Josh Beckett will undergo season-ending surgery Cheap Jerseys Wholesale , the Dodgers have announced.
After consulting with Dr. Neal ElAttrache and Dr. Greg Pearl, the Dodgers decided Beckett would undergo surgery to relieve pressure on the nerve in his neck area, known as thoracic outlet syndrome.
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During my time in both high school and college I remember hearing band
members constantly debate who had the best marching band. It always seemed
trivial, since in my opinion marching bands were there for in-game entertainment
and not much more. However, as time went by, I began to attend more and more
football games and soon became educated on the importance of a good,
entertaining marching band.
Since that time I have attended many college
football games, and have followed marching bands closely in my travels. I've
attended practices and reviewed performances while in attendance at football
games and local events. Honestly, as time has gone by I've become a big fan of
loud, exciting, fun loving marching bands. It's in these travels that I continue
to hear discussion wondering "Who has the best college marching bands in the
nation?"
In light of his recent release of the 2007 Herbie Awards, Kirk
Herbstreit made a point to rank the "best damn bands in the land." Like Kirk, I
am from the Midwest. Also I remember when he was a mediocre QB at Ohio State, at
the same time as I was a mediocre-at-best high school wide receiver. I love that
Herbstreit has started a discussion on Marching Bands Cheap
NFL Jerseys China , they deserve some credit, but Kirk has a
definite Big Ten bias, and that has been clear for years.
It is obvious
from his rankings that Herbstreit knows little about Marching Bands. Really, the
rankings leave me perplexed and give me the feeling that Kirk is too busy
working the studio shows at halftime to notice the bands. Over the years
Marching Bands have become something I know a lot about. It was this that led me
to make my own list of the best college marching bands in the nation.
The
following list has taken several factors into account. Ratings are based on
marching tradition, reputation, excitement, fan support, intensity, exposure,
marching style, musicality, and enthusiasm by band members & staff. Unlike
Herbstreit, I am including more than just the big-name schools on my list. In my
travels I've seen small schools with bands that are hundreds of times more
polished than those of big schools. Just because their football teams aren't on
ABC, ESPN, or CBS each weekend doesn't mean that they should be excluded from
the list. So without further ado Cheap Nike NFL Jerseys ,
the College Sports Fans top college marching bands are...
#10 - Michigan
Marching Band - Having seen the Michigan Marching Band in person on many
occasions, I can tell you that this is a group which is rich in tradition with
one of the most recognizable fight songs in the history of college athletics.
Ironically, it was the MMB who performed the first "Script Ohio" which their
rivals at Ohio State are well known for.
#9 - Southern University Human
Jukebox - One of the most well-known marching bands in the nation, the Southern
University Human Jukebox is featured on national TV in the annual Grambling vs.
Southern football game.
#8 - Stanford University Marching Band - The
Stanford University Marching Band is known as "The World's Largest Rock and Roll
Band" and is a student-led "scatter band" that is known for controversial shows.
From playing outside the OJ Simpson courthouse to making fun of nuns at Notre
Dame. Personally I am not a fan of the antics, but you have to respect the
creativity.
#7 - Jackson State University Marching Band - "The Sonic Boom
of the South" features tremendous intensity and has performed at several
big-name TV events. Known for their fast-paced "Tiger Run-On," this nearly 300
member marching band has an impressive reputation from their fans and rivals
alike.
#6 - Tennessee Pride of the Southland Band - The University of
Tennessee Pride of the Southland Marching Band is one of the nation's oldest
bands having formed in 1869. Like many bands on this list, the Pride of the
Southland has benefited greatly from their football team's success, but "Rocky
Top" and the "Power T" formation make up one of the most fabled traditions of
any college marching band.
#5 - Fightin' Texas Aggie Band - The largest
military marching band in the world, the Fightin' Texas Aggie Band at Texas
A&M has over 400 members. The Fightin' Texas Aggie Band has a very strong
tradition with a rich history as the band members not only eat together but also
lives together as a military unit.
#4 - Florida A&M Marching 100 -
The FAMU Marching "100" is probably the most famed of all of the HBCU bands
receiving numerous honors including having been referred to as "the most
imitated band in America." Labeled "the best marching band in the nation" by
Sports Illustrated in 1992, the Marching "100" also won the 1985 Sudler Marching
Band Trophy.
#3 - USC Trojan Marching Band - The Spirit of Troy also
refers to themselves as "The Greatest Marching Band in the History of the
Universe," but I disagree, though I do rank them very highly. Exposure and
tradition are two of the strengths of the Trojan Marching Band as they have made
several appearances on Jeopardy! and they have performed with countless
celebrities.
#2 - Ohio State University Marching Band - "The Best Damn
Band in the Land" is indeed one of the top precision marching bands in the
nation, if not the best. But while Ohio State always has a very good band, their
Top 10 football program has handed them a lot of attention and publicity that
other bands at schools like Florida.