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History of the Band
In the interest of keeping pages of managable length, the history
is split into three sections:
1923-1975 | 1975-1990 | 1990
- Present
1975 - 1990: What Was It Like Back Then Before VCRs?
The Pep Band would rehearse for only the first 3 or 4 Saturdays
of the school year - usually just until the first home football
game (10am to Noon in West Hall). At their first rehearsal, new
Pep Band members would fill out an index card w th their personal
information and the card would be used by the Band Managers to record
attendance, jacket number, etc. The managers for Pep Band during
these years were also, at the same time, the managers for Symphonic
Band, even though the two bands held two separate elections. The
person elected to be the new Assistant Pep Band Manager was also
elected to be the new Assistant Symphonic Band Manager up until
Rick Peck in '78-'79, Neal Lassinger in '80-'81, and thereafter.
A majority of the Pep Band members were also in Symphonic Band.
Sometime before '74-'75, the Pep Band wore very heavy red wool
jackets. By '74-'75, newer lighter- weight (but still heavy) red
jackets were being used. Both styles of jackets had the RPI seal
on the front breast pocket. The jackets were owned by the Pep Band
and were assigned before the first football game. No additional
jackets were ever bought, so some years there wouldn't be enough
jackets to go around. At first, all Pep Band members were also required
to wear a white shirt, black tie, black pants, and black shoes until
'78-'79 when this just became a recommendation (some people had
started to wear a black sock in place of the black tie.) Several
people still wore ties through the '80-'81 season. Each band member
was allowed to bring one guest to home hockey games.
In addition to playing for football and hockey games, the RPI Pep
Band played at men's basketball games (up through '79-'80). The
basketball band was quite a bit smaller than the bands for football
and hockey games. "Hail" was played when the team came
out and if they won, the usual cheers were played during time-outs,
and 5 special short cheers were arranged for when RPI made a basket
(by Tom Lazicky, Class of '75, Trumpet).
Throughout this period, several RPI alumni were active members
of the Pep Band - the announcer at hockey games would introduce
us as the "RPI Student/Alumni Band" before we played the
National Anthem(s). And, up until around '82-'83, there were also
several active members of the Pep Band who attended Russell Sage
College and Albany College of Pharmacy.
Up until at least the '78-'79 hockey season, each Pep Band member
who attended the RPI Christmas Tournament was paid $5 for each night
they played. The tournament used to last for three days - all four
teams played each other round-robin. Also, each year we'd wait after
the final game until all the tournament trophies were awarded and
then we'd play "Auld Lang Syne". Some band members would
have to stay with others who lived in apartments since the dorms
were locked. Some years the band would play pond hockey during the
days between these games.
For several of these years, the Band Managers (for Pep Band/Symphonic
Band) would get a list from the Institute of incoming freshmen who
had indicated on their application that they played band instruments,
and they would send out letters during the summer with information
about the bands and/or they would look up those freshmen at the
beginning of the school year.
The Pep Band carried to each game a large red suitcase which contained
the nearly 100 folders of music. Each person would select a folder
before each game and then return it afterwards. Only those people
who attended every game were allowed to keep a folder with them.
The folder contained just over 100 tunes, all but one or two of
which would be performed during the year. Each tune had its own
number in the folder and, for example, prior to each hockey intermission,
the Pep Band Manager would call out the numbers of the 5 tunes to
be played at the next intermission. The band would play during the
entire warm-up period before hockey games and during the intermissions
between periods, and songs were never repeated during a given night,
and rarely repeated night to night. Hail was played after every
score (followed by "1, ..., We want More" - "Sieve,
Sieve Sieve" was added later) and at the completion of games
where RPI won. The Alma Mater was always the last song played during
half-time for football games and during the second intermission
at hockey games. During hockey season, the suitcase, the sousaphones,
and the drums (1 or 2 snares, 1 bass, 1 tri-tom, 1 pair of cymbals)
were stored in an upstairs room at the Fieldhouse (until the Fieldhouse
renovation in '83-'84).
