Marching Band

[Anthony Proffitt]

I'm in the Clinton High School Devil Regiment and i've noticed in the past three years that nobody in the town really cares about it, everything is about football. I know that the band has gotten smaller but, to me its because we don't have the support from our town. We work more than any other sport at Clinton and we never get reconized for it. Also this new band director Bob Cotter took all the fun out of marching band and if he don't quit kicking people off the field we never going to get any bigger. There is something fishy about him because he left Blue Ridge's band to come to ours, it makes no since and rumor has it he got fired for Acadmic fraud. What really makes me mad about him is that he told me after i asked could i be on witer guard last year, that he didn't need boys with limp risk on the guard and i still showed up for try outs but i just got ignored. Clinton needs to really think about this and how they need to improve and support the music and arts program this small town still has.

[Westley Taylor]

I am also in the clinton devil regiment and i think every thing you say anthony is true and our school is all about football and our football team is not as great as everyone thinks !

[Tenor Sax Player 1]

I Hate our school i want to move to wando ! Anyways i Have Heard the same rumors about Mr.Cotter !
and they r true

[-guard girl-]

I am in the clinton high school colorguard and winterguard and I have participated in it for a couple of years, and I appreciate alot of things that Mr. cottor has done for us, and i am glad that he is our new band director. We have improved so much since he has came to clinton high school, and he deserves to be treated better for all the work he has done. I believe that the rumors that were said about him at blue ridge is his business, because as far as i know hes the best we have had. All of us have did things in the past that we are not proud of, and whatever Mr. cotter did to get fired at blue ridge is none of our business, because he is the best thing that has happened to the clinton regiment, and i am glad that he is our band director.♥

-britt-

[Band Mom]

I think Mr. Cotter does a wonderful job. He needs to be more strict. I say keep up the good work.

[well]

well i think he just an all around hatful person and hes got an attitude problem to and he needs to get it solved and the band mom you think he should be more strict he all ready dont let anyone do anything unless they do it behind his back !!!

[Jennifer C]

Omg all of the people who are hateing on Mr. Cotter need to realize that he is actually trying to help your stupid butts. He is trying to make us a better band. If all of ya'll would stop hateing for a few mins. then you would see that he cares for/about us. If he didn't care then he wouldn't still be here. So ya'll need to stop knocking the man for trying to help you.

[Tracy Millwood]

Thank you Jennifer. and who ever well is you shouldnt be doing anything that would require you to do it behind his back anyway! Tenor Sax Player 1.....apparently you dont go to Clinton so just stay out of it. Mr. Cotter is doing an amazing job and this topic was started by the person hoping to be Drum Major next year! Good Way to secure the position dont you think. Take when DB was here and then take when Mr. Cotter is here. Compare show quality, scores and crowd/judge reaction. MR. COTTER HAS MADE US BETTER! plain and simple. Mr. Cotter is one of the best things..NO MAKE THAT THE BEST THING THAT EVER COULD HAVE HAPPENED TO THE CHS BAND. I feel that if you cant talk about something to someone to his face then you shouldnt talk about them behind there back. To everyone hating on Mr. Cotter. Just SHUTUP and let the man work. If you ppl sober up enough to realize that we sucked in 05 and 06. its gonna take some time to pull us out of that. Just like the Economy. AND bandmom is right. He needs to be way more strict. the stricter he is...the better we will be!

To Mr. Cotter. Keep doing the fantastic work that your doing and dont worry about what ppl say about you because with the exception of 2 ppl everyone in Clinton knows that you are the best band director we have ever had. And we hope you stay. I will defend this is i have too.

Tracy Millwood
CHS Junior
c/o 2010
Tenor Sax
Drum Major hopeful

[HUMM]

Tracy All You Want Is That Stupid Drum Major Postion And I think Hes Ok Bye The Way But I Just Dont Approve The Way he Says Stuff Some Time and I Think He Is Kinda Hateful Sometime I Think He Really Enjoys His Gaurd Class But I Dont Think He Enjoys He Band classes As Much because I See How he Acts In Yalls Band Class And I See How He Acts With The COLOrgaurd Class And he Seems To Be Happy With Them And Sad With Yall !!!! I Al So Think He Takes All The Fun Away From Marching Band I Mean Look At The Other Bands Visuals OMG We suck Compared to them and dont give me that crap about were to dang small So i Dont Care. if he would add some fun stuff in to it we may go some were ! i know why we didn't go to state last year because no one was having fun and no one was giving it their all and its sad but if you dont have fun you can't actually enjoy anything !!!!
and give it you all if you hate what your doing !

[Tracy Millwood]

lol this is probably and rookie so dont act like you know what marching band is. i love how ppl will talk about ppl behind there back and not to there face. NONE OF YOU would say that to Mr.Cotters face so just shutup. Mr. Cotter is a fantastic band director. its ppl like u that wont let him work to his full potential. and yes i wont the freaking drum major position but im not just saying that to get it. why cant you show ur name. thats what i hate about ppl. The will say something bad about ppl over the safety and secruity and privacy of the internet but you wont say it to there face. i wont whoever this is to come up to me and tell me who wrote that. Ummmm, Blair, Anthony, Margaret and me all want the drum major position ur just mad because u have no chance at getting it!

