AAC says no Marching Bands

[Lobot]

The AAC has put out an announcement stating none of the conference marching bands will be allowed on the playing surface due to Covid-19. They will be allowed in the stands at the appropriate distance, maybe.

https://www.collegemarching.com/content/aac-sidelines-bands-for-2020

As a former member, this stinks for the kids and fans but it’s a safety issue. Not to mention, a wind instrument with an infected player is basically a virus dispenser and being 6 ft away isn’t going to help much.

[swilsonsp4]

Well, there goes the charge down the stairs.

[Lobot]

It wouldn’t be the first time the charge has been temporarily suspended.

[red_n_black_attack]

With time and practice, the charge can be conducted down the stairs and into the seating section. The 90 degree turn could be made directly onto the bench seats. This would still look awesome

[Lobot]

Just saw a post to Campuslink from Chris Nichter, the Director of Bands. They got blindsided by this and so did the athletic dept.

A lot of the planning is in flux still because the whole COVID Planning thing is still evolving. They do not know if they will be able to even have a pregame concert or play in the stands but at this point both of those outlooks look pretty dim at the start of the season. Band camp is up in the air because they don’t have the Fiscal year budget yet which is not related to Covid. They are going to try and prepare for outdoor music rehearsals.

TBH, this sounds like serious challenge from a planning standpoint for Nichter and I feel bad for everyone involved.

To my knowledge, the AAC is the only conference who has done this so far. I understand why they did it as you have at least 4 schools in hotspots right now in FL and TX.

With how things are playing out right now, we’ll probably be lucky to have football at all honestly, much less a marching band.

[Lobot]

There will a distanced 100+ member pep band at the Austin Peay game.

[Lobot]

There will a distanced 100+ member pep band at the Austin Peay game.

Confirmed by John Cunningham's newsletter Clifton Notes that came out for the first time today.