Hearing bad rumors (band)

Kceasthawk@77

All-American
Feb 2, 2005
4,204
7,359
113
I very much hope this gets the national attention it deserves. Playing in that kind of heat affects the players, the band members and the fans in the stands as accounted by the numerous stories here.

While we had an unusual heat wave this summer I think we have to get real about scheduling and the whole structure of the football season. Does the drive to increase revenues expanding the playoffs outweigh the hazards of playing early season football in potentially hazardous heat? Some tough decisions lie ahead that will have a major impact on the game.
See that's the whole thing though , because the people who make those decisions only care about $$. If not we wouldn't have Rutgers/Maryland and the left coast schools in the B1G.
 
Dec 4, 2001
5,873
19,177
113
You think the HMB only shows up to play the National Anthem? I'm guessing they were prepping and doing pre-game activities 3-4 hours before performing the National Anthem.

Sad news! Hopefully the do not cancel the season but wouldn't be surprised if they did.
Cancel the season for the band or the football team? It would be crazy to cancel the football season for how the band is managed or conducted.
 

OnlyTheObscure

All-Conference
Jul 3, 2025
3,462
4,933
113
Saw a picture and the band was in shorts and tshirts.

So at least they knew the conditions were hot. Those kind of temps, compounded by the crowd, turf and inability to move around makes for a bad situation.

sad that tragedy is often need for real change.
 
  • Like
Reactions: rchawk

MeetTheFerentzes

All-American
Sep 6, 2022
2,677
5,289
113
Cancel the season for the band or the football team? It would be crazy to cancel the football season for how the band is managed or conducted.
He was referring to canceling the marching band season, which to my knowledge is still up in the air. I'm sure that will be a big topic among band members and leadership as they share their grief this week. I don't see any way that they would be able to prepare for a show this weekend or next. At the very most maybe they will have a smaller band in the stands just to play music like the pep band at basketball games. If they decide to march any more this year I doubt it would be earlier than the Ohio St game, which is likely their "show of the year." Again, I'm sure they are going to be discussing this in depth. There are no doubt a large number of band members who don't want to be walking out on that field or sitting in those stands again any time soon.
 

IAHAWK23

Freshman
Jan 28, 2021
50
94
18
From Facebook:

To our Hawkeye Marching Band and School of Music family,
On Saturday, September 5, a student in our Hawkeye Marching Band family experienced a significant medical emergency, and this morning he passed away. Derek Phillips was our mellophone section leader, a beloved member of the School of Music horn studio, and the kind of friend, student, and musician that represents the very best of what it means to be a Hawkeye.
Losing a HMB family member is one of the most difficult tragedies we will experience. We are grateful to his parents, Sara and Brian, for providing regular updates throughout the weekend to HMB staff and the students who love him. We will continue to walk the journey together, and we will continue to provide support and resources to our students to ensure they are getting the care they need. The Hawkeye Marching Band and the School of Music are strong and resilient because of the people within. We appreciate the thoughts and well-wishes from so many members of our community.
Dr. Walker and I are grateful for the heroic actions of our athletic trainer, our police officers, university medical personnel, EMS, and our HMB students who responded immediately and provided assistance to Derek on-site before he was transported to UIHC.
Counselors will be on site in Voxman, and with the HMB all week. We encourage you to reach out to those around you and ask for support if you need it.
There is nothing more important than the safety of our students. Their well-being is always at the top of my mind. We are teaching them more than music and marching— and we are a family. I told the band on Saturday, when we gathered after we departed from Kinnick Stadium, “As a parent, the care I have for my own son extends to every single marching Hawkeye.”
This Saturday, and for the rest of our season, the Hawkeye Marching Band and School of Music will honor Derek’s memory, and we will communicate those details as they take shape.
The University of Iowa, the School of Music, and the Hawkeye Marching Band leadership will continue to provide support in the coming days, weeks, and months to students who need it. We understand that grief affects us in many different ways, and we are committed to supporting our students in whatever ways they need.
With much gratitude for our Hawkeye family,
Dr. Eric W. Bush
Director of the Hawkeye Marching Band
Associate Director of the School of Music
Dr. Tammie Walker
Director of the School of Music
 

