Ben Krimmel, a senior majoring in international affairs, is a Hatchet columnist.
For head coach Mike Lonergan, almost everything is going according to plan on the home front. With three games remaining, GW suffered its only home blemish this past weekend.
Following last Saturday’s shooting bonanza on the court and boisterous crowd off it, there was a great vibe around Foggy Bottom. Crowds this season have steadily stepped-up their game intimidating visiting schools. Back-to-back losses to tough teams shouldn’t diminish fans’ confidence. 
And when at home, everyone is performing to the best of their abilities. Well, at least everybody that is allowed the opportunity to perform.
No, I’m not talking about players not seeing steady minutes on the court. I’m talking about the group of students who arrive early, stay late and perform throughout. Not the Colonial Army, but those who sit behind them: the Colonial Brass.
The only thing missing from GW having a real home court advantage is a great performance from the pep band. Their play has been great all season, but the problem is that they are handcuffed by the Smith Center public announcement system that is constantly blasting music during timeouts. More of this time should be reserved for the pep band.
A great college band makes everything better. During the trip to George Mason, I was blown away with the atmosphere their band created. Granted, that was one of the top-ranked bands in the country, but what surprised me most was how much their band played compared to GW’s.
I’m not chiding the Colonial Brass for not being able to out-duel Mason’s Doc Nix and the Green Machine. Rather, I am calling on GW to find a way to give the Colonial Brass more time to shine. (And perhaps a better location, as the current one can’t be helpful for the sousaphones’ projection.)
Against Fordham, there were stretches in the second half when the band was dormant and the Smith Center went completely comatose.
With 4,000 people crammed into a tight space, the band can have a huge impact on improving the atmosphere. Let’s buck routine and give the band a chance to jam.
They are real musicians who can transform a stale stoppage in play with live music. Sure Kool & the Gang’s “Jungle Boogie” isn’t the happening music of today, but when the Colonial Brass ripped it off during the second half against Fordham it sounded very fresh.
The Colonials have two crucial games remaining. It would be a shame if a team bound for the NCAA Tournament left home on a rather lethargic note – or without any notes at all.
