Faced with painful budget cuts along with the rest of the university, the Athletics Department has promised to try to prevent cutting teams or scholarships at all costs. The Mighty Sound of Maryland, however, was not spared the ax.
The university's marching band's budget was cut by $22,500, according Senior Associate Athletics Director Brian Ullmann, which represents a small portion of the $3.7 million in budget cuts Athletics officials faced.
Band Director Lowell Richmond Sparks said such a loss would have ruled out any travel. But the news for the band isn't all bad: Where Athletics' cash flow failed, alumni in the Maryland Gridiron Network stepped in, offering to fund the band's trip to the Terps' football game against Duke in Durham, N.C.
"MGN thinks that the support the band gives to the overall football program and game day experience is a big benefit," said Larry Grabenstein, chairman of the fundraising committee's executive board and a 1972 graduate of the government and politics master's program. "We wanted to show our appreciation."
Musicians in the band said traveling to away games lends important support to the Terrapins when they're playing on enemy turf. They added that it also helps the band bond.
"Last year we drove five hours to Virginia Tech," sophomore letters and sciences major and trumpet player Julie Peak said. "Then we played through the game, got pizza for dinner and drove five hours back.
"So a lot of time on the bus," Peak continued. "But it was definitely a highlight."
Michael Mattheiss, a sophomore electrical engineering major and saxophone section leader, said experiencing the university's Division I athletics at other stadiums was one of the major reasons he joined the band.
"Travel has been a huge motivation for me, and I was really upset when I heard that the trip was cancelled," Mattheiss said. "But now that's back, I'm looking forward to traveling to a team that we can hopefully beat."
The MGN is a group of about 1,000 alumni athletics donors, though many members also give to the university's academics. Despite the faltering economy, the Maryland Gridiron Network has increasingly funded a larger portion of athletics' budget.
The group raised $500,000 last year.
"We want to develop the culture of giving and help people understand that sometimes people have to write checks to help the university become strong, whether it's towards athletics or the English department," Grabenstein said. These things just don't happen. People need to pitch in."
apino at umdbk dot com
is a member of the 
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The Maryland Gridiron Network (MGN) is an official athletic team support group recognized by the University of Maryland Department of Athletics. The MGN mission is to contribute to the development and maintenance of a highly successful football program at the University of Maryland. MGN members work with the coaches and athletic administrative staff to achieve the following goals: Raise money for special projects and services for the football program and staff, which are not provided for in the annual Athletic Department budget;
Sponsor and conduct activities which foster a positive football family atmosphere and spirit;
Ensure good communication and exchange of information between the football staff and its core group of supporters.
MGN members include former players, parents of current players, faculty and staff, and Maryland football fans located locally and nationally. The group's activities provide a tangible and consistent way to focus fan enthusiam and support into specific initiatives to benefit the football program. All MGN activities and events are overseen and approved by the University of Maryland Department of Athletics and are conducted in strict adherence to the guidelines and rules of the University of Maryland, the Atlantic Coast Conference and the NCAA. I am a proud supporter of the MGN,Terrapin Club, Fastbreakers and Rebounders, but I don't believe the "Funding Band Travel Expenses to away football games " fits in the above mission of the MGN.
If the Board of the MGN believes this type of activity does fit then I think they need to update their website to include such activities so everyone knows before they Join the MGN.I have attended many MGN meetings in the past and they always stated that the money went directly to help the FOOTBALL program unlike the funds contributed to the Terrapin Club. In these tough times I am surprised that the MGN has excess funds to spend on such activities. I would prefer these funds be used by Ralph and his coaches in recruiting activities which I think we all agree is needed.
GO TERPS !!!!
The MGN was originally established as a booster organization to help Terps' football, and to allow the coaches and staff to fund those "extra" things which directly helped the program. It was NOT set up to help "fund athletics" as a whole. My comment is not aimed at the band, and if the coaches want them at away games and want to use MGN money to pay for it, fine. But this revelation will make MGN members wonder how much of their contributions are being siphoned off to support other AD activities that have nothing to do with football.
MGN members have been told that their money is supporting football. If some of this money is now being used elsewhere in the AD, that needs to be made public, and members can reassess if they want to contribute their money to some general AD fund beyond the Terrapin Club.
I strongly suggest that the Diamondback follow up on this story with the AD and the MGN.
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