WTF?: Spartan Marching Band Bussing to Bowl Game

As I write this post, the Spartan Marching Band (SMB) is traveling to Orlando, Florida, on seven buses. The group left last night at 6 p.m. and is expected to get to Orlando around 10 tonight. A twenty-four hour trip. They are scheduled to perform at halftime of the Capital One Bowl on January 1st, among other performances (the bowl parade, Universal Orlando, etc.). The more I find out about everything the band does, the more disappointed I am in the way the university treats the program.

First of all, why is the band traveling to Orlando by bus? An inside source said something about "saving the university money." But why should the university be trying to save money on a bowl game that is making them millions of dollars? Furthermore, do you think the university tried to save money by sending the football players down to Orlando on buses? Of course not! They chartered a plane. Coaches and athletic administrators were flown down by the university, as were their families. I'm not saying that this is a bad thing for the university to do--I just don't understand why the athletic director, who makes $270,000 a year, would be given a free plane ticket over a member of the band.

You may also think that driving down to Florida isn't that bad. Plenty of families in Michigan take that trip every year during spring break. But this isn't your standard family vacation. Take a look at the approximate travel schedule of the SMB:

Saturday, December 27

1:00 p.m.  Registration

4:00 p.m.  Meeting--load buses immediately following

6:00 p.m.  Depart from East Lansing

Sunday, December 28

1:00 a.m.  One of the buses breaks down--caravan pulls to side of road. People on that bus split up and sit in extra seats on other buses.

1:30 a.m.  Second bus breaks down, but is fixed

2:00 a.m.  Caravan is back on the road

8:30 a.m.  First pit stop--up until this point, the band members had to use the single stall bathrooms on the buses and eat snacks that they provided themselves.

10:00 a.m.  Load the bus up again

As of 2:30 p.m. the bus had not stopped for lunch.

OK, this sounds pretty miserable...but at least the band was provided a free ride down to Orlando. Right? This is true. However, when one takes into account all of the other expenses that band members have to pay out of pocket and the time commitment they make to be in the band, it is truly the least they should get. The following list is far from comprehensive.

1. 10-20 hrs/week of practice + a full course load (minimum of 12 credits) = no time for a job
2. Each band member must pay to take MUS 114, a one credit class. No scholarships are awarded for band. Therefore, band members are actually paying to play.
3. $8-$13 to dry clean uniform after each performance
4. $3 for gloves
5. $30 or so for shoes (one time payment--provided they still fit and aren't ruined after a season)
6. Band members must pay for the replacement of certain parts of their instruments when broken (e.g. mouthpiece, around $25).
7. Pre-season rehearsals (the week before fall semester starts) can require over 120 hours of practice time.
8. "Gig" performances that raise money for the band and other funds
9. An annual high school recruiting trip that lasts all day on a Saturday

Remember, these are college students. Plus, they are extremely talented. SMB is considered to be one of the best marching bands in the nation, having been invited to play for five U.S. Presidents. Why should these talented, dedicated students be given so little in return? They are, in fact, expected to pay to be in the band. I understand that the football game itself is what draws the crowd, but I simply cannot justify football players getting full ride scholarships, incredible facilities (including the new $15.5 million Skandalaris Football Center), the use of the Clara Bell Smith Center, free meals at the Kellogg Center, a never-ending supply of uniforms and equipment, and God knows what else, while the band is riding in broken down buses to Orlando and bringing their uniforms to their local dry cleaners themselves, eating Ramen noodles to get by.

Why is athletic ability valued so much more by the university than any other set of skills and talents?