Article published October 05, 2008
BUCKEYES NOTEBOOK
Badgers' band banned
Raucous musical unit under indefinite suspension
By MATT MARKEY
BLADE SPORTS WRITER
MADISON, Wis. - The sound of live music was missing from the fall evening get-together between Ohio State and Wisconsin, since the host team's marching band was serving time in the penalty box for bad behavior.
Wisconsin's marching band is under an indefinite suspension levied by its longtime director, amid allegations of alcohol abuse, incidents of hazing and sexual misconduct, and it was barred from appearing last night at Camp Randall Stadium.
Mike Leckrone, who has been Wisconsin's band director since 1969, announced Friday night he had met with the 300-member band and suspended the entire unit for the first time in his long career. "My feeling was I hit them between the eyes with a sledgehammer," Leckrone said.
At last night's Big Ten showdown between the Badgers and the Buckeyes, Wisconsin used a combination of canned music, recordings of performances and video displays in place of the marching band's usual contributions to the evening.
The Badgers' band has had its behavioral problems in the past.
Two years ago, Wisconsin's then-chancellor John Wiley sent a letter to Leckrone calling the behavior displayed by the members of the marching band "boorish to patently dangerous and unlawful." The team lost some of its travel and performance opportunities as punishment at that time and had been on probation since.Wisconsin's assistant band director resigned early in 2007, after a report on a trip the band made to Michigan during the 2006 season indicated he had mistreated a female colleague. There were also reports of suggestive dancing by seminude band members and that female band members had been forced to kiss other women to be allowed to enter bathrooms on a bus transporting the band.
Officials at Wisconsin declined to be specific about the incidents that prompted the current suspension, instead speaking generally in a statement that stated the latest allegations followed the pattern of the 2006 antics.
FLIGHT PLAN: The Ohio State team plane encountered an unexpected delay on its flight to Madison on Friday. As the chartered flight readied for its final approach, the tower called for the pilot to abort the landing and continue to circle the airport. An F-16 military jet had made an emergency landing on the same runway earlier, and airport officials had not yet removed the catch cable used to stop the F-16 and needed to do so before any subsequent landings could take place.
After about 30 minutes of additional circling, the Ohio State party landed without further incident.
PRYOR FEATS: With the third start of his young career last night, Ohio State freshman quarterback Terrelle Pryor continues to carve his place in Buckeyes' lore. When he made the first start of his career two weeks ago against Troy, Pryor was the first freshman to start for Ohio State since Art Schlichter in the 1978 season. Pryor's 10-of-16 performance for four touchdowns in that game broke Schlichter's single-game freshman record at OSU and tied the season freshman mark. With his second-quarter touchdown pass to Brian Robiskie in the Minnesota game last week, Pryor set the freshman season record.
He added a 38-yard run for a touchdown in the Minnesota game and went into last night's game as Ohio State's leading rusher on the season with 292 yards.
FRESHHHH: Ohio State has played 16 freshmen so far this season, and two of them started against Wisconsin. Quarterback Terrelle Pryor and center Michael Brewster give the Buckeyes the youngest exchange pair in the conference. Ohio State has also used wide receivers Lamaar Thomas and DeVier Posey, quarterback Joe Bauserman, running back Daniel "Boom" Herron, defensive back Nate Oliver, offensive linemen J.B. Shugarts and Mike Adams, linebacker Etienne Sabino and defensive lineman Solomon Thomas.
GRADUATE WORK: Ohio State is one of the top teams in the country in terms of degree-holders. Seven members of the Buckeyes have already earned a bachelor's degree. The group is composed of Todd Boeckman, Marcus Freeman, Ryan Lukens, Ben Person, Steve Rehring, Jon Skinner and A.J. Trapasso.
WORKMAN-LIKE: Ohio State named Vince Workman, a running back for the Buckeyes from 1984-87, as its honorary captain for last night's game. Workman led Ohio State in rushing in 1986 with 1,030 yards on 210 carries as the Buckeyes were co-champions of the Big Ten.
He also scored the winning touchdown in Ohio State's 28-12 win over Texas A&M in the 1987 Cotton Bowl.
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