83Hawk

All-Conference
Jan 1, 2023
1,730
3,891
113
From Facebook:

To our Hawkeye Marching Band and School of Music family,
On Saturday, September 5, a student in our Hawkeye Marching Band family experienced a significant medical emergency, and this morning he passed away. Derek Phillips was our mellophone section leader, a beloved member of the School of Music horn studio, and the kind of friend, student, and musician that represents the very best of what it means to be a Hawkeye.
Losing a HMB family member is one of the most difficult tragedies we will experience. We are grateful to his parents, Sara and Brian, for providing regular updates throughout the weekend to HMB staff and the students who love him. We will continue to walk the journey together, and we will continue to provide support and resources to our students to ensure they are getting the care they need. The Hawkeye Marching Band and the School of Music are strong and resilient because of the people within. We appreciate the thoughts and well-wishes from so many members of our community.
Dr. Walker and I are grateful for the heroic actions of our athletic trainer, our police officers, university medical personnel, EMS, and our HMB students who responded immediately and provided assistance to Derek on-site before he was transported to UIHC.
Counselors will be on site in Voxman, and with the HMB all week. We encourage you to reach out to those around you and ask for support if you need it.
There is nothing more important than the safety of our students. Their well-being is always at the top of my mind. We are teaching them more than music and marching— and we are a family. I told the band on Saturday, when we gathered after we departed from Kinnick Stadium, “As a parent, the care I have for my own son extends to every single marching Hawkeye.”
This Saturday, and for the rest of our season, the Hawkeye Marching Band and School of Music will honor Derek’s memory, and we will communicate those details as they take shape.
The University of Iowa, the School of Music, and the Hawkeye Marching Band leadership will continue to provide support in the coming days, weeks, and months to students who need it. We understand that grief affects us in many different ways, and we are committed to supporting our students in whatever ways they need.
With much gratitude for our Hawkeye family,
Dr. Eric W. Bush
Director of the Hawkeye Marching Band
Associate Director of the School of Music
Dr. Tammie Walker
Director of the School of Music
My son was in the Hawkeye Marching Band, and like Derek, was a mellophone section leader.
My heart goes out to Derek's family and to his band mates. This is absolutely terrible.
 

Herky T Hawk

Senior
Feb 5, 2003
403
958
93
Regardless if you were talking about yourself or other folks in general....the fact still remains that a member of the HMB just tragically passed and you somehow felt the need to downplay it, intentionally or unintentionally, with "it's just another day for folks in the SW".

Time and place bro.
No kidding, just another day in the SW. Not to mention that Phoenix doesn't get the humidity that we do in the summer.

In Iowa City it was 92 with 58% humidity for a feels like of 103 F. And that temperature is at the airport, not inside the stadium with 70,000 people and the rubber field holding and reflecting heat. If the air temp was 100 inside the stadium with the same humidity, the feels like jumps to 127 F. And there's people in the news saying the air temp was actually 106 on the field which would skyrocket the feels like even more. In Phoenix on Saturday it was 100 F with a 21% humidity for a feels like of 87 F. That's a pretty big difference. In Iowa City the humidity wouldn't allow your sweat to evaporate, far different from someone in the arid desert.

Sorry to hear about this. Maybe the university will try to push for some changes to have later tv times for the first few weeks of the season in the future. For those that were there, would it have been better if the game started at 11 instead of the afternoon start time?
 
Last edited:

Hawkmanic23

All-Conference
Mar 11, 2026
2,520
2,044
113
The family of the young man in HMB posted on social media overnight that he’s been in a coma since the incident and that they have made the difficult decision to removed life support. Word from the marching band is that they will likely cancel the rest of the season.

I hope anyone left out there with an attitude about heat illness being for “wussies” and people who are out of shape or don’t know how to take care of themselves can rethink their position. That could have been any one of our kids. That young man is a hero and a greater Hawkeye than any of us.
I had heard the marching band would be honoring this individual throughout the rest of the season.
 