Tracy Millwood
Cotter Supporter

[Tracy Millwood]

go to facebook or myspace groups and search Cotter Supporters and join if u support mr. cotter and his efforts at chs

[BR to CH]

Hello. I want to take a few mins to address some things and try to help you all cope with your director change. I am a graduate of the Blue Ridge High School Corps of Cadets. I proudly served under Mr. Cotter's direction and am still amazed by the things that were accomplished. When Mr. Cotter came back to BR it was a strange change. Many Many people were like a lot of you! Mean and nasty and down grading to Mr. Cotter, and I myself even had doubts at first. We were 3 time in a row state champions of SC when Mr. Cotter came back. In a short year we became a force to be messed with. Everything had improved by leaps and bounds. MAny did not see the improvement due to always trying to find a reason to dis agree with anything. And many of the comments you guys have said were said at BR! Mr. Cotter is Strict, but if you want a band program that is the only way to do it. Mr. Cotter knows exactly what he is doing. I have watched the Clinton band while I was in the Corps of Cadets, and remember not being very excited at your performances that I saw. You could tell that a lot of the Clinton students just did not care. When Mr. Cotter became band director at Clinton in less than a year the band improved amazingly and I was shocked. He has done amazing things at Clinton but many of you can not see it because you either hold grudes or just want to be an unpleseant person. I am not bashing you at all. I have major respect for Clinton. Please notice all the good things that are happening for you guys. Mr. Cotter knows what hes doing. And about the kicking people out, well its sad that it has to be done, but the weeds have to be picked before the flowers can ever survive. Just give it all a chance guys. Mr. Cotter may seem strict and difficult but he is an amazing man once you give him the chance. By the way. When he took over Blue Ridge, We becamse the first school in SC to ever have an Un defeated marching band season. We were a little ole country 3A School, that went up against 3a, 4a , and 5a schools..... and WON! Listen Your band program will get better and the support of your community will come, but your support to your own band program and your director must come first. You guys are starting great things and starting to turn heads, do not destroy it with petty problems. Mr. Cotter is an amzing director, composer, and person. Let him be those things, and count your lucky stars that you have him. Are you aware he has 6 state titles, 1 national title, and 1 undefeated title. Among so much more. You just have no idea the blessing that you have! Keep up the good work Clinton and stay focused.

[BR to CH]

Tracy Millwood wrote:

go to facebook or myspace groups and search Cotter Supporters and join if u support mr. cotter and his efforts at chs

Hello. I want to take a few mins to address some things and try to help you all cope withyour director change. I am a graduate of the Blue Ridge High School Corps of Cadets. I proudly served under Mr. Cotter's direction and am still amazed by the things that were accomplished. When Mr. Cotter came back to BR it was a strange change. Many Many people were like a lot of you! Mean and nasty and down grading to Mr. Cotter, and I myself even had doubts at first. We were 3 time in a row state champions of SC when Mr. Cotter came back. In a short year we became a force to be messed with. Everything had improved by leaps and bounds. MAny did not see the improvement due to always trying to find a reason to dis agree with anything. And many of the comments you guys have said were said at BR! Mr. Cotter is Strict, but if you want a band program that is the only way to do it. Mr. Cotter knows exactly what he is doing. I have watched the Clinton band while I was in the Corps of Cadets, and remember not being very excited at your performances that I saw. You could tell that a lot of the Clinton students just did not care. When Mr. Cotter became band director at Clinton in less than a year the band improved amazingly and I was shocked. He has done amazing things at Clinton but many of you can not see it because you either hold grudes or just want to be an unpleseant person. I am not bashing you at all. I have major respect for Clinton. Please notice all the good things that are happening for you guys. Mr. Cotter knows what hes doing. And about the kicking people out, well its sad that it has to be done, but the weeds have to be picked before the flowers can ever survive. Just give it all a chance guys. Mr. Cotter may seem strict and difficult but he is an amazing man once you give him the chance. By the way. When he took over Blue Ridge, We becamse the first school in SC to ever have an Un defeated marching band season. We were a little ole country 3A School, that went up against 3a, 4a , and 5a schools..... and WON! Listen Your band program will get better and the support of your community will come, but your support to your own band program and your director must come first. You guys are starting great things and starting to turn heads, do not destroy it with petty problems. Mr. Cotter is an amzing director, composer, and person. Let him be those things, and count your lucky stars that you have him. Are you aware he has 6 state titles, 1 national title, and 1 undefeated title. Among so much more. You just have no idea the blessing that you have! Keep up the good work Clinton and stay focused.

[Band Mom]

Thanks to BR from CH. I hope these kids will listen to your advise.

[Band Mom]

I also agree with you about Mr. Cotter and all he can teach these band members if he just gets a chance.

