Boise State defeats Utah 36-3 and coupled with the loss by Texas Christan to BYU on thursday, Boise State is now the #1 ranked mid-major team and in serious consideration for a BCS bid to The Fiesta Bowl in Glensdale, Arizona!
As reported in the Idaho Press Tribune on September 30th by Mike Butts
Blue Thunder ‘family’ a crowd-pleaser
Director has built BSU band into force
Boise- A few topics silence the Keith Stien Blue Thunder Marching Band director David Wells. But the talkative, raspy-voiced 67-year-old who founded the school’s marching band 20 years ago has difficulty finding words to describe an incident he says defines Blue Thunder.
Last year at the regional high school marching band competition at Bronco Stadium, Blue Thunder stopped its energetic show to allow trumpet player Josh Borden to make a very public marriage proposal to Alto Saxophonist Heather Barton (she said “yes”)
“You know you’re doing your job when the kids make it a part of an important decision,” Wells said. “The kids end up being very, very close. These friendships last forever.”
The rise of the Blue Thunder takes its place as a school tradition now, just 20 years ago Boise State had no marching band. No white-plume hats, no half-time formations, no drum line syncopation on The Blue. Thats when wells came to Idaho from Murray State University in Kentucky with a simple directive: Develop a marching band program.
The genisis was not easy. But Wells said it’s worked because students love to perform and want to get better at what they do.
The band goes through five days of all-day, intensive training in the heat of August to start each school year. It learns three, 12 to 15 minute half-time shows, a pre-game show and about 17 “stand” tunes. Band members rehearse four times a week during the year.
“I challenge the living day-lights out of them,” Wells said.
Anyone who has seen the Blue Thunder Band perform can attest to that. The group dances and blares out foot-stomping musical numbers while mixing in creative touches such as banging on trash cans. Blue Thunder brings the house down at events like the District III high school competition.
Boise State senior music education major Karen Kaupp, 21, from Maryland, is the band’s baritone section leader and council president. “The music we play is fun to play, and you get to meet people from various backgrounds,” Kaupp said. “It’s been a great experience for me.”
The band relies on sponsors, donations, student fees, and the generous support of the Keith and Catherine Stein Foundation for support. Band members get scholarships from a few hundred dollars up to a “full ride,” which includes most college expenses.
Wells writes all the marching drills for the shows. He calls the students “band jocks” because of their dedication to the group. Its a dedication he matches.
Two years ago Wells had open heart surgery near the beginning of football season. He literally snuck onto campus to help make sure the show went on, disobeying doctors’ orders that he take more time to recuperate.
Some band members like being part of Blue Thunder so much, Wells has to gently urge them on when their time has come.
“Some of them after five or six years, I pull them aside and say, ‘OK, it’s time for you to graduate,’ ” Wells said. ” ‘You need to let some other kid have an opportunity’.”
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Its really great to finally see the Blue Thunder get some respect outside of Band communities. Last year we were a 120 piece band and when Boston College came to town with a pep band for the bowl game, I remember talking to their Mellophone section leader and he said he was surprised that a small 120 member band could blast out sounds that 300 piece bands do. And one thing a lot of people have to understand is that we’re out there because we love to perform and make the crowd erupt. Yeah- we “Park n’ Bark” and are considered a “Show Band” but hey- its what we love to do. This is how marching band should be- Fun.
I guess I found out how certian people (someone in perticular) see me.. We can be friends when no one is looking and no one is around. Getting the cold shoulder for going out of my way… I should have expected that. Damn…
(Please note: Im venting and I do not totally mean what Im saying… Im sorry, but read on)
Anyways I went to see nampa’s marching show and (previous statement not with-standing) I was somewhat impressed. I was happy to see a few other Blue Thunder People there as well so I wasnt so alone. Ive seen almost everyone of the Big 5 bands perform and the only one I have left to watch is Centenial. I beleive that the main event of DIII is starting to shape up nicely. Im fairly confident in saying a 2C band is going to walk away with the trophy this year.
So on a band scouting night it was a success… on a personal level is sucked, but there were a few random points tonight that make me feel good.
1. I litterally made the friendly ghost turn “ghost pale” when walked passed him at the game (which caused Jo-Jo the clown and his sideshow to leave the area).
2. I caught a mini red football and gave it to a little girl who wanted one really badly, it was probably meant for her but seeing as a cheerleader threw it.. yeah, it came right at me.
So im kinda pissed, kinda sad and really wishing I was somewhere else right now.
Lyrical passage of the night- only because it was on the radio and everyone can relate to it in some form or another.
