Shari Nelson writes:
> A word of warning to Clarkson fans about the cheeseheads (er, Wisconsin!)
> Their band, and fans are incredible! They have the most organized
> cheering section I've ever seen. During power plays, their drummer
> plays constantly, while the fans sing in the background.
 
I didn't think bands were allowed to play while the puck was "in play".
I was a drummer in the RPI Pep Band from 1975 to 1978.  Even the drums
had be be quite while play was going on.
 
During the 1976 playoffs, RPI was hosting BC in the first round.  With a
close game (RPI trailing 4-3) in the third period, our Pep Band was playing a
"cheer" at EVERY break in the action, sometimes running over after the puck
would be dropped.  We were trying to urge our team on (what good Pep Band
doesn't?).  It was working too, RPI scored with about 10:00 minutes
left to tie the score.  So, we went a little overboard and played the LONG
version of our school fight song after the goal.  The Ref stopped play, and
had the announcer say that if the Band plays again while the puck is in play,
he would call a Bench Minor on RPI!  Our Tuba player offered to go and sit
in the Penalty box if the rest of the Pep Band could continue to play  B^).
What a guy!  Granted this was an ECAC playoff game.  (Oh, yeah, BC scored
in the last minute to pull out a 5-4 victory.  Talk about a Ref controlling
a game!)
 
The second experience come in the spring of 1979, when the RPI Pep Band was
trying to accompany the Hockey team on their annual "North Trip" to SLU and
Clarkson.  We were told that the Clarkson rink was small, and the Clarkson
people didn't want our Pep Band to be allowed into the game.  So, our Band
Director (student that he was) contacted the ECAC and got them to force
Clarkson to allow us into the arena and to let us play.  Something about
other schools were letting the Clarkson Band into their arenas, so Clarkson
HAD TO let us in (and any other Bands that wanted to accomany their teams
as well).  After our first goal, when we finished the last eight measures
of our school fight song, AFTER the puck had been dropped, The Arena manager
comes running up to us and threatens to throw us out "if we don't stop playing
when the puck is dropped!".  I can't remember if he said it was ECAC or NCAA
rules that prohibited bands from playing.  Needless to say, the Clakson Pep
Band seemedto be under no such orders from the same gentleman, they got to
play whenever, and however long, they wanted to.
 
Maybe things have changed in 10-15 years.  For the Better?  I hope so.