The Columbia University athletic department will not allow the school’s band to perform at the football season finale against Brown Saturday because they feel the band crossed the line with a parody song mocking the team last weekend.
The band typically plays the song “Roar, Lions, Roar” after games, but the members changed the lyrics to mock the team following last Saturday’s loss to Cornell.
“We always lose, lose, lose; by a lot, and sometimes by a little,” the band members sang to ridicule the 0-9 football team.
The band’s manager said a coach immediately confronted them about the lyrics. A few days later, the band was told it would not be welcome for the Brown game.
“Our football players, coaches, alumni, [and] parents are extremely hurt, disappointed, and angry by the band’s behavior at Cornell,” Athletic Director M. Dianne Murphy said. “Because of the band’s disrespect for the feelings and efforts of their classmates and fellow Columbians, we believe that allowing the band the opportunity to perform at Lawrence A. Wien Stadium on Saturday undermines the University’s institutional support for our football team.”
We can’t say we disagree with the athletic department’s choice. The band is there to support the program, not kick it when it’s down. The trick is, if a band is going to mock someone, it has to be an opponent. Take note of what the Rice band did.
H/T Michele Steele
UPDATE: The decision has been reversed.