Songs in the folder during this time (and their numbers, if we
can remember them): 0 Cheers (Eat 'Em Up + others), 5 Jesus Christ
Superstar Medley (until '80-'81), 5 West Side Story Medley (starting
'80-'81), 11 Down By The Lazy River, 13 Hey Look Me Over, 15 Comedy
Tonight, 16 Here Comes The King (Budweiser Theme), 17 Kentucky Fried
Chicken Theme, 18 The Theme From M*A*S*H, 19 The Horse, 22 Tiger
Rag, 25 MacArthur Park, 32 Cumana, 33 El Cumanchero, 40 Alma Mater,
41 Hail Dear Old Rensselaer, 46 Ezekiel, 47 Saturday Night's All
Right For Fighting (until '77-'78), 47 Wide World of Sports Theme
(starting '77-'78), 48 NBC Sports Theme, 50 Championship (CBS Sports),
52 Proud Mary, 54 O Canada + others, 56 National Anthem, 57 Joshua,
58 Saints In Concert, 62 Hogan's Heroes, 64 The Stripper, 69 Get
it On, 70 Hawaii Five-O, 71 Confidence, 72 Windy, 75 Varsity Drag,
94 Eli's Comin', 98 Give It One, 99 Rock Around The Clock, 102 Sea
Chanty For Tuba Day By Day, Loony Toons Cheers (Merry Melodies,
The Merry-Go-Round Broke Down, + others), Olympic Fanfare And Theme,
Rubber Ducky (until '77-'78), Super Themes (gone by '78-'79), Masterpiece
(Masterpiece Theater Theme), Peg (added '78-'79), In The Mood, Opus
One, String Of Pearls, Land Of Make Believe, Auld Lang Syne + others,
Basin St. Blues, Pink Panther, Bottle Dance, Candy Man, Live and
Let Die, Lennon & McCartney Hits, Bandstand Boogie, 25 Or 6
To 4, Does Anybody Really Know What Time It Is, Saturday In The
Park, Beginnings, Just You And Me, Night Train, Brazzle Dazzle Day,
Alla Baroca, Classical Gas, Granada, Green Onions, Brazil, St. James
Infirmary, Saturday Night, Peanut Vendor, The Hustle, Monster Mash,
Liberty Bell March, King Cotton, Stars And Stripes Forever, Beer
Barrel Polka, Peter Gunn, Theme From Rocky (added '78-'79), Star
Trek Theme (added '78-'79), Birdland (added '80-'81), Gospel John
(added '80-'81), Sounds Of The British Regiment (added '80- '81),
Somewhere (added '80-'81), Hang 'Em High (added '81-'82), Conquest
(added '81-'82), Captain From Castille (added '81-'82)
Musical cheers included: BU, Let's Go Cheer, Islanders ("Let's
Go Engineers" - started around '77), Let's Go Red -- These
first four cheers were the most popular since most of the crowd
would clap and shout along with them (we played them much slower
than they are currently played in '97) -- Eat 'Em Up, Salt Peanuts
(started around '77), Rocky (started around '84), Three Blind Mice
(this wasn't played during the early '80s when the Institute frowned
on put-down cheers - about the same time as the institution of the
hockey rule that bands couldn't play while the game was in action),
Indian warpath song for hockey fights (started by Jim Mulder, Class
of '78, Trumpet), Dragnet (around '80- '81, we started playing Let's
Go Cheer right after Dragnet), Charge, Charge followed by starting
the crowd doing The Wave(began around '83-'84)
Vocal cheers included: - "Give me an R!" - "R!"
- "Give me an E!" - "E!" - "Give me an
N... S... S... E... L... A... E... R... P... O... L... Y... T...
E... C... H... N... I... C... I... N... S... T... I... T... U...
T... E... What's that spell?" - "TUTE!" -- this cheer
was done during the second intermission of every hockey game just
prior to playing the Alma Mater & people kept their place in
the long name by reading off someone else's jacket (this cheer stopped
after the rugby shirts were used instead of the jackets = no long
name) - Doppler Cheer: everyone stand and jump up & down without
making noise, then sit down and scream - done at football games
for the people watching from the roof of the Engineering Center
- Numbers Cheer "1,2,3, 4,5,6, 7,8,9, 10" (+ backwards)
- "Voltage times resistance! Power! Power!" - "Velocity
times area! Pressure! Pressure!" - "Magnetize them! Magnetize
them! Really flux them over!"- "Emulsify them! Emulsify
them! Spread them into a thin film across the playing surface!"
