KARE 11: Gophers' McCann first female band director in Big Ten Conf.

[BleedGopher]

per KARE 11:

The Minnesota Gopher football team takes the field at TCF Bank Stadium Thursday night for the season opener.

But there's some history being made by a different squad on the field.

The University Marching Band will step its way right into its 125th year as The Pride of Minnesota.

New uniforms, new hats...new director.

"I'm thrilled. I'm so excited."

Betsy McCann will be the first woman to ever lead the U's marching band. In fact, she's the first woman to lead any Big Ten Conference marching band.

http://www.kare11.com/entertainment...emale-band-director-in-big-ten-conf/312688496

Go Gophers!!

 

[PMWinSTP]

per KARE 11:

The Minnesota Gopher football team takes the field at TCF Bank Stadium Thursday night for the season opener.

But there's some history being made by a different squad on the field.

The University Marching Band will step its way right into its 125th year as The Pride of Minnesota.

New uniforms, new hats...new director.

"I'm thrilled. I'm so excited."

Betsy McCann will be the first woman to ever lead the U's marching band. In fact, she's the first woman to lead any Big Ten Conference marching band.

http://www.kare11.com/entertainment...emale-band-director-in-big-ten-conf/312688496

Go Gophers!!

Great piece highlighting the band. Always amazed the first home game each year that they pull it all off with something like 70-80 new members and basically a week to prepare.

 

[Vandy]

Although I am tempted to says something misogynistic (in jest) and how appropriate it seems that the first female band director in the B1G would be here in Minnesota, I defer.

I do enjoy the band at the games, love the tradition. I would like to point out what a shame it was that the decision to attempt to have a fireworks show (which was terrible) at the same time the band performed for halftime ruined their performance. I hope that this was a lesson learned by the promotions staff.

 

[Ignatius L Hoops]

Although I am tempted to says something misogynistic (in jest) and how appropriate it seems that the first female band director in the B1G would be here in Minnesota, I defer.

I don't know specifically about the Minnesota marching band; but I believe most college marching bands didn't even allow women in the bands until after Title IX. Even then, it remained a long slog before Betsy McCann became the first B1G female band director.

 

[Taji34]

I don't know specifically about the Minnesota marching band; but I believe most college marching bands didn't even allow women in the bands until after Title IX. Even then, it remained a long slog before Betsy McCann became the first B1G female band director.

Pulled from the Wikipedia page about the band:

When it was originally formed, the band consisted of exclusively males. Women were first allowed to perform with the band in 1943-1945, when they were allowed to "fill in" for male members of the band that were serving in World War II. In 1950, a "Women's division" of the band was created, which lasted for several years. Women were finally allowed to be full members of the band in 1972. Molly Watters was selected in 2006 as the first female Drum Major in the history of the band. In July 2016, Betsy McCann was named the director of the band, becoming the first female director in the history of the band, and of all marching bands in the Big Ten Conference

 

[Vandy]

Pulled from the Wikipedia page about the band:

Well, I learn something new every day? Who knew?

 

[PMWinSTP]

Pulled from the Wikipedia page about the band:

Wow, 1972. Gophs integrated black players into the football team before women were integrated into the marching band.