The History of Indiana State Songs

[SycamoreLynch]

Wanted to share this link with the Pride members. I just shared this on our Forest page. This is a link from the Kappa Kappa Psi Fraternity which is a music based organization. (I'm really sorry I don't know much about this group. If there are any members on here who want to better explain that would be fantastic.) Anyways, they went back and researched all of Indiana State's songs including school songs, alma maters, and more!! They give a story behind each song. This link is fantastic!! Kudos to any member of Kappa Kappa Psi who helped put this together!

http://lambdalambda.org/bands/songs/

 

[LoudNProud]

KKPsi is an honorary, service based band fraternity. Their requirements are, in a nutshell, to serve the bands in any capacity conducive to making their Alma Mater's ensembles function on a higher level. I'll share the wikipedia entry here, which you can take to the bank because one of our own Sycamore researched so much, and put in so much time, that it was actually the featured article on Wikipedia this last year. The information is highly accurate.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kappa_Kappa_Psi

 

[WOZ]

Cheer for the Blue and White is great !! They should restore this as our main fight song. March On Sycamores can be played as well during games.
Does anyone else agree?

 

[Wabash Cannonballer]

Cheer for the Blue and White is great !! They should restore this as our main fight song. March On Sycamores can be played as well during games.
Does anyone else agree?

I love "Cheer" and think it sounds more like a big university fight song, but there's something about March On! that's uniquely ISU.

I was surprised to see "Cheer" had words. It always sounded like it would when I heard it, but I didn't expect to ever find them. Thanks for sharing, SycamoreLynch!

 

[Sycamore Proud]

I love "Cheer" and think it sounds more like a big university fight song, but there's something about March On! that's uniquely ISU.

I was surprised to see "Cheer" had words. It always sounded like it would when I heard it, but I didn't expect to ever find them. Thanks for sharing, SycamoreLynch!

Bleacher Report had a blurb earlier this week about the worst D1 mascots and the Sycamores were not mentioned. A few years ago a list of the top 100 college fight songs in the United States was published and March On was on the list. I see no reason to even consider a change. Instead of talking about change let's promote what we have.

 

[Wabash Cannonballer]

Bleacher Report had a blurb earlier this week about the worst D1 mascots and the Sycamores were not mentioned. A few years ago a list of the top 100 college fight songs in the United States was published and March On was on the list. I see no reason to even consider a change. Instead of talking about change let's promote what we have.

Agreed. It's not like Cheer isn't played - it was one of the songs played by the band every pregame and it's often called up at basketball games too. Other schools have multiple fight songs, but there's always one that's the fight song, and for us that's March On!

 

[Pacercolt99]

This is awesome! I missed the Wabash Cannonball last year. Anyone know why the bands stopped playing it? I was a Marching Sycamore in its' heyday! In 1975 we marched 214 students plus The Chief and Princess, a feature twirler and what seemed like 24 Sparkettes. We were considered the best marching band in the State for our music and precision. We were featured at a Cincy Bengals game and got a standing ovation. We played in Muncie at Ball State and received a standing ovation on their Homecoming! We were a true college band back in the day. In 1976 we were invited to represent the USA in an International Band Contest in Switzerland, BUT, we never went because our great director, Gary Smith, scooted to the U of Illinois where he eventually retired from. I do get disappointed every time I see ISU's marching band today because they are really act like a high school band with their formations and music. I realize they are teaching today's music educators but when I can remember the crowds staying in their seats for halftime...and standing ovations at home every game.. I am not sure ISU fans would not rather see a good ol' college marching band instead of a good high school band.

 

[Pacercolt99]

I have to brag a bit here.. In 1976 I attended a Purdue football game and heard the vamp made famous by the U of Michigan for the first time. It is the one that the crowd ends up chanting "Go Big Blue!". Well, I came back to practice and taught the musical cheer to my fellow baritone players (there were 12 of us) and to a friend who taught it to his fellow tenor sax players. The next game we (the baritones and tenor sax players) played it during the game and our director Gary Smith loved it...the rest of the band quickly learned it and it still is a vamp that is used today.

 

[Wabash Cannonballer]

This is awesome! I missed the Wabash Cannonball last year. Anyone know why the bands stopped playing it? I was a Marching Sycamore in its' heyday! In 1975 we marched 214 students plus The Chief and Princess, a feature twirler and what seemed like 24 Sparkettes. We were considered the best marching band in the State for our music and precision. We were featured at a Cincy Bengals game and got a standing ovation. We played in Muncie at Ball State and received a standing ovation on their Homecoming! We were a true college band back in the day. In 1976 we were invited to represent the USA in an International Band Contest in Switzerland, BUT, we never went because our great director, Gary Smith, scooted to the U of Illinois where he eventually retired from. I do get disappointed every time I see ISU's marching band today because they are really act like a high school band with their formations and music. I realize they are teaching today's music educators but when I can remember the crowds staying in their seats for halftime...and standing ovations at home every game.. I am not sure ISU fans would not rather see a good ol' college marching band instead of a good high school band.

Sorry you missed the Cannonball! The band definitely played it last year and has every year I've been here. I had the pleasure of meeting Mr. Smith this past year - a great guy who definitely left a mark on the program and did very well for himself at U of I. Gotta remember that the late 60s and 70s were the heyday for bands all across the country, not just ISU. Other schools are bigger and have weathered the changing culture better, but we haven't been able to keep up in the same way. Doesn't help that more students outside the music majors aren't encouraged by their advisors to take band--maybe if band covered physical education credit like it did back in the day, we'd have more players in the band! I have to hope you're objecting to music selection and not quality? The band has always sounded good that I've heard.

 

[IndyTreeFan]

I would love to see our band become a source of pride again. The past few years, the marching band has looked and sounded like a second rate high school band. I'm sure the kids are trying, but the support just isn't there from ISU. Last year, they didn't even have enough BAND members to spell out ISU on the field. It's sad and embarrassing.

 

[WOZ]

We have a new Director of Athletic Bands. Her name is Nicole Gross.
I sent her an e-mail letting her know our marching band was excellent in the '70's and 80's and suggesting there would be alums willing to contribute to restore the band to its previous size etc. Like a lot of you on this board, I get tired of hearing we don't have enough money.
Unless we know where our contributions are specifically going, my belief is that a lot of alums are reluctant to contribute anything when it goes to "a university general fund" or simply the athletic foundation. If we knew what the exact needs are, we would be more apt to contribute.
Therefore, I suggested to Dr. Gross that a marching band fund raising initiative be considered.
If anyone is interested, she can be reached at: [email protected]
The football program is on the rise! It's time to get the band back together too!