- "Annihilate them! Annihilate them! Make them relinquish control
of the oblate spheroid!" - only for football games - "We
eat Wheaties. We keep fit. Not like the other team. They eat shhhhhhhredded
wheat!" - "Stand up, sit down, squat on your seat. Lie
on your back and wiggle your feet. Pick your nose and scratch your
ear. Who are we for? Rensselaer!" - and doing all of the actions
as you're saying them - "E to the x, dy, dx. E to the x, dx.
Cosine, secant, tangent, sine. 3.14159. Square root, cube root,
log of pi. Disintegrate them RPI!" - "Give me an E!"
- "E!" - "Give me an X... L... A... X... What's That
Spell?" - "EX-LAX!" - "What's it make you do?"
- "GO! GO! GO! GO!" - "B-E-V-O-C-I-F-E-R-O-U-S. Be
Vociferous! B-E Vociferous!" - done at football games when
the cheerleaders were doing their "Be Aggressive" cheer.
- "Kick that block!" - done at football games when the
cheerleaders were doing their "Block that kick" cheer.-
"Aaaaaaaction. Aaaaaaaction. We waaaaaaant aaaaaaaaction. Aaaaaa-Ccccc-Tttttt.
Iiiii-Ooooo-Nnnnn." shouted verrrrrrrry slowwwwwwly - done
at football games when the cheerleaders were doing the same cheer
very fast. - "The little brown dog jumped over the fence. What
fence?" - "DE-FENSE!" - "What fence?" -
"DE- FENSE!"... - "U, G, L, Y, You ain't got no alibi!
- You're ugly, Ref. You're ugly!" - "Hey, Ref! How's life
in ________?" - filling in the town's name where the opposing
team was from (e.g. "Potsdam" for Clarkson)
Other: - Eye Chart used for bad referee calls at hockey games.
A huge (one was 2'x3' and a later one was 4'x6') eye doctor's chart
with the letter on top being large, diminishing down to tiny letters
at the bottom:
+-------------------+
| E |
| A T M |
| E R E F Y |
| O U S U C K L |
| E T S G O R E D ! |
+-------------------+
On the back of the 2'x3' eye chart there was just a single, huge
letter"E".
Elections for the next year's Assistant Band Manager were held
after the last hockey game - either at the Fieldhouse, on the bus
home from a playoff game, or at a party afterwards. Nominations
were made and ballots were cast.
The last Pep Band function of the year was marching in the GM week
parade from Troy up to RPI. The band would march at the front of
the parade just behind the new GM and new PU. Running this parade
would be the old Assistant Band Manager's first job as Senior Band
Manager. This would also be the new Assistant Band Manager's first
time assisting.
1975-1976
Senior Band Manager: Beth Montalone, Class of '76, Flute
Assistant Band Manager: Steve (a.k.a. "Derb") Derby, Class
of '76, Euphonium
At a regional meeting of A&P grocery store managers in an auditorium
in Albany, A&P kicked-off their new "Price and Pride"
ad campaign and the Pep Band was paid to come and play the new A&P
jingle. A&P wanted a band with red jackets and they had asked
a couple of local high school bands who declined because it wasn't
dignified. The Pep Band was paid $400 for this.
During this football season, the Pep Band worked up a half-time
show for one of the home games, but we can't remember if we actually
performed it or if it was rained-out.
During the regular hockey season, the Pep Band traveled to Cornell.
Band Manager Steve Derby later became (and is currently in '97)
a mechanical engineering professor at RPI.
Basketball band was run by Ernie (a.k.a. "Tuba") ?last
name?, Class of ?, Sousaphone.
1976-1977
Senior Band Manager: Steve (a.k.a. "Derb") Derby, Class
of '76, Euphonium
Assistant Band Manager: Harve Cohen, Class of '78, Trumpet
Basketball band, we think, was run by Harve Cohen, Class of '78,
Trumpet.
