Now that camp is officially over, I think I'll give some of my observations:
1. Our section is good this year, really really good (but still with room for lots of improvement). I've never had 2 TAs tell me during camp that it's already impossible to pick a full slate of alternates. Major props to all of you for your hard work. Keep it up!
2. I've yet to fly off the handle this season. This breaks my previous record of two days. Again, another sign that things are going very well this year. And I must say, your survey answers about what enrages me, classic stuff. For those of you who haven't filled out your surveys yet, the bar's been set high.
3. "Snakes on a Plane" just might be the greatest movie ever made in the history of the world. Kate's tub of popcorn is also the greatest taking advantage of a movie theater's rules ever by a consumer. And one more thing....... ah never mind. Some poor sap just missed the $300 question on Millionaire. He goes home with nothing. What a chump.
4. Kyle's farts are as potent as ever.
5. All right, I've saved the best for last. Jenny's got this secret that she doesn't want anyone to hear. So that's why I'm telling you. Last night, she......GOOD LORD, how can you use the Audience lifeline so early in the game? Seriously, this guy is a moron. Huge freakin' moron. Let me speak for all gameshow junkies, stupid people do not make good TV. Once in a while is fine, but all the time is bad. It takes what, half a brain to get through the first five questions? Since when do you have to think about them? Ok, so Jenny........HE DID IT AGAIN?! You can't be serious! He just used his second lifeline three questions later. How do people like this even get on TV? This might be the worst Millionaire contestant ever. Wow, this has gotten way too long, and I've got lots of Jane Austen to read. So what I was talking about?..........Eh, I forget.
Good work this week guys. See you tomorrow!
Sunday, August 27, 2006
Tuesday, August 22, 2006
Band Camp Blog: Monday, 08/21/06
Monday and Tuesday are usually the two hardest days of band camp but not because of their length. Despite being the two shortest days of the week, Monday stayed true to form by being extremely hot AGAIN. But let's not get ahead of ourselves here. Monday began with a full section music sectional in Harding at 9 AM. We went over stands tunes for the first part of rehearsal while the marching section leaders modeled the horn flashes. Once Kim begged me to show off my rear, well, how could I say no? The horn flash rehearsals in general have been much easier to get through than before which makes me wonder how in the world this week could get any better.
After the horn flashes, we read through two of Kyle's arranged features. The themes from "Family Guy" and "Superman" really are starting to come together and should be on the radio at some point this season. Kyle did a tremendous job writing for five parts and deserves a HUGE amount of credit. Keep looking through them, guys, because they are always getting better each time you play through them.
Practice then shifted outside to our brand spanking new practice field on the South Quad. Any returning member can probably tell you the lack of mud on this field is yet another thing that has been a nice surprise this week. Pete reviewed some fundamentals and taught the run-on step. Everybody is learning the revised step this year, and most have already said how much easier it will be once they practice it a few times. Pete's made so many changes since he took over, but they all have a reason and are being received extremely well by the MI. We've never looked and sounded this good since I've been here.
Once practice ended, we took a break, formed the parade block, and then marched over to Memorial Stadium for Illinois Sights and Sounds Day (formerly Illini First Nite). A lot of the things from music rehearsal carried over into the performance, so major ups to all of you for that. Keep up the phenomenal work on your playing. Lunch was served at the stadium which then led into a much deserved and needed three hour break. Music rehearsal lasted for an hour and a half to finish up the day.
Tomorrow is Quad Day and is the final day of Band Camp 2006. Given past history, I'd expect it to be hotter than a fire created by a match and Kyle's "tell me that's not epic" farts. I'll be posting a recap with my thoughts on the whole week later on.
After the horn flashes, we read through two of Kyle's arranged features. The themes from "Family Guy" and "Superman" really are starting to come together and should be on the radio at some point this season. Kyle did a tremendous job writing for five parts and deserves a HUGE amount of credit. Keep looking through them, guys, because they are always getting better each time you play through them.
Practice then shifted outside to our brand spanking new practice field on the South Quad. Any returning member can probably tell you the lack of mud on this field is yet another thing that has been a nice surprise this week. Pete reviewed some fundamentals and taught the run-on step. Everybody is learning the revised step this year, and most have already said how much easier it will be once they practice it a few times. Pete's made so many changes since he took over, but they all have a reason and are being received extremely well by the MI. We've never looked and sounded this good since I've been here.
Once practice ended, we took a break, formed the parade block, and then marched over to Memorial Stadium for Illinois Sights and Sounds Day (formerly Illini First Nite). A lot of the things from music rehearsal carried over into the performance, so major ups to all of you for that. Keep up the phenomenal work on your playing. Lunch was served at the stadium which then led into a much deserved and needed three hour break. Music rehearsal lasted for an hour and a half to finish up the day.
