, we celebrate! We they get a first-down or an interception, we get jazzed and we want to jazz up the team and the crowd. We are there for them. Why? Because we are together! The most respectable coach I ever worked with was my last one. He saw that we were there for them and he wanted his guys to recognize that and have the same spirit for the band. He gave the band pep talks for competitions. He brought his teams to our marching competitions. He even did a vocal solo for one of our Christmas concerts (its was not very good, but it was the spirit that counted). He would have never considered even stepping on the field while the band was playing. That would have been a disgraceful act. How devaluing to the students! This coach has his time on the clock. Is he so self-centered that he has to take more of it, and away from those students who care about the football team. And not only does he show disrespect for the band students, using his position, he encourages others in the stands to do the same. How embarrassing for a school! I can imagine there are many witnesses who are thinking to themselves how blessed they are to be in another school where everyone is highly valued and no one organization is lorded over another. Go Annandale Marching Atoms! We’re supporting you all the way from Texas!
[email protected] • Nov 14, 2013 at 10:44 am
@Holly
I too am the proud parent of band geeks (one a senior and one a freshman). I wish that I could have walked across the field at Senoir Night, however we were at our State Championships going from Quarterfinals to Semi-Finals the night they played their last regular season game. In the past our seniors names were announced and the football players and cheerleaders were allowed to walk with their parents. It is really lopsided.
@Mike Daimler Your ignorance is showing. It’s too bad. A band director keeps very good time. The coaches and fans were wrong. No it’s not a “band concert”, it’s a MARCHING SHOW!!! Those kids work harder than the football team to do what they do. I challenge you to try it sometime.
Atoms, keep your heads held high! Horns up! Be proud of yourself and your accomplishments! You have the support of this Pride of Doherty Marching Band Band Mom from Colorado.
Heidi • Nov 14, 2013 at 10:41 am
Worst form of school bullying! Playing a musical instrument, learning to read and appreciate music will last a lifetime. Not running up and down a football field for a few months out of the year.
Bdo • Nov 14, 2013 at 10:37 am
Maybe the bands from all schools should show the football team the same respect they are shown (NONE) and stop standing beside them. Lets see how many people really come to see the band and how many really come to see the loosing football teams. I know I would go to a band event long before going to a football game.
You're a bully • Nov 14, 2013 at 10:35 am
In this thread, we have a long list of people who hear one side of the story and then slander someone. This is bullying writ large. Rally a mob because you’re asked to leave the field so that the game can start on time? Now your libel has turned to harassment.
There’s a lot of huff and puff about the coach’s professionalism here, but you’d be pretty smitten if the coach wrote and nice little counter-article with his side of the story. But he won’t…he won’t because that’s unprofessional.
The right move is to contact your band director and only your band director. You’re circumventing the chain of command. That’s the move of an unseasoned amateur.
[email protected] • Nov 14, 2013 at 10:34 am
@Lance
You obviously are missing the point, or are a dumb-ass teenager. Yes, the football team needs to warm up, however that time was allotted for. There is NO REASON for the coach or fans to be screaming at the band. Those kids work HARDER than football players to do what they do. They also need to warm up so as to not injure themselves. Marching is very precise and takes quite a bit of steength and stamina to do.
As far as them not being necessary, fine. I disagree, because the moment they aren’t there to help get the crowd going and entertain them while football is warming up, you will have problems.
It’s too bad that you don’t consider all that support for your crappy football team as necessary. If you didn’t have the band or their parents there, how kuch would they really make in ticket sales or concessions? In our district, other sports teams get a portion of concession sales for their programs. Now you suggest that those band members/parents aren’t necessary? How sad that you don’t see that connection.
Go ahead and go to work at McDonald’s to support yourself, because that’s where you will end up. You’ve shown a massive amount of ignorance and I feel sorry for you.
Spartacus • Nov 14, 2013 at 10:29 am
I don’t have a dog in this fight, but doesn’t the coach have a boss?
Mike Daimler • Nov 14, 2013 at 10:29 am
This story is so one sided article. Did the coach go overboard, sure he did. But I willing to bet that this isn’t the first time that the band has run late this year. But for people to think that the football team should have just taken a 15 yard unsportsmanlike conduct penalty is a joke. It’s a Football game not a Band show. They are allowed to play during a time limit. Also don’t give me that crap of that the team was 1-10. That doesn’t matter. Both teams need to warm up after halftime. South County is 8-2 and are going to the playoffs. If the band director can’t keep time, guess what? Have your own show and play as long as you would like. I have left blood, sweat and tears on that field, we raised championship banners on that field. It’s our field. I’m Annandale for life and that’s my home. I bet you that the band director wouldn’t have pulled this if Coach Adams was still there.
Sue • Nov 14, 2013 at 10:25 am
That school needs to get its’ priorities straight. Clearly, the band is better for their school than the football team. Coach should be fired and the administrators should be fined and reprimanded.
lol • Nov 14, 2013 at 10:24 am
Can’t help but notice you are provided part of your school day to play instruments, but they’re not provided part of their school day to play football. Clearly the school administrators are partial towards band. Yayyyyyyy, we can all write sensationalist stuff together! Isn’t this fun!?
How self important do you have to be to bite the hand that gives you playing time in the first place?
I remember back when I was in high school and I was as ignorantly fanatic as these authors. I’d rant and tell my side of the story, without indulging the fact that the administration probably does afford me something that they do not afford my antagonist. Then I grew up. Time for these authors to grow up.
Holly • Nov 14, 2013 at 10:23 am
This story brought me to tears… for many reasons. I was a proud band geek in high school and am now even more proud to be the mom of both a band geek and a choir geek. Anything that isn’t athletics doesn’t get held to same level of community/administration support, acceptance and recognition. My son is a senior in high school. I sat in the stands and cried on senior night because I couldn’t walk across the field before the game and greet him while he got recognized for being a senior band member. Why? Because band isn’t recognized like the football players, cheerleaders, dance team and mascot. Their name is called before the start of half-time. Where are the spectators at half-time? Standing in line at the concession stand. Do you know who works the concession stand at most high school stadiums? BAND PARENTS!
My heart goes out to the Marching Atoms for what you have had to endure. Unfortunately, it takes horrendous incidents such as this to get enough people talking to spark change. I hope that this is a serious wake up call for your school’s administration… and for administrations across the country.
If there was no band at a high school football game here is what it would be like…. the school’s alma mater, fight song and national anthem would be played off a recording at the pep rally and ball games. There would be no lines for the football team to run through (if your school’s band does that because some don’t). There would be no fun music played during the game for the cheerleaders and dance team to dance to and keep the crowd pumped up. No fight song would be played for touchdowns. There would be a lot fewer parents in the stands cheering for the team. There would be silence at half-time. Last… but certainly not least… there would be no concession stand in most high school stadiums.
To the guy who said that this coach is a nice guy… he showed how “nice” he is by taking it upon himself to put a student in danger of severe injury or even worse. No amount of personal or job related stress condones attempting to knock a student off a drum major stand, which can be up to ten or fifteen feet off the ground. There is NO EXCUSE for this his blatantly out of control behavior. My question is why haven’t criminal charges been brought against him?
Thank you to the brave students who posted this story and thank you to the teacher that allowed it to be posted.
Keep your heads held high and your horns higher, Marching Atoms, there are more of us across the country who are in your corner than you may ever know! Much love, support and kudos from Arkansas!!!
Better Band Dad Than You • Nov 14, 2013 at 10:20 am
Hey so-called “Band Dad:”
The band still had 4:30 left to finish their show and leave the field. The football team still had 4:30 to sit in the locker room, or else wait patiently on the sideline. The rules are clear, and the ones breaking the rules were NOT the band. It’s not like the band tried to go on the field 4:30 minutes before halftime, or stay 4:30 after the second half should have started.
Oh and I don’t think anyone in the band tried to assault any of the football coaches with their flags, drumsticks or brass instruments, whereas the football coach DID assault the drum majors.
Oh, and fyi, bands do actually have other shows (yes, even marching bands) devoted specifically for them. Many do half a dozen or more ofthe shows every season over and above the halftime shows done in front of totally unappreciative football fans such as yourself. Read up on the activity before you post like you know something about it.
The issue here is rule-breaking by the football team, and physical assault on the drum majors by the coach, NOT whether you give a damn about your child’s alleged activity.
Karen • Nov 14, 2013 at 10:20 am
For those of you who are slamming the band for being upset – shame on you! Yes, the band is there to support the football, but during halftime the team is off the field and the BAND gets their time in the spotlight. Your football team has three minutes to warm up after the Half – no more or less than any other team – so suck it up. Additionally, after seeing your season record, a whole 15 minutes of warming up couldn’t have prepared your team for the second half. I think AHS Administration should be ashamed of their actions and should seriously consider finding a more respectful coach for their football team. This man represents your school and if I were you I would be embarrassed to have him associated with your system. If he did this on his home field – to the kids of whose parents he has probably known his whole life – can you imagine what he would do at an away game when things were not going his way? He is completely inconsiderate of all the hard work the band has put in this season.
