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The Irony Of It All
Brad Hollerbach

Who Would Win If The Football Redhawks
Played The Golden Eagles Marching Band?

Posted Monday, October 26, 2009, at 8:15 AM

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  • The only way SEMO's football team could be more of a train wreck is if they put Matt Millen in charge of recruiting and player selection and make Scott Linehan head coach.

    -- Posted by almighty on Mon, Oct 26, 2009, at 10:55 AM
  • Great link, Just_Me. Those are some seriously lame logos. I especially like the New Berlin Pretzels. I bet they have a killer Yoga team.

    Thanks for sharing and reading.

    -- Posted by Brad_Hollerbach on Mon, Oct 26, 2009, at 12:16 PM
  • "Who Would Win If The Football Redhawks Played The Golden Eagles Marching Band?"

    Wait, wait, wait! I know this one! Cape Central?? oh wait... Jackson "INDIANS?" Noo...they haven't won either!.

    Hmmmm...I got it now! The Baltimore Orioles!

    -- Posted by Egotistical_Bigot on Mon, Oct 26, 2009, at 2:13 PM
  • What I will never understand is how it is OK to be a Jackson Indian, Scott County Brave, etc etc in May, yet when a student starts college three months later all the sudden it is HIGHLY OFFENSIVE.

    -- Posted by eaea49 on Mon, Oct 26, 2009, at 4:02 PM
  • eaea49,

    Great question!

    -- Posted by Egotistical_Bigot on Mon, Oct 26, 2009, at 4:22 PM
  • I am a member of the Golden Eagles. If I am not mistaken, the Golden Eagle was a very well respected and honored creature among most Native American tribes. Many braves would strive to attain Golden Eagle feathers for their head dresses. Since SEMO was called the Indians, I believe this is why we the band were called the Golden Eagles. Keep in mind that our dance team is called the Sun Dancers, obviously referring to the Native American worship of the sun. I am only a Junior, so I have no idea why we did not change our name along with the athletic department. All I know is that we go out every game and give everything inside us to distract the other team and keep our Redhawks in the game. We are also probably the only organization on the campus that sings the Alma Mater in 4 part harmony at every game, win or lose. Food for thought. HAIL GOLDEN EAGLES!

    -- Posted by SousaHero07 on Mon, Oct 26, 2009, at 11:59 PM
  • SousaHero07,

    Nobody's questioning the name of the golden eagles. We're all old timers here, we want the INDIAN name back for the sports department.

    -- Posted by Egotistical_Bigot on Tue, Oct 27, 2009, at 7:17 AM
  • Egotistical_Bigot,

    The article itself quetioned the name of the Golden Eagles...

    "How come SEMO's marching band isn't named the same as the team? Why are they the Golden Eagles? Shouldn't they be the Marching Redhawks? Where'd they come up with the name Golden Eagles anyway? Shouldn't they have been the Marching Indians back when SEMO was still the Indians?"

    I assume SousaHero07 was just responding to the article. And SousaHero07 was right on, as far as story goes, the "Golden Eagles" name is one that was picked many years back, by the student body, and went along with the Indian theme. Although the name doesn't make much sense alongside the Redhawks, the GEMB is a very proud group that has made a name for themselves as the Golden Eagles, not the Marching Indians or Marching Redhawks. They have incredible history, and have more than earned the right to keep their name. Plus the university would have to shell out major $$$ for new uniforms with the Redhawk name on them, and I don't see that happening... :D HAIL GOLDEN EAGLES!!!!

    -- Posted by ambrosia on Tue, Oct 27, 2009, at 7:51 AM
  • SousaHero07, while I didn't know much about the historical originations of SEMO's Golden Eagles Marching Band, I was aware that they have won numerous accolades over the years -- possibly more than any other extra curricular activity/program on campus.

    Anyone who is interested can check out the link below for more details, although it does need to be updated. The page talks about the Golden Eagles playing in Edinburgh, Scotland in the summer of 2008 in the FUTURE tense.

    http://www.semo.edu/music/goldeneagles.htm

    I realize -- and I think many readers do as well -- that becoming a member of a collegiate marching band is no small feat. It takes probably as much dedication and hard work as it does making one of the athletic squads.