During the regular hockey season, the Pep Band traveled to Colgate
and made a banner out of a sheet saying "We Use Crest".
At the home ECAC quarterfinal playoff game, RPI lost to Cornell.
During one or two of these years, a wooden paddle was used to display
the numbers for the tunes to be played at the upcoming break - plastic
digits were slid into slots on the paddle (sort of like hymn numbers
put up on a board in certain churches.)
The Pep Band entered the GM Week Chariot Race in "The Bandwagon"
built by Steve Derby.
1977-1978: Freakout Numero Uno!
Senior Band Manager: Harve Cohen, Class of '78, Trumpet
Assistant Band Manager: Jim (a.k.a. "Rowdy", a.k.a. "Sparky")
Koch, Class of '80, Trumpet
In order to attract new members, the Pep Band put up "Don't
Spend the Year With Your Nose in a Book and Your Horn in its Case"
posters at the beginning of this school year and the next.
While conducting, Harve wore the white drum major's uniform which
was from the era of the old, old band jackets.
During the regular hockey season, the Pep Band traveled to Clarkson
and St. Lawrence for the two-day North Trip. Beforehand, the Clarkson
Athletic Department attempted to forbid the Pep Band from attending
the Clarkson game until Harve called up the Clarkson President's
office and received permission. This was the first time in 28 years
that RPI beat both Clarkson and St. Lawrence on a North Trip. On
the way to the North Trip, the Pep Band played a concert at an Albany-area
special education school, after the Institute received an invitation
specifically asking for "that great band that plays at RPI
hockey games".
The first Big Red Freakout was held. Giveaway = ?
For the quarterfinals of the ECAC hockey playoffs, the Pep Band
traveled to Cornell, where RPI lost.
Basketball band was run by Bill (a.k.a. "Max") Nahabedian,
Class of '80, Trombone. The band traveled (by car) to SUNY Albany
for an away game.
The Pep Band entered the GM Week Chariot Race.
Starting this year and lasting until '81-'82, members of the Pep
Band (along with a few others) had an intramural hockey team named
the "Kraft Miracle Whimps" (after goalie Russ Kraft, Class
of '76, euphonium) which played in D-league until the '80-'81 and
'81-'82 seasons where they moved up to C- league and a "farm
team" named the "Adirondack Red Whimps" was formed
in D-league. In '80-'81, the Miracle Whimps finished 17th out of
17 teams in C-league and the Red Whimps finished 24th out of 27
teams in D-league. In '81-'82, the Red Whimps improved enough to
make the playoffs.
1978-1979
Senior Band Manager: Jim (a.k.a. "Rowdy", a.k.a. "Sparky")
Koch, Class of '80, Trumpet
Assistant Band Manager: Rick (a.k.a. "Tuba") Peck, Class
of '79, Sousaphone
An "attendance policy" was instituted starting this year
that required each Pep Band member to attend at least half of the
home football games in order to be able to attend hockey games.
Mike Johnson, Class of '80, Sousaphone, made "RPI"-logo
covers for the sousaphone bells (red "RPI" letters inside
a red circle on an off-white background).
During the regular hockey season, the Pep Band traveled to Boston
University and then traveled to Brown.
Big Red Freakout giveaway = ?
Several members of the Pep Band played at a few women's hockey
games because Roberta Edelstein (last name now Mulder), Class of
'81, Clarinet, was on the team.
Basketball band was run by Rick (a.k.a. "Tuba") Peck,
Class of '79, Sousaphone.
Dave Cole, Class of '82, Saxophone, was elected the new Assistant
Band Manager following the Big Red Freakout (the last hockey game)
even though he was in the infirmary with the Russian Flu.
The Pep Band entered the GM Week Chariot Race.
1979-1980
Senior Band Manager: Rick (a.k.a. "Tuba") Peck, Class
of '79, Sousaphone
Assistant Band Manager: Dave Cole, Class of '82, Saxophone
Often while conducting, Tuba wore the old, white drum major's uniform.