And, to all of those parents who were shouting at the band to “get off the field” – you are setting a horrible example for your kids. They will probably grow up to be just as disrespectful as their coach and their parents. What an awesome generation of people you are raising!
On a much brighter note – congratulations to the AHS Band Members! Your attitudes during such a disrespectful event outshines even your most prestigious awards.
Lance • Nov 14, 2013 at 10:13 am
Wow, let’s just crucify the people that entire event, you know the football game, was even happening for. Boo hoo, you got sent off the field so players could have adequate time to warm, including the other team. Now, because I’m guessing all of you have absolutely no idea why warming up is a big deal, it’s to keep people from being injured. Hurt the feelings of people that are not necessary to be there for the football game to occur or risk getting people injured, which do you prefer? Now, just why is everyone pissed at the Coach? To keep people from getting his team a penalty that they don’t deserve? Sounds like he’s looking out for his team and the refs are just being colossal douche bags. You people have to get it through you freaking heads that this is a football game, not a band concert, the band is an unnecessary accessory.
DC • Nov 14, 2013 at 10:09 am
So, time to end the marching band’s relationship with the football team, then. If they aren’t welcome by fans or coaches, and the administration doesn’t actively support them, just march in parades and keep winning competitions. Or, better yet, take the field and just stand there motionless for 5 minutes. In some way boycott the football games. The music department is not the entertainment division of a school. What is the role of music in the schools? There is worthwhile education that only we can provide. Our appearances in competitions and local venues represents the school and community positively. Howard Gardner’s Theory of Multiple Intelligences tells us that musical intelligence is as important as—and supports and strengthens—the other intelligences like mathematical, linguistic, interpersonal, intrapersonal, etc. Music isn’t just fun or entertaining; it is a reflection of and on society.
Jacquie Silva • Nov 14, 2013 at 10:02 am
As a parent of two teenage boys in the St Augustine High School Band here in St Augustine, Florida I cannot believe what I read! These kids practice hours not only playing their music but also the formation needed to go with their piece. We also had Senior Night here in St Augustine High School and our band kids were able to perform without any issues AS IT SHOULD BE! Here at St Augustine High School we as parents see how the foot ball team enjoys listening to the band and some even start dancing. Yes, it is a football game, but when the band isn’t there guess what? It is not as enjoyable! And both spectators and the football team do notice it and in the past when the band did not have enough funds to get the buses necessary for the band to go to the away games for the foot ball team the coach paid for the buses! So for those that think it was okay for such bad behavior from Coach Mike Scott, other coaches as well as some players. Adjust your behavior and apologize to those band kids who didn’t deserve to be treated in such a fashion.
Ms. Kellie • Nov 14, 2013 at 10:01 am
People like that coach has no respect for himself that’s why he doesn’t show any respect to anyone else. If the coach did that in front of everyone, image how practice was like for those senior football players and to leave senior high with that memory for life!!!!! That’s one way to leave Senior High. How was the school even able to keep a coach like him who can’t even win a couple of games throughout the season but one game, be kept as a coach? It just puts shame on the school itself. That coach wasn’t good enough to be a coach.
Todd • Nov 14, 2013 at 9:58 am
I was a marching band member in high school and college. The coaches’ and parents’ responses were reprehensible. However, I remember practicing specifically for the homecoming game, because we would cut out a song or shorten our transition time. There’s no way the band director didn’t know about the added festivities and he/she should have planned accordingly.
BG • Nov 14, 2013 at 9:48 am
Jacob, you’re proving your ignorance right now. Why don’t you sit this one out?
Anonymous • Nov 14, 2013 at 9:46 am
I don’t know how you were able to write up such an eloquent response to that event. No teacher or coach should ever put a student in danger, which the coach did to your drum major and assistant drum major by shaking their podiums. However, do try to remember that you are an amazing group of people and don’t let that event or any negative comments towards you guys get you down. Stay strong and march on.
John B. Edwards • Nov 14, 2013 at 9:45 am
I encourage every person that has a Facebook account to share this article!! This needs to go viral. There is NO WAY that this coach should ever be allowed to work with students again. He has proven that he is nothing but a bully. For those of you who have ever watched an Ohio State University football game you will see the football team stand in front of The Ohio State Marching Band at the end of every game and sing the school’s Alma Mater. This is what a CLASSY football team and coaches do. It’s all a matter of respect for each other. It’s time to learn a lesson.
Phillip Alvarado (Class of 2001) • Nov 14, 2013 at 9:44 am
We are the VOICE of the VOICELESS! Scotty (not so) Hotty has gots to go! He’s a dope. I hold all of the assistant coaches responsible, as well (looking at you, maglisceau). They’re dopes, too. Band program >>> football program. Know your role and SHUT YOUR MOUTHS!
Jacob • Nov 14, 2013 at 9:43 am
It’s band…no one cares….
Quit whining…
yes it was unprofessional of the coach…almost as unprofessional as you slamming him in your article.
pitiful…
Thomas • Nov 14, 2013 at 9:40 am
I don’t live anywhere near this school, or even remotely in the same state, and yet my coworkers were talking about this incident this morning. Who would think someone could be so much of a jerk that it starts to become a national conversation topic? I feel for those of you that have to put up with someone who has such an inferiority complex that he has to take it out on the students, and hope the school deals with this menace quickly before they get too much unwanted attention.
If the school has any sense at all, this man will be looking for a new job before he assaults a student due to that temper of his.
Band Dad • Nov 14, 2013 at 9:36 am
Stop acting so indigent. The band shows up to football games, historically speaking, to support the football team. If they need you to get off the field, you should mind that and get off the field. It’s not your big night – it’s theirs.
On Friday nights you, the band, are going to a football game. The football team is not going to a band concert. Other than your moms, the crowd is primarily there to see football. Learn some humility, it’s not always about you.
It’s not a 50/50 event and it’s not designed to be. Nor should it be. If you don’t like that, or if you’re feeling as though you’ve been mistreated, stop showing up. Support the other sports. Or, and I’m being crazy here, host your own event. Bands play in concerts. Football teams play in games…and guess what…Friday night is game night.
As to the football team getting more attention, it’s because they’re more interesting. I’m sorry if that hurts to hear. Is it right? Is it just? Is it fair? Is life fair? Not necessarily, but that’s the way it is. Be more interesting, attract crowds other than your mothers, and you can also garner the attention that the football team does.
And, for the love of your school, stop projecting your own inadequacies onto the success of your fellow students. It only serves to diminish others, not to bring yourself up. That’s not going to get you very far in life. Respect is earned and if you’re not respected, it’s because you didn’t earn it.
Alisa Boyd • Nov 14, 2013 at 9:32 am
For the past 28 years I’ve taught in a public high school, so I’ve seen all kinds of disrespect, arrogance, and downright stupidity. But this incident goes far above anything I’ve witnessed or even heard about. First, congratulations, Band, on your awards. More importantly, congratulations on your classy behavior. People around the country are reading your story, and they are on your side. Second, congratulations Journalism staff and editorial writers on this piece. Too many professional journalists are afraid to deal with controversy. Band and Journalism, you are excellent role models for not only other high school students, but for many adults.
Coach, you had a bad year, and you made a terrible mistake. My advice to you is to take responsibility for your actions. You owe this band a personal and sincere apology. If you can’t be sincere, don’t bother, because teenagers see through phoniness, and it makes them even angrier. You will never be able to make up to this group of students for your inexcusable behavior, but I would suggest you try. Cash donation to the program? Perhaps the equivalent of your coaching salary? You could pay for the band banquet, and make it a classy one. If you don’t have the humility and grace to do what a man should do, then it’s time for you to resign. You’re not helping kids anymore, including those that play football.
Jennifer Mauller • Nov 14, 2013 at 9:28 am
I am so sorry. As an AHS alum, this is not how I want to think of our school! And didn’t the marching band just win a national award?? So terribly sorry to everyone at AHS, Marching Band, Football Team, families, teachers, everyone. A formal apology is certainly needed.
Natalie • Nov 14, 2013 at 9:24 am
This article should be in the local newspaper and that coach should be reprimanded for his actions. I don’t care how well you are known. HAVE SOME RESPECT A*HOLE.
Kitty Bryan • Nov 14, 2013 at 9:20 am
Where has the respect for the kids gone? Band is every bit as important as the football team or the drama club or any other group within the school. The kids work HARD to get their show together, and deserve to have the time to be able to perform it for their parents and supporters. Sounds to me like SOMEONE thinks he is more important than either of the groups, and that is sad.