    I did and still do question the University's decision to become a NCAA Division 1 school in 1991. Besides the numerous fines for rules violations, the University just can't compete at that level. Just look at the football program. In the 19 years at NCAA Division 1 it has had 2 winning seasons and only won 1 out every 3 games on average.

    I've got some ideas on how to "fix it," but that's another blog for another day.

    Thanks for reading.

    -- Posted by Brad_Hollerbach on Tue, Oct 27, 2009, at 8:50 AM
  • Jackson is the Indians and the high school band is the Marching Cheifs. Cape band USED to be the Bengal Lancers when I was in the band back in the 80's now they are what the Marching Tigers? Cape is all about change. Change is fine on some things but other things should just be left alone. SEMO should have stayed the Indians. BUT as far as football teams playing against the bands & who would win.......both Cape and Jackson bands would kick butts this year! Thursday night is going to be SO exciting because one of them HAS to win unless ending in a tie is possible.....hmmm. HAHA!

    -- Posted by J_T_ on Tue, Oct 27, 2009, at 1:20 PM
  • First a question for the old timers. Did the Golden Eagles wear blue and gold uniforms for many years? It seems that I remember this and I also remember that they were tied to the Indians since Golden Eagles were special to Native Americans. I also know the GEMB has marched in at least one Super Bowl halftime show. Remember Leroy Mason?

    -- Posted by pmstewert420 on Tue, Oct 27, 2009, at 1:51 PM
  • BTW, since I am too lazy to look it up myself, what is the combined total win-loss record of the following teams. Cape, Jackson, Scott City, Chaffee, Semo, Perryville, St.Vincent, Kansas City Chiefs and St.Louis Rams?

    -- Posted by pmstewert420 on Tue, Oct 27, 2009, at 2:02 PM
  • I don't know if any of the "old timers" will answer your questions regarding the history of the Golden Eagles, but I believe Kent Library has a nearly -- if not complete collection of the Sagamore's, the University's now defunct yearbook. I believe the last time an edition was published was in the early 1990s.

    Here are this season's win-loss records for the teams you wondered about:

    Cape 0 and 9

    Jackson 0 and 9

    Scott City 2 and 7

    Chaffee 1 and 7

    SEMO 1 and 6

    Perryville 1 and 8

    St. Vincent 4 and 5

    KC 1 and 5

    St Louis 0 and 7

    TFR

    -- Posted by Brad_Hollerbach on Tue, Oct 27, 2009, at 2:20 PM
  • Thanks Brad! 10-64 combined......so sad

    -- Posted by pmstewert420 on Tue, Oct 27, 2009, at 3:13 PM
  • I'm like Ego! Get the Indians name back. If I were an Indian, I would be proud to be singled out for a sports team. My heritage does not afford me the privilege of having a sports team named for it.

    Of course the Band would whip the football team.

    -- Posted by vietnamvet on Tue, Oct 27, 2009, at 4:40 PM
  • I will check with Mr. Barry Bernhardt and find out what all the GEMB has done. I do know that we have been to Scotland twice, as well as a Superbowl and a few other things that I can not remember off hand. Also, I am not angry, and know that I am too young to remember the good days when cheering for the team meant more than trying to keep the score reasonable. Does anyone know what it would take for us to go back down a division? Besides the football teams poor record, our men's basketball team did NOT win a single game in the OVC Conference last year. Plus, both our basketball programs have been penalized for violations, effectively stripping our girls of their two dominant seasons.

    -- Posted by SousaHero07 on Tue, Oct 27, 2009, at 5:48 PM
  • To Iliketoeat,

    I'm not an "old timer" but I am a Golden Eagles alum and can tell you that they did wear blue and gold for a long time. I ran the uniform room and there are some of all the old uniforms there. I believe they changed to red and gold sometime in the 80's.

    -- Posted by ambrosia on Tue, Nov 10, 2009, at 12:36 PM