The night before the football game against Union, the Pep Band
played at a pep rally held behind the Houston Fieldhouse where there
was a huge bonfire.
At one of the home football games, the Pep Band performed a half-time
show which consisted of marching onto the field, stopping in a simple
formation (like forming an "R"), playing a tune, and marching
into a different formation - I think we did 3 different tunes: MacArthur
Park, Alma Mater, and one other, and I think we only practiced on
the field once before the game.
During the regular hockey season, the Pep Band traveled to Boston
College and then traveled to the University of Vermont where the
Pep Band and the UVM Band had an informal pond hockey game.
During this hockey season, RPI played the USA Olympic Hockey team
which, three or four weeks later, won the gold medal. RPI lost 9-3.
Big Red Freakout giveaway = cowbells
For the quarterfinals of the ECAC hockey playoffs, the Pep Band
traveled to Dartmouth, where RPI lost.
RPI hockey player Steve Stoyanovich, who graduated this year, went
on to play in the NHL for the New England (Hartford) Whalers. He
was the first RPI hockey player to go on to play in the NHL. RPI
goalie Kevin Constantine went on to become an NHL head coach for
the San Jose Sharks (after, so we heard, being expelled from RPI
when he crashed his car into the Fire Dept. on 15th St. while already
on disciplinary and academic probation.)
Basketball band was run by Rich Hart, Class of '80, Trumpet, this
year and attendance was very small. This was the last year of basketball
band.
Several members of the Pep Band played at a few women's hockey
games.
The Pep Band entered the GM Week Chariot Race.
1980-1981: Come Watch Us Hustle
Senior Band Manager: Dave Cole, Class of '82, Saxophone
Assistant Band Manager: Neal Lassinger, Class of '82, Trombone
A few (three) Pep Band members played at a women's field hockey
game where it rained so hard that the game was halted and the players
went inside the '87 gym until the worst rain had passed. The Pep
Band members, however, stuck it out sitting through the pouring
rain. Roberta Edelstein (last name now Mulder), Class of '81, Clarinet,
was the goalie for RPI and she stopped a penalty shot during this
game to preserve the 2-2 tie against Wells College.
During the regular hockey season, the Pep Band traveled to the
University of New Hampshire. Later, the Pep Band traveled to Princeton
(Friday) and Cornell (Saturday) and stayed overnight in Princeton.
The hockey team's slogan this year was "Come Watch Us Hustle"
and the coach asked that we play "The Hustle" (famous
70's disco tune) during warm-ups. Dave Cole and Jim Koch arranged
"The Hustle" for the Pep Band from memory and by calling
a radio station and having them play it. Years later it was discovered
in the music archives that the Pep Band had already owned an arrangement
of "The Hustle" from years past.
On the final night of the Christmas Tournament, at the Vasby (from
Sweden) vs. Holy Cross game, the Holy Cross goalie scored an unassisted
goal on the Vasby goalie when the Holy Cross goalie's rink- long
clearing shot skipped over the Vasby goalie's stick and into the
net.
Big Red Freakout giveaway = small, round New Year's Eve-type noisemakers.
During the second intermission of this Freakout, nine of the female
Pep Band Members lined up at the front of the stage and, while the
Pep Band played The Stripper, proceeded to remove their pants and
other outerwear revealing long, white t-shirts which spelled out
"LETS GO RED".
This year (or maybe the next) was the first year that the RPI cheerleaders
attended hockey games.
1981-1982
Senior Band Manager: Neal Lassinger, Class of '82, Trombone
Co-Assistant Band Manager: Kitty Pfister (last name now: Harvey),
Class of '83, Clarinet
CO-Assistant Band Manager: Bryan Amore, Class of '85, Saxophone
The night before the football game against Union, the Pep Band
played at a pep rally held behind the Houston Fieldhouse where there
was a huge bonfire.
During the regular hockey season, the Pep Band traveled up each
of the two days to the two-night Empire Cup Tournament held in Glens
Falls. RPI lost to St. Lawrence and Colgate.