  • Like
Reactions: BunchofAholes

Hawkmanic23

All-Conference
Mar 11, 2026
2,520
2,044
113
But they'll still preach about player safety... while running them into the ground.

We'll see a kid die on the field in August SEC, or Iowa, humidity... and people will say, nobody could have seen this coming.
I was living in Minnesota in 2001 when Viking offensive lineman Corey Stringer died from a heat stroke during a hot training camp day. After that tragic death, the NFL implemented more stringent measures to combat the heat, including having cold water immersion tubs near every practice field.
 
Last edited:

Hawkfan_08*

All-American
Jul 2, 2025
3,649
9,721
113
BS let's see your study showing grass is that much different. And they played for like 10 minutes prior to kick off. They ain't playing on an asphalt surface.

So in October 50 degree day with the sun shining it should feel like 120 degrees in there.
It isn't just that it is shining, seasons make a difference too.




 
  • Like
Reactions: DJ1231

Hawkfan_08*

All-American
Jul 2, 2025
3,649
9,721
113
Absolutely hate that turf. Zero reason Iowa can't go back to a grass field with the resources they have.

Turf sucks. As a soccer coach, it makes the game unnatural. Bounces are way higher, speed is way faster, wind makes the ball move all over.

Good grass will always be better than good turf. The problem for Iowa high schools is that any turf is better than horrible grass, which are most of the fields.
 

rchawk

Heisman
Oct 27, 2001
75,077
10,005
113
I think most if not all of us will support whatever HMB decides to do for the rest of the season. I also expect all black helmets for Saturday night's game.

If college football went back to nine-game schedules this season wouldn't start until September 26. I know, I know, $$$ and TV and when pigs fly in a frozen hell. But football is supposed to be a fall sport.
 
  • Like
Reactions: MacMiney

MeetTheFerentzes

All-American
Sep 6, 2022
2,677
5,289
113
It isn't just that it is shining, seasons make a difference too.




Forget it. This dude went full potato in this thread and I doubt much can be done about it at this point.
 

Trucheck

Joined Feb 14, 2005 • Garnet Trust Supporter
Feb 14, 2005
100,872
23,045
113
Just read about what happened. I know from experience that most of Iowa is lower in temps throughout the year than South Carolina so from someone who has experienced both your climate and mine. I was sorry to hear the young man suffered a heat related injury and died from it.

Feel for the parents that had to make that decision and the prayers of the Gamecock Nation are with all of you.

Just to let you guys know our game started at 12:45 and it was 96 degrees and got as high as 99 open temp heat index was 115. our band was in t shirts and shorts and we had some suffer heat injuries. If you happened to watch our game, the stadium was almost empty at the start of the second half due to the heat.

Heart Christian GIF
 
Aug 30, 2025
202
341
63
This article about the death of Derek Phillips is from his home area. It describes some of the commendable efforts the university took to try to prevent problems such as Derek experienced.
 

NoPuntsNoPeace

All-Conference
Jul 9, 2025
1,513
3,610
113
From the KCRG investigation article it almost sounds to me like the University either doesn’t have a policy on the heat, or is unwilling to share it….which makes me wonder if it wasn’t followed.

I will be shocked if this doesn’t end up in a massive lawsuit. Big money college sports trumps safety? No way.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Hawksfor3

Hawksfor3

All-American
Dec 5, 2016
8,256
9,440
113
From the KCRG investigation article it almost sounds to me like the University either doesn’t have a policy on the heat, or is unwilling to share it….which makes me wonder if it wasn’t followed.

I will be shocked if this doesn’t end up in a massive lawsuit. Big money college sports trumps safety? No way.
I just watched KCRG's i9 Investigates video on You Tube. It talked about what they called the "Wet Bulb Globe Temperature" that takes multiple factors into account to measure heat-related risks, and recommendations that are in place to address those risks. The temperature during the game exceeded the maximum safe temperature recommended for activities. That maximum "WBGT" temperature is 89.7 degrees.
They contacted the university to see what their guidelines for heat levels is, but so far, they haven't received a response.
 

