UA pep band has full musical repertoire

In the March 26 issue of the Wildcat I read a column that truly disturbs me for a number of reasons. Craig Degel seems to have some pretty keen plans for spicing up the crowd at McKale Center during basketball games.

In response to number two in his two-part plan for school spirit, I've got to ask a few questions of him. Craig, do they require you to view the games from within a soundproof cage? Has a blow to the head caused some sort of hearing deficiency?

Or maybe you just thought you came up with a funny line and had to use it so you and your buddies could laugh it up. In any case you had to know that the letters would come in as a result of your actions.

I am a tuba player in the pep band and I want to share a few numbers with you and anyone else who may share your dim-witted opinion. The pep band currently has a working repertoire of about 35 tunes.

We played no less than 25 of these on the last round of the tournament and the only reason we didn't play more is because we weren't the only band there.

Give us credit, Mr. Degel; if you were at any of the tournament games you have to know that the UA pep band was far superior to any band there in all aspects of our performance. If you can't hear us, that's fine, but don't publicly bag on us for something you obviously have no clue about.

If you or anyone would like a list of the tunes that we do, feel free to e-mail me at listerr@u.arizona.edu.

By Ray Lister (letter)
Arizona Daily Wildcat
April 8, 1997