In the December 2, 1981 issue of the Poly, a full page story was
devoted to the Pep Band. Quotes: "Former hockey head coach
Jim Salfi once said that this group added a goal a game. Current
hockey head coach Mike Addessa sent out a letter last January commending
their performance, giving them his 'total endorsement', and stating
'the most significant contribution that I feel our band has made
to our program stems from their presence and support at various
games that we play on the road away from the friendly confines of
the Houston Field House'".
Big Red Freakout giveaway = small clicker noisemakers + small Freakout
pennant on a stick
RPI hockey player Mike McPhee, who graduated this year, went on
to play in the NHL for the Montreal Canadiens.
Members of the Pep Band traveled (by car) to Albany Pharmacy and
played for one of their men's basketball games (not versus RPI).
At the elections for next year's Assistant Band Manager, there
was a tie (or near-tie) in votes for the two candidates, so Kitty
Pfister and Bryan Amore agreed to be CO-Assistant Band Managers.
1982-1983: Fire on Ice
Co-Senior Band Manager: Kitty Pfister (last name now Harvey), Class
of '83, Clarinet
CO-Senior Band Manager: Bryan Amore, Class of '85, Saxophone
Assistant Band Manager: Meri Gordon (last name now Stevens), Class
of '84, Flute
While conducting, Bryan wore the old, white drum major's uniform.
The Pep Band traveled (by car) to the football team's game against
Union.
The slogan for the RPI hockey team this year was "Fire On
Ice".
During the regular hockey season, the Pep Band traveled up each
of the two days to the two-night Empire Cup Tournament held in Glens
Falls, where RPI lost to Clarkson and Colgate. During the second
night, we went over and played along with the Clarkson band during
their game against St. Lawrence and then they came over and played
along with us during our game against Colgate.
The Pep Band also traveled to Cornell (Friday) and Princeton (Saturday)
and stayed overnight in Princeton. At Princeton, around half of
the crowd was rooting for RPI since the band was there, 500 local
alumni attended, a bunch of people made the trip from Troy, and
the Princeton supporters were very sparse.
Big Red Freakout giveaway = red horns (3 feet long)
For the quarterfinals of the ECAC hockey playoffs, the Pep Band
traveled to Harvard for two nights of playoff games, where RPI lost
both nights. We stayed overnight in Cambridge.
I'm pretty sure the Pep Band played at a home men's lacrosse game
this year (or the previous year) ((or both)).
1983-1984: America's Pep Band
Senior Band Manager: Meri Gordon (last name now Stevens), Class
of '84, Flute
Assistant Band Manager: Bobby Hazan, Class of '85, Trombone
Conductor: Brad Amidon, Class of '86, Trumpet
The Houston Fieldhouse was renovated before the start of this hockey
season. The roof was raised, made flat and coated with soundproofing
material to improve acoustics along with a new sound system. The
stage area was enlarged (the rink was enlarged and moved to the
west several feet). The ice surface was lowered several feet to
make viewing better and the height of the glass was raised. This
last change made it harder for opposing teams to shoot pucks straight
into the band - in the past, the back row of the band was in danger
of direct hits.
To go along with the renovations, the Fieldhouse people wanted
to move the Pep Band off of the stage and into the stands at the
far northeast corner. At the first home game, we sat in these stands
and had a terrible night. Here's a quote from the "Not In The
Box Score" column by Mike Hurle in the Poly sports section
that following week: "Need I comment on the Pep Band during
Friday night's contest. Being a musician myself for over a decade,
and as the conductor of the RPI Jazz Ensemble, I know the problems
associated with performing. However, there is no excuse for not
being able to start the national anthem on the first try. Not only
did they embarrass themselves, but they shamed the entire RPI community.
Their lack of interest during the latter part of the game only furthers
my condemnation of the group. When the fans are not totally excited
in what is going on, it is the job of the Pep Band to get things
going. That's what the word pep is doing before band. Perhaps the
entire group just had a bad night. I can only hope that the situation
improves as the season continues." Yes, it was bad that night
due to several things, but the main problem was sitting in the stands.
First, as a result of that night, the position of Conductor was
created and Brad Amidon became the first to assume the position.