HawksRule73

All-Conference
Jun 26, 2025
859
2,174
93
I just watched KCRG's i9 Investigates video on You Tube. It talked about what they called the "Wet Bulb Globe Temperature" that takes multiple factors into account to measure heat-related risks, and recommendations that are in place to address those risks. The temperature during the game exceeded the maximum safe temperature recommended for activities. That maximum "WBGT" temperature is 89.7 degrees.
They contacted the university to see what their guidelines for heat levels is, but so far, they haven't received a response.
It's not just about what happened during the game, it was also everything leading up to the game. For a 3:15pm game, I think the band starts warm ups around 10:30 or so for a few hours, then they break for lunch at like 12:30, then they go to the Rec Show at about 1:45pm until like 2:30 (and I've been in that Rec Show building in the heat and it's stifling.....no AC, no air movement, no fans), then they march to the stadium and stand in the tunnels for awhile, then they do their pre-game routine on the field, then go sit in the stands with no cooling and limited water/gatorade. So by the time Derek collapsed, at around 4:30 or so, they'd been going for over 6 hours. There definitely needs to be changes made. I'd start with eliminating the Rec show when it's over a certain temp and maybe have the athletic department pony up for a crap ton of gatorade/powerade for the band during the game.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Wobmam Rulez!

Hawksfor3

All-American
Dec 5, 2016
8,256
9,440
113
It's not just about what happened during the game, it was also everything leading up to the game. For a 3:15pm game, I think the band starts warm ups around 10:30 or so for a few hours, then they break for lunch at like 12:30, then they go to the Rec Show at about 1:45pm until like 2:30 (and I've been in that Rec Show building in the heat and it's stifling.....no AC, no air movement, no fans), then they march to the stadium and stand in the tunnels for awhile, then they do their pre-game routine on the field, then go sit in the stands with no cooling and limited water/gatorade. So by the time Derek collapsed, at around 4:30 or so, they'd been going for over 6 hours. There definitely needs to be changes made. I'd start with eliminating the Rec show when it's over a certain temp and maybe have the athletic department pony up for a crap ton of gatorade/powerade for the band during the game.
Oh, I agree. I was describing conditions at the stadium and on the field. The U. tried to mitigate against all of the heat as you have said, but if they had a procedure in place to address those conditions, taking into account the WBGT, then why didn't they cancel the game? Have they responded to i9 yet?
 
Aug 30, 2025
202
341
63
There will be a lot of questions about what happened to Derek, and I'm sure the U will be looking at all of it very closely. From what other posters have said, emergency personnel were overwhelmed by the number of people having significant problems, needing help getting out of Kinnick, getting hydrated, etc. (probably not helped by a few hours of tailgating) Others have mentioned that security personnel (police?) were helping out, too. Where was the band when this happened? Still in the stands or down on the sidelines getting ready for halftime? How long did it take for someone to realize the seriousness of Derek's condition, and what was done when it became clear? Was CPR done in the stadium and how soon? If they were on the field, could the team's medical personnel have gotten involved? And then the logistics of getting an unconscious person in cardiac arrest up and out of that place and over to the hospital through the noise and the crowd. Lots to consider. It was a freak event, no doubt, but such circumstances can surely occur again in these early games.
 
Hawkeye Report

Latest

  1. 01 Hawkeye Report Football Thoughts on Iowa football...and basketball
  2. 02 High School Football Iowa RB commit Keyon Thomas runs wild in Warren Central (Ind.) win
  3. 03 Hawkeye Report Olympics Iowa Soccer earns a much-needed 1-0 win over Rutgers
  4. 04 College Football Playoff College Football Bowl Projections Week 6: Full list of matchups, playoff predictions
  5. 05 Hawkeye Report Olympics Iowa adds Fargo champ Ryleigh Sturgill to 2027 recruiting class