The Official Webpage of the Big Red Trumpets


	Big Red Trumpet Traditions The Big Red Trumpets are a bunch steeped in tradition. Although the origin of many of our traditions remains unknown and their purpose seems sometimes blurry, they are vehemently defended, and every year, the Trumpets obey them... Sunglasses As a rule, Trumpets wear sunglasses on Saturdays. The original reason for this we do not know. Maybe it is to keep the sun out of our eyes. Maybe it is so the police cannot recognize us. Maybe it is to keep our hoards of fans from knowing our true identities. Maybe it is all of the above. Whatever the case, we wear sunglasses every Saturday. If you forget your sunglasses, a pair of "penalty" shades is provided. These glasses are the type you find at a gas station or in a box of cereal. They look bad; or at least they are supposed to look bad. In recent years, the penalty shades have become incresingly more inventive. For instance, one pair has only one functional arm. The other arm is a trumpet lyre which has been duct-taped to the side. Miraculously, it was the perfect length! Every once and a while, someone grows fond of a pair of penalty shades. This is not normal though... Shorts Trumpets always wear shorts to Tuesday night rehearsal, no matter what the weather (there is usually at least one practice a year that is graced with tons of snow). If you do not wear shorts you are shunned. If you do not wear shorts to a snow rehearsal, you are thrown into the show repeatedly until you cry (Ok, maybe not until you cry. Actually, while I am coming clean, you are only thrown in the snow once. But you are still shunned!). A good Trumpet will do whatever is necessary to be in shorts on Tuesday night... Push-Ups Trumpets do push-ups for every point Cornell has every time we score. For example, if Cornell scores 5 touchdowns in the game the Trumpets will have done 105 (7+14+21+28+35) push-ups. This leads to another minor tradition: Field Goals and safeties scored late in the game that do not cause Cornell to win suck. In fact, safeties in general suck... Football The Trumpets play football during Tuesday night rehearsal (or during whatever other rehearsal we feel like it). Tuesday night rehearsals are long (9-11pm), and we practice drills. Playing football is much more fun. Plus, unlike the rest of the band, the Trumpets don't need several hours of practice to get a drill right. We can learn it all on Saturday morning before the game! Anyway, it's fun to hear the rest of the band fall apart without us... 10:23 Have you ever noticed that no matter when you look at a clock, it always reads 10:23? This incredible phenomenon was discovered by our own Ken Flanagan '98. Trumpets to this day continue to marvel at the regularity of this time... Trumpet Hockey For the past couple of years, the Trumpets have taken a night out of the year to rent out Lynah Rink and play hockey. This tradition was the brainchild of Carl and Lowell, who were taking PE hockey at the time. Sure, some of us can barely ice-skate, but that doesn't really matter. The point is, it's fun. Trombones It is tradition that the Trombones in the BRB suck. The Mink Dog Award Every year, there is a very special trumpet within our ranks. This special individual is not a rank leader, not the spinmaster, and no, not even our mighty section leader. This person is.... The Mink Dog. What is a Mink Dog, you ask? Well, in the grand ole academic year '94-'95 lived a field manager who was destined for a better life- destined for greatness, destined- to be a Trumpet. Greg Minkler became part of the greatest section in the band, and elevated his status accordingly. Fortunately, being a trumpet involves more than just playing ability. This was especially good for Greg, who had a severe absence of Skilz. In his honor, The Mink Dog Award was created. Every year from this point on, a trumpet has had this high honor bestowed upon him or her. It is in recognition of achievement as a Trumpet despite musical talent (i.e. sucktitude)... Taco Bell A true trumpet eats at Taco Bell (a.k.a. T-Bell) whenever possible. A Taco Champion may even choose to consume eleven or more tacos after already eating dining hall food (or at least fifteen without the dining hall meal). Going in boxers is also encouraged.