For the record, I just want to say that I support Mr. Wells, I support PN-G High school and I support the band. I love what Mr. Wells has done for the band. I respect his dedication and I also respect the hard work he has put forth in building the hard work ethic that is displayed by each and every member of the band. The amount work that all of these young men and ladies put in to the halftime performances, as well as their practice in perfecting their sound and musical capabilities are truly inspiring. It is hard work to learn how to read music, much less play a musical instrument, add marching while doing that and perfecting a marching routine that is viewed each and every Friday night by no less than 5000 fans. You want to speak about talent? My hat goes out to these kids. What they are doing is truly remarkable. Could you imagine PN-G football without the halftime performance, without the marching I, without the band..... without Cherokee? :crazy: It wouldn't be PN-G football.
Now, with that being said..... I will stand on any rooftop I can and shout as loud as my voice will shout to every person that will listen to me that I think that CHEROKEE IS BEING PLAYED TOO SLOW!!!! Period. I do not buy into the hogwash that the tempo is played slower so the Indian Spirit and twirlers can efficiently do their routines. The twirlers, Indian Spirit and Indianette Officers have been doing their routines since the song was conceived. Watch the clips on YouTube, the difference in tempo during the last two years is noticeably slower. The crowd consistently claps faster than the song is played each and every football game. It is certainly not because people in Port Neches and Groves have no rhythm. It's because we have all been clapping to this song for the last 50 years. And the tempo currently being played is not the tempo it has been played for years past.
I know things change. Yes, uniforms change, pom pom's change, things go out of style, stadiums are enlarged and people come and go. Life goes on..... but this school and football program were built on those three words erected on that glorious brand new press box...Honor..Pride...Tradition. And to me, keeping the tradition of hearing our fight song played the same way as our mothers, fathers, grand fathers and grand mothers heard it (while standing) is part of the "tradition" that makes PN-G and our program the school that is often imitated.... yet never duplicated.