Tom Mulvihill • Nov 14, 2013 at 9:20 am
The football coach, athletic director and any members of the football team that disrespected the band should be suspended, (the coach and AD without pay.) Chances are that none of the football players are going to play college ball much less go professional. So, the football program is about teaching the kids to love the game, to become good people through discipline and to have fun. By demonstrating to the players that they can be utterly rude and obnoxious to their classmates, the coaches failed to teach the second point – how to be good people. If the coaches can’t do their job, they should not be permitted to keep their jobs. The coaches need to apologize to the band in front of the entire student body and in the local newspaper. I also would like to see the coach marching around with precision while carrying the quad drums for hours during a hot August day’s marching band practice. Maybe that will teach him to respect the band.
Mickey • Nov 14, 2013 at 9:07 am
As the mother of a Music Educator and the grandmother of 4 grandchildren involved in music, and BTW, my grandson also plays football, I am appalled at the lack of respect that these coaches and parents have shown for the band. My daughters were both very involved in music in high school and at a time in their lives when they needed something to help them through a very difficult transition, there was music. I hope the school district does the “right thing” and disciplines the coaches and parents who were a part of this.
Bill • Nov 14, 2013 at 9:03 am
The band director should protest by having the band sit silently in the stands or by not showing up at all.
CoachIsAnIgnorantBully • Nov 14, 2013 at 9:03 am
This is one of the most immature, disrespectful, and ignorant things I’ve seen. I can only hope that the parents of the football team will demand his firing, as nobody should want a bully to influence their kids. Absolutely disgusting. This guy is an embarrassment to your school district. The only thing that can make it worse is supporting this behavior by letting him continue to draw a paycheck. Fire him.
Gretchen • Nov 14, 2013 at 9:00 am
All I can say is Wow! I am from North Dakota, and your story is nation wide. I am appalled by this. I was not in band, but had tons of friends and family who were and are. I cannot believe that adults are acting like this. I am not sure what all has happened within the administration since this occurred, but the school board and superintendent need to come down hard on this coach. It is outright bullying at its worst! Does this guy have kids? What are you teaching them, and what are you teaching any of the players for that matter?!?! If my child was a member of the football team they would be done. I would not allow my child to be coached by someone who has that much blatant disrespect for people. He is nothing but a bully who needs to be shut down!
Denise Renier • Nov 14, 2013 at 8:55 am
Unbelievable! Well, the only thing this coach is going to be known for is his LACK of leadership and his unsportsman-like conduct! (surely not for his great football record!!!) SHAME on the administration for not doing something about this! I hope this article gets some VIRAL feedback about this entire matter. A football team is NOTHING without fans! I am glad that my children attend Lake Braddock, where music and the arts are embraced, and EVERYONE gets to use the MULTI-USE FIELD.
Heather • Nov 14, 2013 at 8:49 am
As a member of the Color Guard over 20 years ago and a Marching Band parent now (go Tubas!) I am appalled at the actions of this coaching staff and many in the community of Annandale who that thought it would be a good example to “boo” a marching band off the field.
Marching Bands work hard, just as hard as any sporting team, and get very little respect in return from outside the Marching Band community and family. This story is the epitome of how some think sports are so much more important than the Arts. As I read through this article, my heart broke and went out to the students who were recognized on Senior night and who had to withstand all that hate, bullying and negative energy coming from the crowd. I imagine the band went back into the stands and sat with their head held high, instruments at the ready, fuming at what just happened and wondering what they could do about it.
Well, writing this article (the last few paragraphs are amazing) and sharing it is the first step. Having others share this via Facebook, Twitter and/or email is the next to show just how awesome this band is, how poorly the coaching staff and many of the parents acted, to show that bullying comes in many forms–not just student-to-student.
I feel the Principal should fire the entire coaching staff, issue a formal apology and maybe even take away some of the football team’s funding and direct it into the Marching Band. God knows, Marching Bands can always use any extra money that comes their way.
I live outside of Boston and this was shared with me from a friend in Maryland. I have a feeling this story will get out there and garner some national attention. Meanwhile, the Marching Atoms will Keep Calm and March On. They will nail their “dots” and play proud, which is more than the coaching staff and many parents have ever done.
M Burton • Nov 14, 2013 at 8:41 am
Wonderfully written op-ed. I applaud the school paper and its writers for “tackling” this story, and am thrilled to see this piece going viral on social media nation-wide.
Shame on the misbehaving coach and equally offensive parents in the stands for their blatant lack of sportsmanship. With the team’s record and the game’s score, no doubt the coach was taking his frustration out on your band, but that’s clearly not how to motivate a team. What an embarrassment to the community. This man’s actions were rude and disrespectful, his behavior was unacceptable, and he should be fired immediately. Winning football teams will result from a coach with a winning attitude.
Hoping to see an update with a resolution soon. Congratulations to the Atom band on your regional and national honors!
Gregory Rowe • Nov 14, 2013 at 8:38 am
I am positive if there were no marching band at the football games there would only be a smattering of parents and family in that grandstand. It is wrong, rude and disrespectful of the young people who march in the band, who probably put in much more hard work than a football team. I would put the GPA of the band up against the football team anytime.
a.D • Nov 14, 2013 at 8:37 am
I played under coach scott when he was the defensive coordinator for Annandale. He was always very cool so I find this shocking.
After wins, it was tradition to celebrate with the band as they played our fight song. We appreciated everything the band did for us from pep rally’s to games.
I remember being so amped at kickoff partly because of the music the band was playing and the crowd.
Sad that a bad season would make coach scott do such a crappy thing but is like to hear his side. Coach Scott was always a cool dude, I’m sure he still is.
surprised to hear this happened it would’ve never happened when I was there.
Barb • Nov 14, 2013 at 8:37 am
Maybe the marching band should have stayed on the field and refused to leave when the football team wanted to play….Do people still wonder why kids are learning to be so rude?
Steve Holder • Nov 14, 2013 at 8:33 am
Coaches should teach their students to play with honor, class, and good sportsmanship above all. Clearly this coach is incapable of doing his job. Fire the jerk and hire a real man to lead the team. Period.
Amanda • Nov 14, 2013 at 8:24 am
The team has only won one game this season and the coach thinks preventing a little penalty will really help their situation? What a joke. Also, couldn’t he have seriously hurt the drum major on the podium?
Raul Munoz • Nov 14, 2013 at 8:16 am
Bullying! Reprimand and formal apology due.
Vivian Cicero • Nov 14, 2013 at 8:13 am
I am stunned by what I just read. The behavior if Coach Scott towards the Marching Band is utterly appalling. How dare he interrupt a performance with such a violent display of temper! Shaking the drum major’s stand shows a complete lack of judgement. He endangered that student with his display of Neanderthal like aggression.
I must say if I was the parent of that student, it would have been difficult to restrain myself from strangling the coach.
So that is what they’re teaching at my old high school? I’m embarrassed to say I am graduate of the class of 1985.
Kelly Gray • Nov 14, 2013 at 8:12 am
I can’t believe that anyone in a leadership role would allow this to happen. School officials should have stepped in immediately when this began to happen and STOPPED it.
Parents who also participated in this incident should also be ashamed of themselves! What kind of example did you set that evening?!
The football coach need to GO and the band is owed an apology from the football staff, school officials and any parent who was ignorant to participate in this shameful event.
Don Lilly • Nov 14, 2013 at 8:05 am
One suggestion… The school should consider taking 50% of the funding for the football program for the next two years and allocating those funds to the band program.
nicole • Nov 14, 2013 at 8:02 am
Sounds like bullying and in maryland there is a no tolerance for students and staff. Perhaps going to the board of education and pressing the matter would be the best start. We lost our winning HS coach years ago over a conflict of interest. Dont let it go since this would be an amazing senior project and lesson in faith for the system.
Kristen • Nov 14, 2013 at 7:55 am
Wow! I can’t believe the football coach went that far to get the marching band off the field. When I was in marching band (eons ago, of course…), the rest of the school absolutely hated the marching band. We were the lowest of the low. But, even with this mindset, we weren’t ever physically attacked by others just because we were performing on the field. I think the administration at this school needs to fix this problem right away. Aren’t they supposed to be supporting the WHOLE student body, not just the jocks? If the football team only received a 15 yard penalty, then the Principal needs to reassess their position at this school, and perhaps the community needs to get this Principal replaced. The students of this school, not just the band members, need to have a positive environment so that they don’t become individuals who think shooting people is the answer. How can it be a positive environment if the COACHES are BULLIES?!?! I am absolutely appalled at what this coach did. He should be fired! If a student had done this, I think there would have been more of a punishment. How come not with this coach? Grrrrr……
Teresa Shane • Nov 14, 2013 at 7:54 am
I am deeply saddened by the events at this game and the community’s treatment of the band. My treasured memories of school involve hearing the band cheer on the athletic teams during games.
