Marching on after McNeely's exit

Although his tenure lasted only 16 months, athletic director Michael McNeely made a barrage of changes to IU's program. At each football game, students were met with new team colors, shiny new helmets, a new logo and new locations for student and band seating.\nThe changes also meant new policies for the Marching Hundred -- a seat change, more distant parking spots, new uniforms and changes to the traditional run-on. While the sides had resolved some of the issues, they were working toward a resolution on the rest when McNeely resigned Friday.\n"I'm very happy to see him gone," said junior trombone player Jeremy Mitchell. "He claimed to be very supportive of the band, but he really wasn't."\nMarching Hundred members say they hope the search for a new athletic director, which will begin in the coming months, yields more of the support they desire.\nMarching Hundred director David Woodley said it's sad for the University that McNeely only stayed for 16 months. He said he thinks the next athletic director needs to have a constructive influence on the band.\n"When they rethink the next president, the decision needs to be made in order to make the University better," Woodley said. "They will have to have a positive impact on the school band."\nWith McNeely out and veteran IU administrator Terry Clapacs in as interim athletic director, Marching Hundred members are hopeful their issues will be fully resolved.\n"After this season, since we only have one home game left, everything will be reviewed," Clapacs said. "Even if I wanted to make changes in the coming week, it is not possible to change everything before the game on Saturday."\nWhen a new athletic director is chosen, Mitchell said the band is hopeful they will be more up front than McNeely.\n"I'd like to see someone who says they are supportive of us, and then really shows us they are," Mitchell said.\nChanges for the band this year included new assigned seating, a revamped pregame run-on, wool uniforms and more distant parking spots. The most noticeable change was their move from the 20-yard-line on the east side of the stadium to the north endzone bleachers.\nIn the new seats, the band plays directly behind the north endzone goalposts. Without a net to catch kicked balls, the safety of band members during points-after-touchdowns and fieldgoals, became an issue. \nAnother change was to the 20-year tradition of the band's pre-game run-on. The members of the Marching Hundred would line up in four tunnels connected to the football office, each located on a corner of the football field. Then, with the sousaphones, percussion and flag corp all beginning on the field, the rest of the Marching Hundred would file on and begin performing their pregame routine. During the initial changes, McNeely disbanded the run-on, but shortly before his resignation re-instated it. \n"I'm very happy that we are able to do the run-on again," Woodley said. "We still have our element of secrecy, which is our main goal."\nAnother change for the band came in their new cream and crimson uniforms. Last year's uniforms were a cotton polyblend that allowed for easy wearing during the warmer part of the football season, and when the temperature dropped, the band members either wore extra layers underneath, or sported their red raincoats, which added more warmth. The new uniforms are made from a wool polyblend which is a heavier than cotton, and some members have complained that they're too warm and uncomfortable. The change in material was blamed for three Marching Hundred members passing out during Band Day earlier this fall.\n"We got the band wool uniforms because there are different seasons throughout August to November," McNeely told the IDS prior to his resignation. "We wanted one top quality uniform. Looks are important."\nAnother issue that raised concern among the Marching Hundred is their parking situation. Last season, they were given access to the parking spots in between the north side of Assembly Hall and the Mellencamp Pavilion during games. The band now parks at Bill Armstrong stadium and walks to Memorial Stadium with their equipment. \nAll parties participating in the game day experience at Memorial Stadium had their parking moved to prepare IU for future football success and to give fans more space, McNeely said. \nAll of these issues were raised in a meeting between McNeely and drum major Chris Stokdyk, Kappa Kappa Psi president Brett Battjer, Tau Beta Sigma President Rob Blatchford, graduate instructor Eric Smedly, and the band's two directors, Woodley and Dr. Douglas Stotter.\nBattjer said he was disappointed McNeely would compromise the tradition of the Marching Hundred.\n"We are big football fans, that's why we do Marching Hundred," Battjer said. "It's a disappointment to have to watch the jumbotron to see what is going on."\nAmid all the upheaval and dismay, few members of the Marching Hundred found positives in McNeely's tenure. \n"Sure I was upset with the changes in regard to the Marching Hundred," sophomore clarinet player Alexis Hunt said. "I just want us to keep up the tradition of excellence we have always had regardless"