Also, by the next home game, Meri successfully negotiated us back
into our rightful place on the stage. In the following issue of
the Poly, "Not In The Box Score" said "Let me be
the first to congratulate on the improvement of the Pep Band at
the Olympic exhibition game recently. It was good to hear the sounds
of old. Keep up the good work!"
During the regular hockey season, the Pep Band traveled up each
of the two days to the two-night Empire Cup Tournament held in Glens
Falls. The Pep Band also traveled to the University of Maine (Friday)
and the University of New Hampshire (Saturday) and stayed overnight
outside of Boston. At UNH, the UNH team fired several pucks into
the band during warm-ups (very low glass barrier).
Big Red Freakout giveaway = cowbells
At the home ECAC quarterfinal playoff games against Colgate, RPI
won both games.
For the semifinals and finals of the ECAC hockey playoffs, the
Pep Band traveled to Boston for two nights of playoff games at Boston
Garden and stayed overnight in downtown Boston. RPI beat Clarkson
and Boston University to win the ECAC Championship. During the second
night, there was a brouhaha when Boston Garden officials made the
Pep Band move from their ice-level seats to upper-level, obstructed-view
seats right before the start of RPI's championship game.
At the home NCAA quarterfinal playoff games against North Dakota,
where RPI lost both games, the giveaway was big, red foam #1 hands.
It was during this season when Sports Illustrated ran a short article
on us and called us "America's Pep Band" - in the issue
after RPI won the ECAC championship.
1984-1985: De-Troit, Detroit - We're Number One!
Senior Band Manager: Melissa Moncher (last name now Ackerman),
Class of '86, Sousaphone
Conductor: Brad Amidon, Class of '86, Trumpet
During the regular season, the Pep Band carpooled to Union for
football, and to Princeton and Vermont for hockey.
Sometime during hockey season (after the shipment arrived), the
Pep Band starting wearing red and white-striped rugby shirts with
an "America's Pep Band" logo on the upper left chest,
each band member purchasing their own shirt.
Big Red Freakout giveaway = plastic clapper noisemakers + red and
white pompoms
At the home ECAC quarterfinal playoff games against Princeton,
where RPI won both games, the Pep Band was given RPI engineer hats
by the RPI Alumni Association.
For the semifinals and finals of the ECAC hockey playoffs, the
Pep Band traveled to Boston for two nights of playoff games at Boston
Garden and stayed overnight in downtown Boston. RPI beat Cornell
and Harvard to win the ECAC Championship
The Cheer "De..Troit, De...Troit" was started at the
last home hockey game of the Season. Signs were completed for the
ECAC Playoffs.
At the home NCAA quarterfinal playoff games against Lake Superior
State, where RPI won (won a game and tied a game), the Pep Band
was given red hard hats by the RPI Alumni Association.
For the semifinals and finals of the NCAA Division I Hockey Championships,
the Pep Band traveled to Detroit for two nights of playoff games
and stayed overnight outside of Detroit. RPI beat University of
Minnesota-Duluth and Providence to win the National Championship.
In the semifinals, RPI scored with less than two minutes left in
regulation to tie the game, which then went into three overtime
periods before RPI scored to win. At the end of the game, the band
played "Hallelujah Chorus" at the suggestion of Beth Wilkinson
(last name now Flanagan), Class of '86. In the finals, George Servinis
scored the winning goal after a face-off while RPI was shorthanded
(the replay shows he entered the face-off circle early.) Brett Hull
(St. Louis Blues) played for Minnesota-Duluth and won the Hobey
Baker Award that year, and Chris Terreri (New Jersey Devils, San
Jose Sharks) was in-goal for Providence. RPI players from that team
who went on to the NHL: Adam Oates (Detroit Red Wings, St. Louis
Blues, Boston Bruins), Darren Puppa (Buffalo Sabres, Tampa Bay Lightning),
John Carter (Boston Bruins), Kraig Nienhuis (Boston Bruins), George
Servinis (Minnesota North Stars), Tim Friday (Detroit Red Wings),
and Ken Hammond (Los Angeles Kings). Several other players went
on to play in the IHL and AHL. Also, we were invited to play the
National Anthem for the consolation game and invited Minn-Duluth's
band to join us!