I have to ask what message this sends not only to the band students but also to their parents, who spend THOUSANDS of dollars for their children to participate.
There are 2 ways to handle this: the low road and the high road.
Because of the way the community and coach acted, removing the band from games gives them what they want.
However, if the band continues to play to support the TEAM and the SCHOOL, that is taking the high road.
I’ll be interested in following this story. I hope to hear more.
Meat Meaterson • Nov 14, 2013 at 7:52 am
If you are a band member and expect to get respect from the members of the football team, you will be waiting a long time (eternity). My High School band finished in the top 10 at Bands of American national field marching competition in a year that the football team finished below .500. Who do you think got more respect, and who do you think was ignored? It does not matter how much you as a band member respects the football program, with very little exception, you will never receive that kind of respect back. Stop expecting it!
becky from oh and ma • Nov 14, 2013 at 7:44 am
This is simply aweful. If the football players ever knew what band members endure to support them. In college we would happily get to the game extra early to line the sidewalks to play the fight song as the team walked into the stadium. The players would try to ignore us and most wore headphones with their own music. This annoyed me to no end and by the time I graduated, words had been spoken. This article however was 100 times worse. I remember ru nning off the field in hs with a minuteleft on the halftime clock. It was exhilirating and especially important because it was the only time we got to practice on the football field. We used the parking lot everyday withvthe tar melting to our shoes so the football team could use the field. Since competitions are on grass football fields it was really good for us to get to do our show . I know itbwas agreed to do a postgame but no one stays for postgame. Its sooo sad to be playing your heart out and using every muscle in your body to preform and people are walking away, trying to shout over the noise, and then have hardly anybapplause at the end. Also its senior night!! How aweful for the band seniors! This school is very backward and playing into the culture of hate and bullying that is killing this world. Cant school be a safe and welcoming place for all?
Lynn • Nov 14, 2013 at 7:42 am
Sounds like a coach who knows his days are numbered and is terribly insecure in his own abilities trying to make himself something he is not. The only thing it did for him was let people know that he should be fired! A school board that would allow him to stay on as head coach should be shamed! Get the coach out of there and bring on someone who teaches, through his own behavior, what good manners are and what it means to be a true sportsman!
Fran Carfaro • Nov 14, 2013 at 7:39 am
This coach should be fired immediately AND criminal charges filed, too. He is a disgrace, a danger, and a douche bag. To think that he had the arrogance and nerve to shake a podium where a student was standing and performing, and then to scream and yell at the band? Stop being polite and call the POS what he is, a POS and a liability to Fairfax County. I would sue the uniform off this scum bag and never let him in another school again. It has nothing to do with whether the football team was winning or loosing – it has everything to do with safety, respect, and plain manners. This man makes me sick and let us not forget the disgusting parents, too, who were egging him on and screaming at the band, as well. Wonder why our kids are the way they are and bullies are tolerated? Look at the parents. This coach is a bully and should be prosecuted to to fullest extent of the law. Send his sorry butt to prison and we’ll see how big a man he is….If I was the parent of the “podium student” the coach would be in jail right now. This is serious and has to stop.
Nathan East • Nov 14, 2013 at 7:28 am
That coach needs to apologize, at length, to the band in specific and the school in general for bringing shame upon them. He has set a horrible example for his players and made the entire school look bad. If he’s got any honor at all he’ll apologize and resign.
Lgrant • Nov 14, 2013 at 7:28 am
Stay classy, band, and show your school and community what it means to be a good human being. It sounds like not only do you need a new coach, but a change in culture in your community when the parents are chiming in, as well. People often don’t know what they have until its not there. Try NOT showing up to a game sometime. No tunnel, no fight song, no noise at kick-offs. Its not just about the game, its about the whole experience. By the way, I’m from Illinois. Your message is being heard across the nation!
Mike • Nov 14, 2013 at 7:26 am
As a parent of an AHS band member I was shocked. But I want to add something I have not seen mentioned thus far. After the game was over, and even though they were cold and tired, these kids (and their directors and pit crew) stayed behind and put on the complete show all over again! What an absolute touch of class!!!!
And no, the coach did not stick around to watch.
The parents and supporters could not have been more proud of how the band handled the entire situation.
Joel • Nov 14, 2013 at 7:25 am
I smell a lawsuit.
PREPARE YOUR WALLET.
Brian Childers • Nov 14, 2013 at 7:02 am
The marching band routinely executes maneuvers of precision and coordination that put to shame the most complicated of football plays. Exploits of bands like the mind-blowing performances of Ohio State garner millions of views online and in the newspapers and television mediums, bolstering support of their schools and morale. The band is one of the biggest morale boosters in the school, slapping them in the face with a tantrum like his is the act of a craven coward.
In this day and age where bullying is finally being recognized as the destructive influence it is on our nation’s youth, why should this Coach and his cohorts behavior be tolerated?
Answer: It should not be tolerated. These band kids are hard working students in their chosen path, they should be valued just as much as any football team for their hard work, not belittled and bullied by a Coach who has a worse success rate than the band does!
–Brian from Oklahoma
Hannah • Nov 14, 2013 at 7:00 am
Are you kidding me? I Am drum major of my band, and I take pride in my band in what we do every single day, whether it’s bad or good. To have someone come on to the field and completely ruin a show that a band has worked so hard for since band camp back in July, is unbelievable. To say that the football players were not at fault, is assanine. They should have know from what is right and what is wrong. And if they don’t they shouldn’t be playing football. I hope this makes national news, because this act of mob like bullying is absolutely a disgrace. Rant over.
Brandon • Nov 14, 2013 at 6:55 am
Hey Mike, how about you do everyone a favor and take a trombone to the face. The band has ten times the talent of your football team and you have no right to intrude on a band as amazing as this one. You don’t run the school, you can’t even run a football team right. My apologies to the band, I saw you at USBands regionals and I thought you were fantastic.
Kimberly • Nov 14, 2013 at 6:42 am
I feel so heated about this article and the way this band, and I’m sure many others around the country are treated. Marching Band is an amazing, wonderful Sport! I have seen and known many wonderful people that come from Marching Band programs. This coach, if that is what he wishes to be called, is supposed to be a leader. All he is leading is bully’s. He is teaching kids how to be meat heads and push people around to get what they want. We have a society of enough bully’s. This coach and his team need to show respect for this band. I hope and pray that this school board will step in and take measure on this problem. How do they think the parent’s of these band members felt to not get to see their kids perform on Senior Night! Awful. Keep strong kids your hearts are way bigger than that coach or football team.
sinajax • Nov 14, 2013 at 6:38 am
This is the email address of the coach mentioned: Mike Scott [email protected]
This is the email address of their principal: Vincent Randazzo [email protected]
Melissa • Nov 14, 2013 at 6:33 am
I am a music teacher in New York State, and I will be sharing this with both colleagues and students. My heart breaks for the band members; to put so much time and effort into a marching season and to be treated like this! As a teacher I can tell you that both the band director and the coach have the same job: to teach not only content but also a sense of fair play, community spirit and teamwork. This coach either doesn’t recognize that or is ignoring it in his attempts to win the game. Sadly, the students in BOTH groups are being mistreated by his attitude. Also, the family of the student on the podium should be blowing up the phone lines calling for a reprimand. The podiums in our district are about six feet high, and that student could have been seriously hurt. It is assault and should be treated as such.
Marsha • Nov 14, 2013 at 6:08 am
This is unsportsmanlike like behavior at best and a reason for the coach to be severely reprimanded if not fired. What is this coach teaching his players in this shameful display of the worst behavior sports has to offer. If there is more to this story than meets the eye, it needs to be brought out. Even if this incident is not brought to the local school board I’m sure they have heard of the incident and need to act upon it. Shameful! Standards of behavior have been worsening with every generation without someone helping it along like this.
Jackie • Nov 14, 2013 at 6:01 am
Also saw this on my news feed on facebook……
To the band and guard members: as a former band nerd from a school that also had (and still has) a poor performing football team, in some ways, we can relate to each other. However, that amount of disrespect from all those people is something that I can’t even surmount. All of you – from director to students, and parents working behind the scenes to alumni supporting from the stands – DEFINITELY deserved better treatment than that. One thing my HS band director always told us was “always be a class act,” and it sounds like you guys did just that, so KUDOS!!!!!
Stay strong and keep doing what you guys do best!!!! You have more support than you know!! Much love from So Cal!!!
Rebekah Elliott • Nov 14, 2013 at 5:58 am
That is ridiculous, reminds me of when our football team wouldn’t move so we could get off the field for them and they just stood there even though the COACHES told them to move. Marching band is always pushed to the back burner and I think it’s time someone finally stands up for the band.