[Jennifer Culbertson]

THANK YOU BR!!!! If only the CHS kids would realize these things. If the people that are bashing him would stop worrying about the number of people we have and just give it all they got. Then they wouldn't be so concerned about hiding behind numbers. If everyone played the best the could then numbers wouldn't matter. Also if everyone would get over all there little petty differences and just go on with life. things would get better. cause even if you don't like someone you still need be mature about things and not act immature. i know from experience that if you just leave each other alone and agree to disagree. then you can focus on bigger things. like trying to come together as a band and strive for the best.
If everyone would just come to practice, competitions, or what ever we are doing and act professional then we would be so much better than we are now.

[BR to CH]

Jennifer Culbertson wrote:

THANK YOU BR!!!! If only the CHS kids would realize these things. If the people that are bashing him would stop worrying about the number of people we have and just give it all they got. Then they wouldn't be so concerned about hiding behind numbers. If everyone played the best the could then numbers wouldn't matter. Also if everyone would get over all there little petty differences and just go on with life. things would get better. cause even if you don't like someone you still need be mature about things and not act immature. i know from experience that if you just leave each other alone and agree to disagree. then you can focus on bigger things. like trying to come together as a band and strive for the best.
If everyone would just come to practice, competitions, or what ever we are doing and act professional then we would be so much better than we are now.

Listen I totally Agree! I thank you also for your kind words... Blue Ridge did not know what they had until it was gone. Its not about winning state multiple times, its about doing your best! When you do your best then a lot of times winning comes from that. Mr. Cotter taught me that along with many other wise words, and I only hope that all of the students and parents that are bashing will stop because, there are not many directors like him and people just do not realize all the things he can do to improve the band program and get the attention that everyone wants. Let me throw one more tid bit it. When Mr. Cotter came Back to BR, We lost maybe 15 people, counting seniors and some that just did not want to do band. That year we played better and scored higher than any other year. Its not about just your size of your band. YOU HAVE TO CARE.... AND WORK HARD! Clinton will be a top 5 band at state in less than 2 years if everyone lets Mr. Cotter work his magic! Everyone stay focused and remember take pride as the CLINTON DEVIL REGIMENT! That title would strike fear into other bands if everyone cared and gave 110%! Just like we were when I was in the BR CORPS OF CADETS. ITs about hard work! BR still is a nice looking band, but a lot of them have lost sight in whats important... and thats doing the very best you can! Not just winning!Its starting to show too. I only hope great things for you CLINTON DEVIL REGIMENT! STAY FOCUSED!

[Tracy Millwood]

I agree as well

everyone at upperstate was like we are not goin to state. if you talk like that well guess what....YOU WONT? Band Mom and BR to CH, sometimes some Clinton kids can have a little to much pride and not admit that they need help. Everyone in our band complains about numbers. If you look at EVERY band program in SC, EVERYONE is shrinking. some more quickly than others. I am so amazed at was Mr. Cotter has done at CHS in such little time. Since hes been here, CHS, despite size has scored two back to back superior ratings, a wintergaurd and winter percussion were started for the first time in the history of the school and are both doing very well. Mr. Cotter is THE BEST THING THAT COULD EVER HAPPEN TO CHS! im not trying to sound hateful but it kills me the way ppl will talk about someone behind there back and dont have the guts to say it to there face. If im not mistaken, when Mr. Cotter was at BR the first time, they were really small and won it all. beating 4 and 5A bands out for Grand Championships. That goes to show you how much size doesnot matter. IF BR can do it, Clinton can to.

[iAamen]

I am only in the 8th grade and i kno tht i will complain about somethings being hard or not cool...but Mr.Cotter is a really smart man.He came to our school and showed the Bell St. Band members how to do our high school stuff and it really made since...So IMMA NEED FOR YALL TO STOP HATIN ON HIM!! JUST CUZ YALL DONT GET YALLS WAY ALL THE TIME DONT MEAN DOOKIE.This is my first freakin year on this band and im tired of hearin all the NEGITIVE stuff...DANG CANT YOU OPEN YOUR EYES AND REALIZE THAT WE ARE FREAKIN AWESOME...OMG!! We have a winter precussion and this is our 1st year having it...UMMM SIR/MAM'N,WE GOT FREAKIN 2nd place...our very first show...THTS FREAKIN AWESOME!!! That proves how much MR.COTTER has put into us.

I kno that he's not perfect but he tries to get his BAND as perfect as possible and if you dont like it...YOU CAN GO KICK ROCKS...cuz imma be honest with you if you keep talkin smake about tracy wanting to be Drum Major...imma go off... I dont kno whats up with yall but yall need to CHILL OUT with that stuff...WE MITE NOT GIVE IT OUR ALL BUT MR.COTTER MAKES SURE THAT WE DO...OUR BAND MAY BE SMALL BUT GUESS WHAT WE ALL HAVE BIG HEARTS AND STUFF LIKE THAT BUT WE ARE STILL AWESOME...SO YALL NEED TO USE YOUR BRAINS AND CHILL OUT WITH THAT STUFF MAN...OMP!!GOT IT!?...LIVE IT!?...WORD...

Aamen Johnson
Clarinet
Cymbals
8th Grader and 1st year on this band
Word...

[Tracy Millwood]

WORD AAMEN! lol