April 8, 1985 issue of Sports Illustrated states, "On Friday,
RPI faced Minnesota-Duluth in the other semi, and both clubs must
have taken their game plan from the Engineer band, which played
"Rock Around the Clock" more times than Bill Haley and
the Comets ever did."
1985-1986
Manager: Bill Nagle, Saxophone
Conductor(s): 1/2 year of Brad Amidon, Class of '86, Trumpet,
1/2 year of Jim Unger.
1987-1988
Conductor: Jim Ungar
Managers: Anne Ferraro, Sam Samuelson
Freakout: vs. Clarkson
Gift: Dish Towel (Terrible Towels)
Roadtrip: Dartmouth/ Harvard- Origin of the "where is Dartmouth?
It's everywhere." slogan.
Playoffs: Quarterfinal loss to Harvard
1987-1988
Conductor: Jim Ungar
Managers: Anne Ferraro, Sam Samuelson
Freakout: vs. Clarkson
Gift: Dish Towel (Terrible Towels)
Roadtrip: Dartmouth/ Harvard- Origin of the "where is Dartmouth?
It's everywhere." slogan.
Playoffs: Quarterfinal loss to Harvard
1988-1989
Conductor: Dave O'Neil
Managers: Luigi Giasi, Bill Smith
Freakout: vs. Yale
Gift: Bandana
Stripper: Anne Ferraro
Roadtrips: Clarkson- One night stand, 4 15-people vans were used.
The band cheered the team as they boarded the bus. We got a very
stoic "Thanks Guy" from Addessa.
Football roadtrip to Union- Rowdy and drunk Union fans caused problems.
Playoffs: Quarters at Harvard (eliminated).
(When coach Addessa heard that the band wasn't planning on going
to Harvard, he called Bill Smith asking the band to make an appearance.
Bill quickly organized a van and small band on that same day.
Fun Facts: The first (and only) "Not Necessarily the Homecoming
Queen" contest. The Pep Band entered Anne Ferraro. For the
parade we had a "Hawaii Five-O" theme. The big tradition:
throwing the officers into a snow bank. The Clarkson band and the
RPI band combine for a song on stage. Coach Addessa resigns after
being accused of making 'racial remarks' to the team. Performances
at Frosh Parade. Ben and Jerry's on Lark St. becomes a post-game
tradition.
1989-1990
Conductor: Jason Bell
Managers: Joe Padua, Adam Selsley
Freakout Gift: Pompom
Stripper: Anne Ferraro
Roadtrips: Princeton (unofficial. Several cars were used. Anne Ferraro's
family fed the band after the game. Jerry Lenaz's father, an RPI
alum and Princeton faculty, bought us the tickets.)
Brown (one night stand. Stole the Pep Band on Ice idea from Brown.
Gave them high fives when they were done.)
Yale (one night stand, Sat. after Brown. This trip was possible
with the support of the Hartford alumni chapter.)
Dartmouth (overnight. There is nothing in Hanover. Some members
get car sick because it's a hilly trip to Hanover.)
Harvard (hung out in Boston before the game. Some go to the aquarium.
Some go to 'Cheers'. Dinner at 'The No Name'.)
Hoping for 4th place going into final weekend, RPI beats 1st place
Colgate and 2nd place Cornell in Over Time.
Playoffs: Quarters vs. Brown (band performs at Alumni House. Brown
and RPI perform a song together, but they don't come on stage.
Semi vs. Cornell at Boston Garden (bus does 3 point turn in downtown
Boston)
Final vs. Colgate (eliminated) cheated out of NCAA bid (Clarkson
beat us twice)
New Music: Gimme Some Lovin', In the Mood, Great Outdoors
Fun Facts: New Coach, Buddy Powers. 'Land Shark' is added to the
Toll Booth Song. Money is raised by raffling off autographed hockey
sticks and programs donated by the team. Signs, especially for the
'Goalie Cheer', make an appearance. Performances also at the Hockey
Line Pizza Party and Frosh Parade.
1923-1975 | 1975-1990
| 1990 - Present
|