I remember at least three from the parade -- Richard Thrailkill, family of Ronald P. Socciarelli and Sylvester Young. As others have noted there was a massive alumni band turnout. It really added to an already outstanding experience. Mr. Thrailkill conducted a song during the post game performance. Not sure about Mr. Young -- don't recall it, though.

Alumni band on Court street at the end of the parade was an outstanding moment. They took up the entire block from Union to W. Washington. Some oldtimers pushed it to the limit to participate. That says it all. I left with the feeling that 110 members consider themselves members for life. They take it seriously and deliver with a sense of emotion and passion not seen in many other endeavors.

Just to add one thing. While the Browns may suck, the 110 is scheduled to play at the Browns-Titans game in the CLE on October 22.

Not exactly true. Dr Tom Lee (director from '71-'73) was not able to be there.

For us 110 alumni, having Gene Thrailkill and some members of the '67 Marching Men of Ohio was a spiritual moment.

They sounded awesome musically and the portion of the show that included alumni was electric, but... The music of Chicago is a horrible choice for "The Most Exciting Band in the Land." "Hard to Say I'm Sorry" sounds like a funeral dirge when belted out by any marching band. I'd say it was an aberration, but we've already seen the funky sounds of well-known hard rockers Simon & Garfunkel this year. What's up next week? The hard core pan flute music of Zamfir?

I often complain about complainers, so my apologies, but for God's sake: PICK MORE APPROPRIATE MUSIC

When I was at O.U. back in the mid 1970's,the band played a number of Chicago songs.

As I said in another post,they also introduced Bridge Over Troubled Water as their first true ballad.

As for "more appropriate music",unless you want nothing but greatest hits shows,right now there isn't a lot great music out there for a marching band.

That seems like a specious argument, but I'm not a musical expert. They generally seemed adept at playing dynamic music that truly excited people until this season. If you brag about 50 years of "funkin" and being the most exciting anything, you're delivering milk after promising cream when you play effectively somber music. Keep playing Chicago and the band may wonder "Will You Still Love Me?" as their fans "Look Away."

They should play "Fat Bottomed Girls" in every show, but maybe that's not PC anymore. (Don't know if they still play it or not.)

They do play a "shortened" (no dance break) version every now and then.

I am definitely not a Chicago fan either. It was one of my least favorites when I played it as a 110 member. I suppose it doesn't help that I had an ex-OU girlfriend make me take her to a Chicago concert in Columbus circa 1990. Probably the lamest concert I've seen. I guess since most 110 alumni had performed at least Old Days and 25 or 6 to 4 during their time in the band and because Chicago was also celebrating their 50th anniversary there was a connection. However, music preferences aside, it was a fantastic weekend. It was a hall of fame weekend for 110 members and alumni. The 110 alumni board and current staff pulled off one of best homecoming weekends ever.


The only thing I wish the university would fix is the parade. If it weren't for the 110, alumni band, MMO and maybe a couple other organizations, it'd be unwatchable. McDictator is gone. Maybe the new president can be more open to discussions. Sadly, the university never even asked the 110 for their input on route changes or offered them a seat at the parade committee table. The two feature organizations in the parade were given no input on the parade route. Mcdavis just stacked the parade committee with people who weren't even participants in the parade and told them how it was going to be. End result is an overreaction of banned floats and snaking 250+ person marching bands around town away from court street just to appease his vendetta with a couple bar owners. Hopefully, Nellis can be more rational.

Whatever happened to the high school bands? Why were they removed?

Perhaps. But it seems odd that budgetary restraints would be impacting all of the high school bands. Yes, some may have that issue, but surely not all.

As a former 110er, I preferred parades to on-field performances. Maybe I'm alone on that, but I would think there are high school band directors who would want to participate in the HC parade.

I think it also bears considering the early morning start after a night when high school football games are played. Certainly several of the "local" bands were likely away games and many may not have returned home until close to midnight.

Furthermore, one look at many of the local band programs will find that they are small in number. When compared to the size of The 110 and the Alumni Band a number of our local high school programs are marching with numbers hovering close to 30 as opposed to a hundred. Yes, there are a few exceptions and I understand that, but when looking at those programs that are close to the city of Athens and where being there by 9 AM for a 10:00 step-off is a possibility I can easily understand why many opt for the Band Day activities on Oct. 21 as opposed to marching in the OU Homecoming Parade.