Tomorrow is Quad Day and is the final day of Band Camp 2006. Given past history, I'd expect it to be hotter than a fire created by a match and Kyle's "tell me that's not epic" farts. I'll be posting a recap with my thoughts on the whole week later on.
Friday, August 11, 2006
Passing the day away
There are 4 days 12h 30m 54s until band camp and each hour has seemed to creep by even slower than the last. So I have taken upon many things in order to help pass the time. Here are a few:
1. Sleeping. A good hour nap can really reenergize the body and even though you may believe an hour of your day was wasted, it's still one less hour until bandcamp.
2.The internet. This is a tricky one, because the internet can be boring, but if you're bored then you aren't using the internet for what it was created for, "looking up freaky sex that you'll never have yourself." -Randal Graves, Clerks II, 2006
3. Ultimate frisbee. Nothing like a good pickup game of ultimate. Not only will it tire you out and give you a great segue to no 1, it will also prepare your body for the run-on.
4. Practice. It had to be on the list somewhere.
5. Facebook. Yes, the facebook is also on the internet, but it definitely deserves a separate number. You can make a bunch of random friends and never talk to them...ever!
6. Stories. Start thinking of anecdotes to share with the rest of us. Test them in front of other friends or stuffed animals so that it's perfect for the real thing. Airplane peanuts? What's up with that?
Feel free to add your own suggestions in the comments section (hooray interactivity). Now hopefully, the time until bandcamp will just fly by.
1. Sleeping. A good hour nap can really reenergize the body and even though you may believe an hour of your day was wasted, it's still one less hour until bandcamp.
2.The internet. This is a tricky one, because the internet can be boring, but if you're bored then you aren't using the internet for what it was created for, "looking up freaky sex that you'll never have yourself." -Randal Graves, Clerks II, 2006
3. Ultimate frisbee. Nothing like a good pickup game of ultimate. Not only will it tire you out and give you a great segue to no 1, it will also prepare your body for the run-on.
4. Practice. It had to be on the list somewhere.
5. Facebook. Yes, the facebook is also on the internet, but it definitely deserves a separate number. You can make a bunch of random friends and never talk to them...ever!
6. Stories. Start thinking of anecdotes to share with the rest of us. Test them in front of other friends or stuffed animals so that it's perfect for the real thing. Airplane peanuts? What's up with that?
Feel free to add your own suggestions in the comments section (hooray interactivity). Now hopefully, the time until bandcamp will just fly by.
Wednesday, August 09, 2006
NCAA Announces Rule Changes for 06-07 Season
This week, the NCAA continued their annual tradition of changing the rules of college football. As is the usual custom, many are upset and crying foul. However, with a very different twist, this year's most significant rule changes are no doubt going to help the underdogs more than the powerhouses. With the NCAA looking to shorten the games this season, they went right away to the obvious solution and tinkered with the clock rules. This comes as no shock since the advent of instant replay made normal length games last over three and a half hours a.k.a. hell on earth for marching bands with wool uniforms.
For the benefit of all, here are explanations of the two main rule changes this year along with their significance. Since you'll hopefully be paying attention at the games this season, it will help to learn them.
1. Clock Timing
The clock will start immediately on any kickoff play during the game. It used to start when the receiving team caught the ball. On a related note, the clock will continue to stop after a first down has been made. However, the clock will start when the official gives the signal instead of when the team on offense snaps the ball.
This is going to cut out a LOT of plays per game this year, anywhere in the neighborhood of 10-15 plays per game. This will help out the defense more often, and it will greatly benefit the underdogs this season. Why? Because underdogs who have a chance to win but end up losing do so due to being much more tired at the end of games. With less plays, they'll have a much better chance at playing a full four quarters (something the Illini hasn't done since about 2002).
2. Instant Replay
It's not mandatory this year, but it's uniform across all the conferences. NFL fans should recognize a lot of what's going on here. There will still be a replay official in the press box, but coaches now have more power. Starting this season, each coach may call a timeout once per game and ask the officials to review the play upstairs. If the coach's challenge is correct, he keeps the timeout. If he's wrong, he loses the timeout. It's not quite the same as the NFL, but it's finally getting closer. One more thing, the away team no longer has the option of deciding whether or not to use instant replay, only the home team does. This will eventually be known as the "Notre Dame Rule" as they were notorious for not allowing instant replay in the majority of their road games last year.
It's a much better system now with coaches allowed to have some say in what affects their team with regards to replay. The NFL system has garnered much praise over the years with regards to the logistics even if the officiating has been horrible. With the NCAA's system, it's getting closer to making up for the horrendous job that college officials do every year, but there's still a long way to go.
There they are, kids. You're now a better college football fan for reading this. Now go back to memorizing your music!
For the benefit of all, here are explanations of the two main rule changes this year along with their significance. Since you'll hopefully be paying attention at the games this season, it will help to learn them.