“She said she wants to be friends,
But then we took a big step back
She says she sorry
And with one finger I said Fuck that!”
-Three Days Grace
I feel great.. I really do. Except for that feeling sick and never ever really having a chance to slow down bit. It didnt really hit me right away but Im really excited to be Kappa Kappa Psi- Iota Kappa- Eta Class President. And because Im really bored Ive changed my Theme a little bit.
So I guess Im going to start being a Indipendant Business Owner and work for myself… Yay! One more thing on my busy life thats going to burn me out faster
I really do believe that Ive found a balance between band and the rest of my life, Im no longer Band Band Band!, Its more like Band!, Social Life!, Love Life! now-a-days… maybe its just a sign of growing up. I love the blue thunder marching band, but life outside of band is calling and I know that I’ll definatly be in band one more year after that and then decide if saying in is the best thing for me or not.
Have you ever taken a class that has made you want more? to know more? to do more? Thats been marching band tech for me… As much as I love the performing aspect of it, Im equally in love with the designing and teaching aspect of it. Being a business major (and apparently an IBO) Im definately on a track that could make me the money I want and have the freedoms I want in a career as well. I guess i only see positives as long as I work hard and work harder, and probably a lucky break here and there.
Everything seems to be changing… Faster and faster.
Im ready to make the leap and hope I dont get shot down… again. Just like being class president, I think Im the best man for the position in this case and damn it.. I hope she can see that.
So tonight was the second KKPsi meeting and my pledge class elected officers, our mascot, and motto. So as of this evening I am now the Eta Class President! I am uber excited! Noe Martinez is The Vice-President, Sarah is our Secretary Treasurer, and Pammy is the Class Historian. Then we created a few other class officer titles.. Angelica is the Class Whore (but she’s awesome and not really a whore), Jason is the Secretary of the Fence (think about it) and Rod is our Motto Master. Myself and Noe being executives will just randomly create officer titles for people as we see fit. I love being in power. 
But anways thats been my night. Woot!
Why do I do this?
Am I stubborn? or maybe Im just prideful… I really dont know.
But I know right now im in a world of hurt.
So here’s what im talking about…
Last night I was double-timing it down the stairs and when I got to the bottom something in the achillies area of my foot *popped*. It hurt, but I could still walk on it. I took it pretty easy and the pain subsided and I went on my way.
So I woke up this morning and I put all the weight on my left foot getting out of bed and *wham!* the pain came back. Knowing all this- I probably should have either sat out part of practice today or alteast taken it easy. But believing I could practice through the pain I went full speed ahead and litterally limped off the field.
So now.. Im sitting back in my dorm room and my achillies is pulsating in pain and Im starting to beleive that I may have screwed up my knee trying to over-compensate for the achillies. But hey atleast they’re pulsating in time together…
Im not sure why I will physically wear myself down to nothing for the sake of a Damn Good show. Marching band is my passion, but I think im finally starting to find a ballance in life that doesnt always run around marching band. I want to enjoy the other things in life after this is all over too.
But yet there is nothing and never will be anything that can replace that feeling of running out of that tunnel a DIII. There’s no drugs known to man that can replace the Adrinaline high I get hearing the other bands roar as the Thunder take the field as only we can… I guess I dont do it for the 30,000 plus fans at the football games, or for the money. I do it for a half full stadium of people that are all like me. That’s why I wear myself down.
Ive chosen my career path now.., Im no longer a Criminal Justice Major… Im now a International Business Major, with an emphasis in Drill Design. Yes.. I finally feel like Ive found a way to truely do what I want to do for the rest of my life.
We’re so different… in fact we’re too different.
You’re socially intept and always so serious…
You like to complain…
You’re inexperienced when it comes to relationships and how they work…
You over-analyze everything!
I tried to see if we were compatable, but we’re not… and you dont understand.
A life lesson you need to learn is that things happen that cause things to change…
and its already happend, and sometimes its not fair- and not meant to happen
but they happen all the time.
I feel bad, but I cannot live a lie just to keep you happy. Please understand.
So she never read my message, but to be fair- I more or less told her in person that she didnt have to read it and she probably arleady knows but still gave her the choice if she wanted too. To my knowlege so far (and myspace) she hasnt. Today was fun at lunch… I was sitting with two girls I graduated with and I Angelica walk into the lounge areas in the sub and so I called her. We had a short conversation and then I said, yeah- I can see you and your white bandanna, and she flipped! She was looking right at me and couldnt see me. Eventually she found me, but the look on her face until she did was priceless. Im off to sectionals then to D&D!! woot… !