Mark • Nov 14, 2013 at 5:56 am
Being a very successful high school band director of 33 years, I can tell you that this is not a new thing at all! However, over the years there is a very obvious pattern. I never got yelled at by a coach who’s team was successful and winning, only the ones who were o-for. It seems that there is a direct correlation between success and peace. Funny thing though, I never fussed at football players or coaches when the band didn’t win a competition. Why? Because I was very busy planning and executing the next weeks rehearsals to help the kids perform better at our next performance, even if it was only for a football game or parade. What a childish attitude! Sounds like a 15 yard penalty wouldn’t have made a difference anyway! Also, before you get fired up about the principal/administration not doing anything about it, MOST BUT NOT ALL principals became principals because the football team was 1 and 9 when THEY were the coach. Just sayin’.
Lilly Carroll • Nov 14, 2013 at 5:24 am
The band should suit up and march down the halls of the school, playing something loud and spirit-stirring.
Tracey • Nov 14, 2013 at 4:16 am
Wow – shocked at this… and because of this extra practice time, the football team won correct? Oh no, I saw the score was 55-14 with a big loss for them. Most people probably enjoyed the band more than the poor coaching/playing of the football team.
And why doesn’t the principal make changes to senior night. These kids should be recognized (band, football, and cheerleaders). Why not recognize them before the game, so as to not interfere with normal halftime activities. Coach – congratulations on your stellar performance and representation of the school. To the band, keep up the good work, keep winning awards, keep practicing, and keep music and important part of your life. Studies have shown music enriches the mind!
Jennifer Kimball • Nov 14, 2013 at 4:09 am
I am an alumni of Mt. Carmel High School, located in San Diego, and was a member of my own school’s band for four years. Never have I seen or heard of such blatant disrespect from an authority figure directed a group of students, during a PERFORMANCE, no less! It’s despicable, unacceptably and downright wrong! My heart goes out to you and your band and you have my full support! I will be sharing this article. I also found the event on Facebook, “Support the Marching Atoms,” and have I have taken the liberty notify a multitude of my band friends, several of whom are band students in college, and a few band directors. I don’t know how many will actually act and send an email, but I thought hey it’s worth a shot! :) In the meantime know that this has gone VIRAL (at least on the facebook page I found it on), and that you have support from the west coast and wherever else this message spreads! Love from the Marching Sundevils of San Diego and Good luck to you!
Kirk hickman • Nov 14, 2013 at 3:54 am
I’m a HS Band Director from the Chicago arena, and shocked to hear of this situation escalating at your school. What your administration needs to make clear to your fittingly decorated football coach is that these are children out there performing. They need to keep this in check from their perverse view of a high school football game.
HS marching band at a home football game creates atmosphere. Big secret, most band kids don’t care about football. But, they do care about creating a great atmosphere where the crowd cheers and reacts to poms, cheerleaders, the band and the game alike. Win or lose, you can have a great atmosphere where people want to come to a Friday night game. We all know we’re not there as the main course, but you lose it and you’re just left with the product you can produce on your own. Your record speaks to the clearly lousy atmosphere you’d be left with.
With your current path, think of your home game crowd. Take the band parents and band alumni out of your stands, have the band kids stay at home; you want to shrink your captive audience on top of it? Do you want a crowd with every corner do the towns population, or bitter football parents and former players reliving the “glory days” in a faded ill-fitting lettermans jacket?
I’m fortunate enough to have a world class athletic director and football coach (and his program). We’re in the third round of the playoffs, they spend time on making sure they have great kids. They lead by a great example and are always kind/respectful. Maybe he needs to look at what “winning” programs are like. You can do anything with great kids. Losing records happen, but this looks like a sign of the mess he’s created and pool of negativity that is polluted with disrespect.
In my 12 years I’ve learned one thing band kid from Annandale. Band kids pull for one another. Every HS and college band kid in this country feels for you and hopes for a bright finish to this story.
All the best
Alitia Gurner • Nov 14, 2013 at 3:22 am
Hi Marching Atoms. As someone who found herself only through band, I understand how awful this must have been for you guys. My last football game as a senior in my high school marching band was depressing beyond belief due to the homecoming court appearing on the field halfway through our show, yet even then, we weren’t treated the way you were. I applaud you for your commitment to show that they couldn’t undermine your determination to finish your show. No matter what they do to you or say, never let them know how that makes you truly feel. Use that hurt, disappointment, and anger in your next performance. Use it as fuel to show them that they cannot take away what truly matters to you. If you don’t plan on performing again due to other plans in college, or whatever it may be, take those emotions to spread the word that not everyone can play sports for whatever reason (mine was that I sucked so bad that in 5th grade I was literally used to distract the other teams players in basketball. That was seriously all I did the entire season) so instead they enter the arts. Never stop showing your support for music in the schools.
People are right when they say that the marching band doesn’t work as hard as the football team. Instead, the marching band works so much harder in so many other ways. I will admit I love to watch football, and I loved attending games both in high school and in college. However, I have more respect for what band members go through since it is similar, but with so much less support. Football is nothing more than quick spurts of speed and strength. People don’t realize the extreme stamina marching requires. Not only are you moving around the field at quick speeds without any breaks for long periods of time, but you have to remember your spots, music, and sometimes choreography. In football if someone is too tired or injured, there is always someone else to take their place. If a band member is too tired or injured, they have no choice but to push on and keep performing or else they let everyone else down since they cannot be replaced. Both are teams. Both spend months in rehearsals and practices working until they are so exhausted they collapse on their beds when they get home. Both have extreme meaning to those involved. There is no such thing as one being more important than the other, since both are important in their way.
This is the message we need to spread to all the world. I would love to spew my anger and disgust towards those who disrespected the band so very wrongly, but I know that that would accomplish nothing. I hope Coach Scott gets reprimanded and if he is lucky enough to coach again next year, he will show more respect. But in the meantime, I want you Marching Atoms to know that you have more support than you can possibly imagine. All my best wishes to you. And as a special shout out to your seniors, take this from someone who went through something similar, but don’t let this ruin the rest of your senior year. Take all the memories from your competitions and treasure them. You did wonderful this year!
Dustin Munu • Nov 14, 2013 at 3:03 am
I truly appreciate that there are students in this HIGH SCHOOL NEWSPAPER has the testicular fortitude (no offense to Mrs. Ryan) to write such a great article about the mistreatment of the marching band. Events such as this, which are by no means uncommon, tend to be shrugged aside as another case strong picking on the weak. True congratulations are in order for the fine students who wrote this article for seeing an injustice and bringing it to light in print. As reporters you will be unhindered by others opinions and as human beings you are among the elite.
Daniel • Nov 14, 2013 at 3:02 am
Annandale Marching Band. You have the full support of the Fort Hays State University Marching Band here in Kansas and the support of hundreds of thousands of Americans across the country. (Great reporting! This is important material to share with the nation as it addresses a widespread issue of bullying by many football programs throughout the nation.)
Don’t let anything get you down! Your worth is much more than any of those parents, coaches, or faculty. Every person at that game that did nothing is just as bad as those coaches and parents that yelled at you.
By the way, if you love music, keep practicing and do it in college. You have a huge family that you will grow extremely close to.
Coach Scott, it’s your move now that you are in the national spotlight.
Nicole Norris • Nov 14, 2013 at 2:56 am
This is absolutely horrid treatment of the band members. They worked so hard for months leading up to these games only to be treated like gum on someone’s shoe. Parents need to step up and demand respect for their kids, go to the school board demand action and get this coach removed permantly and the principal put on leave for not taking action against this. The school board are elected officials if they wish to keep their jobs and titles they will not ignore the masses. Also if things don’t happen quickly stage retaliation like a post mentioned before mine, don’t play. Sounds like this coach is so full if himself and that the principal has no backbone to lead. Where is the superintendent?!? What does he or she say?!? They are suppose to be leaders and be there for EVERY student. Doesn’t this also lead toward bullying?!? I’m pretty sure it is and there should be a ZERO tolerance in school for this. This school district is in major need of help, they need to get their priorities straight or they are going to fail. People will start to enroll their children elsewhere and who would blame them? They will move out of the district so there goes taxes and funds. It’s time to take a stand people!! To the band. I’m proud of you for holding your heads high you all rock, one day you will realize just how much better of a person you are than who tried to bring you down.
Hawaii Former Band Drum Major • Nov 14, 2013 at 2:21 am
Hi, I would just like to let you know that your arcticle here is receiving much attention by band members throughout Hawaii. The band’s ordeal does not go unnoticed, and many of us here sympathize greatly. Band is a big thing here, and even the smallest bands of twenty members get reinforcement and encouragement from the boys on the football team. I personally hope that it consoles your band that the only reason why that football coach has room to run his mouth is because of his tenure… which, academically, means absolutely nothing. So sorry about your barking dog, and have a great season!
