OK, up front, I'll admit this is going to be a long post. So please forgive the length. I hope you find this to be thoughtful and respectful.
First off, as I posted in an earlier thread, Cal Band and Grambling Band do two very different styles of performance. Cal Band is still, by far, the best college marching band west of Madison or Columbus. They have fun, they are terrific representatives of the University, and they are a huge part of the Cal Spirit (despite the marketing division of the athletic dept.)
The halftime show we all saw Saturday was a well intentioned effort at doing something different than the same old stuff they've done so often......tributes to pop culture icons. Those "tribute" shows often bore me greatly. They are often pretty unimaginative, don't feature any physical moves or marching that can't be done by other bands, and at times tribute pop culture personalities that many in the stadium don't relate to. Now, in fairness, I think they're entitled to that, since they are students, and they want to be enjoyed (first and foremost) by their peers. The problem is that often, there is such a prevalence of those type of shows that they alienate a sizable number of fans who either don't care about those acts they play tribute to, or don't know who they are. To me, the solution to this particular problem is simple......some weeks play to the student tastes (and side), and some weeks play to a more general population (west side).
I am uncomfortable being too critical of the halftime effort on Saturday. Some of us remember some really imaginative shows from the past, including shows relating to James Bond, the 1812 Overture, Video Games, and TV Shows. I think the show on Saturday was an effort at returning to that kind of show. When they're done well, they are exceptional. The problem with this one was it was related to a movie that many in the crowd don't even know. So the humor and the references fell on deaf ears. That is unfortunate, but a reality, and Cal Band needs to understand that. (Personally, I LOVED the Calaxy pun). Again, I would prefer to hear/see this kind of show rather than another "tribute" show. But a mix of tribute shows with themed shows would be OK with me. Personally, I just get more bored with the tributes.
Now, before I get more critical, I want to give Cal Band some deserved (and needed love). The Cal Band entrance is maybe the best in college football. (The Ohio State entrance is really great too and for me, it's hard to say one is better than the other. But I'll give the edge to Cal Band because it's more difficult.). And the Cal Band postgame exit from the stadium is better than any other band I've seen in college football (but Grambling gets credit for a good exit too). The overall postgame show is terrific and those who don't stay to watch it are missing something really great. Cal Band doesn't have a huge budget, and does a terrific job with what they have. They do a lot to promote Cal Spirit around campus (and off), and are the very best on the west coast.
Here's where I have a concern. Remember these are just opinions. But they come from very careful observation of the band over the years.
First......the fact they don't play much during the game is frustrating. It isn't their fault. The fault for that lays right at the feet of the athletic dept. Cal Band is not allowed to play while the athletic dept. does their nauseating "bear roar", muscle flex and bear hug activities. Cal Band isn't allowed to play through the commercials, the promos, the piped in music, and the "campus recognition" activities either. I have asked people within the a.d. to at least let the band play FIRST before all the other crap. But as you can see, my meagher efforts haven't been very persuasive. I think it's important for Cal Band to play first thing after play stoppages because that is when emotions are at their highest, especially after a significant play by the team. And that is when I want to hear the Cal songs first and foremost.
We didn't hear the Bear Territory yell before the game at all. Did the student section even do it? I would never have known because of the totally unneeded piped in music before the opening kickoff. The piped in music is awful, is so loud it even drowns out our conversations in the stands, and is so out of place it defies understanding.
Here is an opinion I have that may not go well with some, but I truly believe.....I think in the last few years, Cal Band has gotten a bit complacent in what they do. My impression is they are kind of resting on their laurels of being the best in the west thinking they are so much better than everyone else, no one can catch them. Why do I say this? Overall, the flash that made them so much fun to watch, and the discipline that gave them so much of their class, has eroded. If anyone wants to contact me offline, I'd be happy to give all the reasons I feel this way, but I'll give just a couple of examples here: The Cal Band drum line sticking is totally invisible now. When the snare drummers had the "high steppers", you could clearly see the sticking from the top of the stadium because the sticking was above the head of each bandsmen, and was easy to see. Now, you can't see anything the percussion does because the sticks are low, and lost against the white of the front of their uniforms. The really cool stick twirling that was a feature of the bass drum players, (and made those of us who were kids want to play in the Cal Band percussion section) is no longer done at all. Those are just a couple of things that made the Cal Band almost untouchable in their reputation. Other bands can't or won't do those things. Now, Cal Band percussion looks just like every other band on the field (with the exception of the Grambling and Ohio State bands, whose cymbal players do a full twirl of the cymbals). And there are times when the different sections in Cal Band, I assume in an effort to distinguish themselves or to "be cool", do things "out of the norm", which does draw attention to them, but when done too much, detracts from the overall class and discipline that is so respected when fans see bands such as Grambling or Ohio State. While Cal Band has eroded some of the things that made them really stand out, the University of Washington band has become better and better, and the gap between the two bands is not as big as it once was.
Again, I'll say I love Cal Band, and still see them as the best in the west. They do a fantastic job given the lack of official support they lack, and the limited resources they have. They work hard, and are deserving of the "Cal Band Great" yell I don't hear as much anymore. I think it's sad that the athletic department doesn't seem to see the value they have with such a great band, and I wish there was a stronger effort, both by the university and the Cal fans to help them out. Notred Dame, Ohio State and Grambling on occasion send their full, uniformed bands to away games because they see the value and PR that comes from having that kind of representation. But here? Cal stifles them in their own stands, and drowns them out when the fans want to hear them. Absurd.
By the way, did anyone else notice the ovation the Grambling Band got playing during the breaks? (Did you hear that, A.D.?)
So, overall, I say give the Band a break on this week. They tried something different, and it was a good effort.....just didn't work out perfectly. (Kind of like the football teams effort vs. Arizona last year, right?). We all try things and sometimes they just don't succeed like we'd like. But, hopefully, we grow from them, and move forward.
Grambling did what they did well. Cal Band did what they do, and for the most part (pregame and post-game) they did it well. I hope the Band will be strong enough to look at what works, what doesn't work, and then move forward. (Major hint to the Athletic Dept. too....)
And for all of us, "Cal Band Great".
Unless you were going for the title, like Don Corleone. 