1. Clock Timing
The clock will start immediately on any kickoff play during the game. It used to start when the receiving team caught the ball. On a related note, the clock will continue to stop after a first down has been made. However, the clock will start when the official gives the signal instead of when the team on offense snaps the ball.
This is going to cut out a LOT of plays per game this year, anywhere in the neighborhood of 10-15 plays per game. This will help out the defense more often, and it will greatly benefit the underdogs this season. Why? Because underdogs who have a chance to win but end up losing do so due to being much more tired at the end of games. With less plays, they'll have a much better chance at playing a full four quarters (something the Illini hasn't done since about 2002).
2. Instant Replay
It's not mandatory this year, but it's uniform across all the conferences. NFL fans should recognize a lot of what's going on here. There will still be a replay official in the press box, but coaches now have more power. Starting this season, each coach may call a timeout once per game and ask the officials to review the play upstairs. If the coach's challenge is correct, he keeps the timeout. If he's wrong, he loses the timeout. It's not quite the same as the NFL, but it's finally getting closer. One more thing, the away team no longer has the option of deciding whether or not to use instant replay, only the home team does. This will eventually be known as the "Notre Dame Rule" as they were notorious for not allowing instant replay in the majority of their road games last year.
It's a much better system now with coaches allowed to have some say in what affects their team with regards to replay. The NFL system has garnered much praise over the years with regards to the logistics even if the officiating has been horrible. With the NCAA's system, it's getting closer to making up for the horrendous job that college officials do every year, but there's still a long way to go.
There they are, kids. You're now a better college football fan for reading this. Now go back to memorizing your music!
Friday, August 04, 2006
Big Ten Opens Season with 4 Ranked Teams in Coaches' Poll
If you get a chance in the next few days before camp, take a good long look at the first Coaches Poll of the season. Sitting at the top is none other than the Ohio State University despite losing 9 starters on defense, not to mention Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year A.J. Hawk. The next Big Ten team to appear is Michigan, but they enter in way down at number 15. Following them is Iowa at 17 and finally Penn State at 19. That's it, 4 teams and done. For the past few years, we've all heard from the national media about how the conference was down in basketball. Now it appears that the same talk will surface for football.
And why shouldn't it? Look at the coaching situation. For the first time in a LONG time, both coaches in Michigan (Lloyd Carr and John L. Smith) are on the hot seat. Couple that with two second-year coaches (Ron Zook and Terry Hoeppner) and two first-year coaches (Bret Bielema and Pat Fitzgerald).
With about a third of the coaches still adjusting to new programs and with the talent level down, it means the Big Ten is more wide open than it's been in years. Any of 4 teams have a shot at the title (OSU, UM, Iowa, and PSU).
This is plenty significant for Illinois. With the conference being down, it gives them a chance to sneak up on some of these teams at home this year despite the possibility of players still adjusting to Zook's system. If they can go 3-1 in the nonconference part of the schedule, it only leaves them with 3 wins to go for a (dare I say it?) bowl game. Their Big Ten home schedule has Iowa, Indiana, Ohio State, and Purdue. Two of these are very possible wins if the secondary and the offensive line decide to show up. Add that to an also very possible road win over Northwestern, and it may mean Christmas in Detroit or Nashville (what, you were expecting New Year's in Florida?).
No one's more cynical than I am when it comes to Illini football, but even I can't help noticing that the schedule alone puts them in position for success this season.
One last thing. Go to your calendar, circle Sept. 9th. #1 OSU vs. #2 Texas in Austin. It was one of the best games of the season last year. Look for the past to repeat itself.
And why shouldn't it? Look at the coaching situation. For the first time in a LONG time, both coaches in Michigan (Lloyd Carr and John L. Smith) are on the hot seat. Couple that with two second-year coaches (Ron Zook and Terry Hoeppner) and two first-year coaches (Bret Bielema and Pat Fitzgerald).
With about a third of the coaches still adjusting to new programs and with the talent level down, it means the Big Ten is more wide open than it's been in years. Any of 4 teams have a shot at the title (OSU, UM, Iowa, and PSU).
This is plenty significant for Illinois. With the conference being down, it gives them a chance to sneak up on some of these teams at home this year despite the possibility of players still adjusting to Zook's system. If they can go 3-1 in the nonconference part of the schedule, it only leaves them with 3 wins to go for a (dare I say it?) bowl game. Their Big Ten home schedule has Iowa, Indiana, Ohio State, and Purdue. Two of these are very possible wins if the secondary and the offensive line decide to show up. Add that to an also very possible road win over Northwestern, and it may mean Christmas in Detroit or Nashville (what, you were expecting New Year's in Florida?).
No one's more cynical than I am when it comes to Illini football, but even I can't help noticing that the schedule alone puts them in position for success this season.
One last thing. Go to your calendar, circle Sept. 9th. #1 OSU vs. #2 Texas in Austin. It was one of the best games of the season last year. Look for the past to repeat itself.
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