Hunter Molen • Nov 14, 2013 at 2:20 am
As a band student, this completely baffles me as to how an adult can think that what can be considered harassment is justifiable in any way, regardless of the penalty in question. Depending on the height and integrity of the podium that Drum Major could have very well gotten injured. This is a ridiculous event, and in no way should be accepted as common conduct. Tenure or not, this staff member should be reprimanded.
Bass Clarient from Washington • Nov 14, 2013 at 2:01 am
THE WEST COAST HAS YOUR BACK MARCHING ATOMS!
Cynthia Mineart Sinsap • Nov 14, 2013 at 1:58 am
As an AHS graduate (’70) and a band alumni, I am horrified to hear this. The Music program was one of the best things about the school during my time there. The Symphonic Band won 1sts in all it’s competitions, we always had band members representing the school in the All-State bands. The choir was also superb. It’s true that even then the sports teams got more recognition, but at least we felt the music programs got some respect.
Kudo’s to the newspaper for such objective reporting of the incident. I hope that people sit up and take notice.
Samson Ciftci • Nov 14, 2013 at 1:57 am
HI, Atom Band. I just wanted to send my heartfelt apologies to you. As a 5 year veteran of marching band, with the most recent year being at Texas State University, I sympathize with you and agree that no band should be treated in such a way. I hope that administration issues an apology to you.
On the other hand, I would like you to know that this is something that is all too common in high school, and much more rare in college. Do not give up band because of the ignorance of these people. Best of luck to all of you!
mitch • Nov 14, 2013 at 1:56 am
Was a player on our AAA 1985 State Champ Team…the Band was a part if that Victory! There are few things that still make me feel that feeling, outside of hearing the Band amp us up before a game! Nothing compares…and clearly, this coach lost site of that…many moving parts to a victory…and music is one of them!
Michele • Nov 14, 2013 at 1:53 am
Does anyone have a video of any of this to post to Youtube? It would go viral.
Bedlam • Nov 14, 2013 at 1:50 am
Hey, Annandale – this percolates down from the top.
And, it just might be coming up on elections for school board and superintendent in your area. So, express your feelings on the matter by removing as many board members as possible. Let ’em know why. You let this go on? Go get a job. You want athletics to supersede all the other programs? Bye–eee!
Nothing changes an school board member’s point of view like watching their peers be shown the door. It’s amazing, they’re nearly human for half their term in office after they get the point. Best of all, so few people actually vote for these chuckleheads that you can easily send them back to their day jobs with a bit of neighborhood campaigning.
ALD • Nov 14, 2013 at 1:32 am
Disgusting. He is an educator and is endangering the lives of students. This goes beyond “poor sportsman-like” behavior; however “nice” he is, his actions speak louder than words. He should be sued for his actions and is extremely lucky the parents of the drum majors have not pressed charges at the present time. As it was stated earlier in the above comments, he not only endangered the lives of the drum majors but continually risks injury to his own players and the marching band by allowing his team on the field. Giving his players extra time to warm up lets AHS football team an unfair advantage which further demonstrates his unsportsmanlike behavior. He should be ashamed and issue a formal apology to all the band members, their families and alumni. He should neither be a role model nor an educator.
If he can get away from endangering the lives of his students, he must feel comfortable to know he will not be reprimanded. Thus his comfort with student endangerment raises serious questions about the attitude of the entire faculty. The other faculty members must share that attitude as well for them to be complacent with his actions. This coach sets precedence; he and other faculty members will only continue their disregard for student safety.
The school district should seriously consider suspending this coach at the very least. If this behavior continues in the county, then I highly recommend that other school districts in Virginia send formal issues of protest at the Annadale school district’s allowance for violence in their schools. If this article continues to circulate and Coach Scot does not receive reprimand for endangering the lives of the drum majors, then I highly encourage members of the Annadale HS community to petition at the Virginia General Assembly this winter to ensure that this behavior from school authorities should not be repeated.
Stay strong Marching Atoms, an alum from Jamestown High School Marching Eagles in Williamsburg, VA is on your side. Congratulations on your National Title! Your band director should be proud he taught all of you! You should be proud of yourselves that you all continue to stay strong in the face of continual adversity.
A-Train • Nov 14, 2013 at 1:27 am
ADDENDUM TO MY PREVIOUS POST**
TO THE MARCHING ATOMS:
Life gets better, I assure you. grow from this.
Your supporter and –
-Saugatuck, Indians Class of 1993
-High School Band President 1992, 1993
-Drum Major 1992-1993
-John Phillip Sousa Award Winner 1993
-President/CEO
Which means when you grow up you don’t ask for permission, you GIVE it, Someday you will be surprised who walks through your doors asking for a job.
Justice Jones • Nov 14, 2013 at 1:25 am
I was a Annandale Marching atom during my first and only year at AHS. Over the last few years, I have kept up to date with the music program, and seeing the great honors that the band has accomplished, I am impressed. The Annandale Athletic department and community should be ashamed of these actions set for. The marching band is a giant part of the game-day experience, and quite frankly without it, football games wouldn’t be entertaining. I surely hope that they change these actions and treat these students with the mass amount of respect they deserve. Stay strong Marching Atoms! You have a ton of us on your side.
MisterAlex • Nov 14, 2013 at 1:21 am
Disgraceful. How about a little perspective, y’all? Football is a game; the way folks put it on a dais and worship it is downright sickening.
Is your home burning to the ground? Are you losing blood from an arterial wound? Did somebody just shoot your beloved family pet? I’m willing to bet money the answer to these is “No, I’m attending a freaking high school football game.” So sit down, shut up, and enjoy the entertainment you’re being afforded. And grow up a little while you’re at it. Poor baby.
georgi barker • Nov 14, 2013 at 1:18 am
As an Annandale parent who attended this game… no matter the local outcome, I hope that the publicity this issue has received keeps a conversation going that helps high school students all over the country experience more respect for the extra-curricular choices they have made. It’s great when teenagers choose to be involved in or serve their school, whether it’s through sports, performing arts, publications, student government, service clubs, etc. Let’s start at the top, parents and faculty, by setting an example of respect and appreciation for all these students!
Karen • Nov 14, 2013 at 1:18 am
This article just went up 1000 views in one minute. Annandale High School, prepare to be famous. The intense and loving world of marching/drum corps will not let you be in vain! As for Mr. Scott, prepare for your worst media nightmare. The marching band world is extremely passionate about our sport of the arts!
Lucas Rabb • Nov 14, 2013 at 1:17 am
i would quit football if my coach was that rude to the band
william • Nov 14, 2013 at 1:16 am
That coach should not have a job where he has authority over young people. If my kids whent to a school where an employee publicly behaved that horribly to a student I would pull them out until he was gone.
A-Train • Nov 14, 2013 at 1:09 am
1) If this is truly high school press… then GOD BLESS AMERICA! Write without fear and with morale fortitude. To Megan and James if anyone challenges you and/or this article or you right to publish it or asks you to “move”, you plant yourselves by the river of truth turn and reply “No. YOU MOVE” Well done.
2) To, “Coach Dingleberry” You have probably helped create the defining moment whereas all the “Marching Atoms” have decided what kind of Americans and adults they wish to be. Your classless actions and behavior, have just inspired the “Marching Atoms” to thrive, succeed and co-sign no “baloney” [I had another word picked out but I’m sure this is on a public school page.] You just helped create kids that will fins support in their success and will, within 10 years be those young professionals that end up running your company. Get ready for an early retirement.
3) To the “Merry Band of Poor Parents” in the stands. Might be nice to see the players individually reach out to the band IF they do not share the same views as the coach, Unfortunately maybe some nice kids on the football team will get persecuted for the views of their coach. Shame on you for not loving your kids enough to teach them to have a set and stand up for someone shaking a conductor’s stand and creating a teasing mob. When you look in the mirror, please realize.. YOU are the reason we cannot have nice things. If your kid is the exception to this, demand they reach across the lines and support the music program and the kids that stand out in the rain, sleet, snow and cold fall nights to support you… I wonder how many of the Atoms’ Football team and staff (coach excluded) will be brave enough and honorable enough to reach out to the band.
I support the Marching Atoms
“A-Train”
Kalamazoo, Michigan
Chris H • Nov 14, 2013 at 1:08 am
Joshua K get real. Being under pressure and stress is no excuse for rude, childish, disrespectful, and even dangerous behavior. This man has no business being a coach, teacher, or any position of influence over children or young adults. I agree with the other posters. The band should either skip the next season’s home games, or better yet, show up and refuse to play. What a disgrace you are to your school and your community, Mr. Scott.
Anthony Colla • Nov 14, 2013 at 1:05 am
It’s stories like this that bring back to me why high school SUCKED so very, very badly. The emphasis schools place on team sports which teach an unhealthy “us vs. them” mentality is shameful! If I were Emperor of the U.S., I’d ban anyone from playing team sports who had a GPA of less than 3.5 unweighted. This is vile, reprehensible, and heinous behavior on the part of the coaching staff. Pisses me right the f&$k off!!!
Colleen • Nov 14, 2013 at 1:02 am
Joshua, I quite disagree. A grown man bullying kids does not make a “good guy”…ever. He may have some good attributes but they quickly become overshadowed by his behaviors. As an adult in such a position, you learn to behave in a respectful manner and leave your issues at home. There is a line you know you cannot cross regardless of your current stress level. You certainly do not work in a school with youth.
I also believe that the EDITORIAL was very well written. It is what it is.
Karen • Nov 14, 2013 at 1:02 am
Oh, by the way, if any of you would like to give Mr. Coward Scott a piece of your mind, here is his email: [email protected]
Cameron • Nov 14, 2013 at 1:01 am
Here’s a link to the coaches, give them a piece of your mind
http://www.annandaleatoms.com/index.cfm?action=main.teamcoaches&id=2418
Matt • Nov 14, 2013 at 12:59 am
Props to Megan Ryan and James Barker. “It is a newspaper’s duty to print the news and raise hell” -The Chicago Times, 1861
Well get out your marshmallows, because you’ve done exactly that. To everyone saying that this article is biased and unprofessional can just calm down for a second and realize that this isn’t right. I’ve been a drum major twice, and am marching in college right now. Band is a family and the majority of us do it because we enjoy it. You’ve got thousands of band kids backing you up all across the country…go kick some ass.
sandinkler • Nov 14, 2013 at 12:59 am
While I agree that both sides of the story should be heard before resorting to insults and charcter assassination….”pressure and stress” is NEVER EVER, EVER a legitimate excuse for endangering students…
Ray Sword • Nov 14, 2013 at 12:57 am
From what I just read and I quote “Then the unspeakable happened. Coach Mike Scott and a few other coaches as well as some players began yelling at the band and Band Director Adam Hilkert to “get the band off the field.” According to the game clock, we had about 4:30 left and halftime wasn’t over.
The screams from the fans and coaches became more intense, and Coach Scott resorted to his own measures by shaking the podium of junior Assistant Drum Major Douglas Nguyen, and then yelling at the other Assistant Drum Major, senior Noah Wolfenstein, to stop conducting and get off the field. Yells came from the stands and the coaches to the press box and the field.”, I will say this. I will look to see what legal action can be brought to this coach and the Principal of Annandale High School.
Coach Scott created a hostile environment and enticed the crowd to yell at kids of the band while they performed. This is known as rioting, coach.
Second, Coach Scott deliberately endangered the safety of the Drum Major on the podium once the coach started shaking it. Full intent to scare the student at minimum. This is also assault of a minor.
Third, as Coach Scott by a faculty member of this school he brought public embarrassment to the band students, the football students, the Administration staff of Annandale High School and the community of Annandale, VA. by his actions mentioned above.
We, the people, can see he is not a role model for anyone he is around by this. It’s apparent that the coach has either forgot how things are done in college, that the band and cheerleaders are your moral support of the game. Or, maybe, the coach never attended college. Maybe he hasn’t seen a professional football game, other than on TV, where thepregame and halftime show are cut from broadcast. Either way, he has shown poor showmanship, poor sportsmanship and bad manners all the way around including bullying. Obvious of his actions shaking the podium with a human being on it.
My next question is “where was administration when all of this was happening?” They are just as guilty to allow the event fester to this level. They, too, need to be held accountable.
For those biased parents that joined in on the rioting. Shame on you for showing bad bahavior to the kids of the community. Maybe you, as well, don’t understand the reason a band is part of the sporting event. Maybe some of you have been deprived from attending college. Find a college to visit a game and see how it’s all a production between the football team and the band that supports the team. And if you are thinking “we’ll just use braodcasted music” from CDs or mp3’s you better be ready to pay the royalty fees for public broadcasting of copyrighted material. Quite expensive when you have to pay every time something is played. The bands have already paid those fees so they can perform it live. But, that doesn’t cover what comes from the pressbox or any other source. Just check with ASCAP, BMI and SESAC on intellectual property rights and such.
I will continue to follow this story and will be making calls in the morning.
AHS Band, stand proud. Your record speaks for itself. To Band Director Adam Hilkert, keep producing great talent and I hope this will help your program foster.
Will • Nov 14, 2013 at 12:55 am
If my high school’s football team showed that kind disrespect towards the marching band, there would be serious consequences for both the players and the coaches. This makes me sick.
Susan Corley • Nov 14, 2013 at 12:52 am
I cannot begin to describe how upsetting this is to me. As someone who learned respect and discipline in my high school band, I am truly appalled by this type of behavior from an adult. WAY TO GO BAND MEMBERS!!! This coach owes these students and his players a huge apology.
Elaine Lennox • Nov 14, 2013 at 12:50 am
I received this article through my own Drum Major on the other side of the country.
As a marching band member, this breaks my heart that these students were treated this way. There was no excuse for such behavior from the football coach. As previously mentioned, football games would be a complete bore if the band was not there to play.
We had this experience with my own band when our bus arrived very late for one of our games. The cheerleaders were cheering and thanking us when we finally arrived at almost half-time at the game because otherwise they were completely helpless.
I hope not only the school’s administration and community become aware of this disgusting act, but people all around the nation.
And by the way football- your record is pathetic. Maybe it’s time for a new coach? Do justice to both programs.
Karen • Nov 14, 2013 at 12:49 am
Wow. That football coach should be ashamed of himself. What a pathetic excuse for a man. By shaking the drum major podium, he could have risked injuring a student, he should be fired for this. What complete scum.
Colleen • Nov 14, 2013 at 12:48 am
I’ve been going to high school football games for approximately the last 10 years. Quite frankly, I don’t care about the game…at all. I care about the band. I am absolutely certain that I am NOT the only one in the stands there for that reason. We aren’t all football adoring fans. It’s not all about the game, you buffoon of a coach. There is nothing quite like a grown man stomping his feet bullying kids when he doesn’t get his way. I do hope you carry that shame for life because the lesson is a vital one to learn.
That all said, I respect the young players for their hard work and dedication. The band members also work extremely hard to get to the point where they play their halftime shows and ongoing year round events that may not be obvious to the ignorant among us. It requires the same dedication to succeed.
Shame on administration for allowing ANY employee to behave as the coach did. I believe his actions should shoot him directly up the ladder of disciplinary action to termination. Shame on the parents for their ignorance. You reap what you sow.
Kudos to the writers for speaking up.
Rhythmtank • Nov 14, 2013 at 12:44 am
I would like to add my voice to the mass chorus of people calling for this coaching staff and the administration that supports it to be immediately fired. I am a music teacher and was a band director in Texas for several years. This kind of behavior is reprehensible and disgusting. This coach and administration have brought great shame upon this school from the entire nation. Kudos to the students and directors of the AHS band program for their great achievements and continual striving for success as well as the journalists that have brought the nation’s attention to this disrespectful and vile behavior from a “teacher” at this school.
Renee • Nov 14, 2013 at 12:44 am
Arrogant jock!
sandinkler • Nov 14, 2013 at 12:43 am
I feel for these kids and I hope that they are able to rise above and remember that they are better than this. When I was in the marching band, we had an incident with a visiting team harrassing us verbally as well as throwing rocks and garbage at us. One fellow student had had enough and hollared back at the team. Unfortunately, a local “reporter” was near by. I use the term “reporter” loosely, since I believe reporters are supposed to do some investigation on facts before witing a scathing editorial about a high school band being “unsportsmanlike” for yelling rude comments to visitors. Talk about outrage…no consideration whatsoever for pesky things like, oh say, facts. We were pretty much put on probation for the rest of the year.
My band had a proud history of nearly 40 consecutive years of the highest possible ratings at competitions and festivals. No one remembers this. The football team won the state championship one time…the year before this incident. 20 years later, the team still gets honored. Smh…
Adam Huenemann • Nov 14, 2013 at 12:42 am
I graduated from Annandale in 2012 and had the opportunity to play football under Coach Adams and Coach Scott. Actually, Coach Scott was my position coach and I spent hours every day at practice with him.
That said, I have to say I was not surprised when reading this article. Throughout my entire time at Annandale, I experienced and witnessed an uncountable number of situations in which Coach Scott was disrespectful to not just football players, but even students during the school day. I don’t know why nobody has mentioned this yet, but Coach Scott is also a History teacher at this school, and probably teaches some of the members of the marching band. To me, this article clearly demonstrates a perfect reason to alleviate him of his position as a football coach, and more importantly, as a teacher.
I for one would never be okay with trusting this man with anyone I care about. This man, as a head football coach, head varsity tennis teach coach and history teacher, touches way too many lives for him to be such a huge dick. I know Annandale has its fair share of issues, but this one needs resolving. I wasn’t supportive of Coach Scott’s tactics as a coach and I wasn’t supportive of Coach Scott’s methods as a member of the faculty; but hey, maybe that’s just me.
in coach scotts gym class • Nov 14, 2013 at 12:41 am
coach scott is my gym teacher, he does not care for anything but athletics,and i very much dislike him. his explanation? football is more important – i guarentee it!
Alex • Nov 14, 2013 at 12:37 am
Keep your heads up. I was in my high school and college marching band. My high school band won competitions, and played for the Olympic Selection Committee. My college band played two half time shows for NFL games, one for the St. Louis Cardinals (showing my age) the other for the Chicago Bears. We also played Hailed to The Chief, and other songs when President Reagan was in Springfield Illinois giving a speech. It sounds as if your band is doing a great job. Hopefully, with all the coverage this is getting, you will get some respect that is well deserved.
Joshua K • Nov 14, 2013 at 12:35 am
Coach Scott really isn’t that bad of a guy, I’d like to hear what he’d have to say on this issue because the article was unprofessionally written with a load full of bias. Not that this excuses any of Coach Scott’s actions, but he’s being antagonized beyond belief here without even having a chance to speak up for himself. Just a note to everyone not to judge so quickly, from what I know in person, Coach Scott’s a really nice guy with alot of pressure and stress on his back.
Just a thought…
Paul D. Everts • Nov 14, 2013 at 12:35 am
One more thing… Y’all have me fired up!! The commonality between what happened to your band/guard and to this Wisconsin band member is – FOOTBALL COACHES/PLAYERS DISRESPECT BAND/GUARD MEMBERS and they learn this disrespect as ‘children’ / young adults. There is more to this story.
http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/football/lions-player-calls-marching-band-fat-questions-sexuality-musician-article-1.1479368
Liz • Nov 14, 2013 at 12:33 am
I was in a very similar situation a few years ago. A coach was yelling at the marching band to get off the field in the middle of the show because the clock was down to maybe 2 minutes (but we were really almost done). Luckily our band director was there to tell him to shut up. I’m not sure exactly what he said, but I don’t think I’ve ever seen a grown man look more ashamed than that coach.
The best defense is a good offense. Defend yourselves; put your foot down. Don’t go to the next home game. Let them see how important you are: the Star-Spangled Banner, the tunnel to run through, the fight song when the team gets a touchdown (although from the sound of this, that might not be relevant…), the music the cheerleaders dance to. They could try a recording, but they’ll find out it’s just not the same. You deserve better than this. To a lot of kids, band is more than an extracurricular credit. It’s a family, a group you know you can rely on. It doesn’t sound like they deserve your time, so use that Friday night to practice for competitions, or concerts, or to kick back and relax from a week of attending a school that treats you so immaturely. This coach has disrespected himself, his team, and his school with his behavior. Plus the fact that it was Senior Night…that’s the icing on the cake. It sounded like you handled this graciously and maturely, which your director should be very proud of. And don’t give up. This article found its way to my collegiate band’s Facebook page and we all support you. I promise it gets better :)
Amy Myers • Nov 14, 2013 at 12:32 am
I hope the band members and director take some solace at the tremendous support they are receiving, not only on this page, but all over Facebook! If the coach and administration aren’t embarrassed yet, something tells me they’re about to be. Shame on them for setting such a terrible example!
A Fellow Marcher • Nov 14, 2013 at 12:30 am
Ignorance at its best. Absolutely unbelievable and intolerable that the Coach, a TEACHER, is leading his players by example by completely disrespecting an art form and failing to recognize how hard this band worked to put a show together for THEM.
I would be absolutely pissed, and so would have my directors, if this had happened at my school. Thankfully our athletic staff has the decency to acknowledge us and could logically conclude that winning more awards at competitions at football games certainly must be connected with the work ethic, discipline, and dedication that this activity demands.
The behavior detailed in this article is extremely disappointing. Show some respect for your fellow students and recognize other people’s hard work.
Sydney • Nov 14, 2013 at 12:29 am
None of the AHS staff has a history of showing commendable behavior so I can’t say I’m surprised by this.
Lynn Girdlestone • Nov 14, 2013 at 12:29 am
This is the most ridiculous thing I have ever seen!!! I marched all 4 years of high school, and a couple years of drum corps, and have never seen anything so blatantly disrespectful. I went to a school where our band was not taken seriously, especially by the school’s administration, but something like this would’ve never happened. There is a level of respect that is obviously lacking from the coach. This is just terrible to hear that a coach would shake the drum major podium. The drum major’s parents should file a complaint with the school district. That is endangering a student. What if they had fallen? Broken a bone, ruptured their spleen, or worse? SO irresponsible and definitely not befitting a faculty member. Sending your team onto the field while students are marching with instruments (expensive instruments at that!) is dangerous! For the band members and the football team alike! Especially if they’re marching backwards!! All I can say is, keep your head up band kids, there are lots of people in the world that’ll put you down, but you keep strong! You know your worth, and don’t let anyone tell you otherwise! Kudos to the band director for not punching the football couch!
Victoria Penalver • Nov 14, 2013 at 12:25 am
I’m not from Annandale but I am in Marching Band. I must say that this is the worst possible way to hurt the band. We spend 3-5 months preparing shows and working our butts off to bring music to all. Band requires so much of our time, effort, and focus. At my school we have practice after school until late then have to go home and do homework until even later and wake up at 5 in the morning to get to school again. It is a tiresome ongoing cycle but is worth it when we step off of the field and know that we gave that show our best. To take this away from the students in band is horrendous. How would you feel if you put all of your effort into something just to have your moment of glory taken away from you? The band does not have to come to the football games and support them but they do, they do not have to play pep band music during the game but they do, they do not have to cheer when the team makes a good play but they do! The band goes and shows their sportsmanship for the football team so why can’t the favor be returned? Why can’t the football team go to a band tournament for once? Why is it that the administration makes the band go to games but not the team go to the tournaments? This is unfair to the seniors who worked hard and were experiencing their last show. Imagine how many of those students went home and were upset and/or angry. Imagine how many tears were shed over the disrespect shown to the band. One thing about this all needs to be set straight, band is not easy, it is just as much of a sport as football. No one has the right to look down on and be rude to students just because they are in band. And most of all no one has the right to get in the way of people doing what they are passionate for. Music…Music is what these students live for and no one has the right to get in the way of this. Band students are not in band just to be in it, they are in band because they have a passion for music and preforming. They are in band because they recognize the importance of hard work and how it pays off in the end. Band students understand discipline and perseverance. Obviously this these same qualities have not been installed upon some of the others and the administration at Annandale.
mkm • Nov 14, 2013 at 12:22 am
Every parent with a student in the band needs file a formal complaint against the coaches with the school district. The parents of the student on the podium that the coach shook needs to file a complaint against him with the police department. this inexcusable behaviour from an adult and an educator. Nice job of teaching his football students complete disrespect for others Coach.
Anonymous • Nov 14, 2013 at 12:21 am
I know that nobody wants to “blame” the football players in this situation, but let’s take a moment and remember that not a single one of the players from either team tried to stop their coaches from disrupting the band’s performance. They may be able to talk the talk, but in the end they’re really just walking the same cocky and arrogant walk of the people they look up to, the administration. But God-forbid anyone dares to insult the highly-praised, God-send of an administration AHS has assembled over the past few years. It’s time for a wake-up call, Annandale. This school runs on an administrative bias towards sports teams and superficial stereotypes derived from old Disney movies in which there is a hierarchy that distinguishes the “cool jocks” from the “band geeks.” This is the reason AHS has no real community. The school, much like the administration, is a joke and a half. The disrespect of the students stems directly from their coaches, teachers, and supervisors. The apple doesn’t fall far from the tree, and neither does the Atom.
Coach Collins • Nov 14, 2013 at 12:20 am
I hope coach Scott enjoyed his final humiliating season as a football coach. There’s no way that Annandale should allow him to return to the field, and certainly no other school would ever consider hiring such an incompetent, self-serving, and thoughtless man to teach their children “sportsmanship.” However, he should be very thankful that the parents of Douglas Nguyen and Noah Wolfenstein haven’t pressed charges, or worse. Kudos to Adam Halkert for not screaming back in the face of this failure of a football coach, and of course, kudos for helping his students to achieve the highest level of proficiency in their art.
Arya • Nov 14, 2013 at 12:20 am
Don’t worry AHS, they’re just compensating for something
Band Member from Another High School • Nov 14, 2013 at 12:20 am
Although our band doesn’t get the respect it deserves when compared to the football team (Do they ever?), we’ve never been treated anything like this. Our football coach at least tries to give the band some credit. This event even beats the time we got rocks thrown at us at an away game, wow. I’m sorry this happened, no one deserves that.