You’ve received 5,000 dislikes
Congratulations, Mr. Wright Thompson, your misinformed column has offended at least the 644 band students at Allen High School for posting negative comments on both the stadium and the Allen Eagle Escadrille on the ESPN website.
Everyone has a right to an opinion, of course, but if you’re going to inform an entire nation about our high school, follow your own advice and get your facts straight.
We are the “biggest band in the land,” thank you very much. With more than 706 members (that’s 644 band members plus the Tallenettes and colorguard), the Allen Eagle Escadrille is proud of that fact, despite your comment that we had “no idea whether that’s true or not.”
However, when you insulted our “flag-twirlers,” “dance team,” “set of steel drums,” and “16 xylophones” you failed to educate yourself on the fact that: A) those “flag-twirlers” are called the colorguard, B) our “dance team” members are referred to as Tallenettes, C) we don’t have a set of “steel drums,” and D) 15 of the “16 xylophones” you mentioned don’t exist. Therefore, anything you say regarding our band isn’t really a valid opinion, since you obviously aren’t educated in the subject.
Second, we were recently invited to attend the Parade of Roses in 2016, which is considered to be an honor reserved for only the most talented bands. But of course, if you, a sports writer who’s not writing about sports, think our show is “chaotic” I’m sure the area UIL judges who gave us the best score a band can receive at our competition on Oct. 25 would agree.
If you have nothing better to do than insult high school students, feel free to voice your opinion, but we have better things to do than listen to it, like utilize our Performing Arts Center, broadcast room, or cook in our student-run restaurant, Blu, that you failed to mention when you claimed that in Allen “football trump[s] education.”
Football is important in Allen, but it does not define Allen, as you make it out to be. Some find our $60 million stadium intimidating, but as Texans, it is our pride, and something that can’t be cracked by you.
Senior Bryn Chambers loves cats, her trombone and the Wizarding World of Harry Potter.
Jason Lihuang • Nov 23, 2014 at 9:22 pm
You tell him, Bryn!
A Hibbs • Nov 22, 2014 at 7:57 pm
You need to post this opinion here: http://espn.go.com/espn/conversations/_/id/11859896 so all can see this!
Rhonda Bernard • Nov 22, 2014 at 9:50 am
you go, Bryn. I knew you were smart and beautiful as a fourth grader. Glad to see that hasn’t changed. Go Eagles!
Teri Dawkins • Nov 22, 2014 at 8:18 am
I did not read this guys cimments and i do not havea child in Allen Hugh School, i did however watch an Eagles game last weekend and was very impressed. They involved ALL of the students in the school to make them feel a part of the team…not just the football team, not just the band, not just the dancers, and not just the cheerleaders. There was a section that any student that wanted to watch the game could sit with the other students and participate in the fun. The special students were allowed on the field to intinteract w the players that werent on the field and there were so many parents in the stand to show their support it was amazing.
Rev. John Baldwin • Nov 22, 2014 at 12:34 am
Well said, Ms. Chambers. We are not the stadium or the team. We are a city and school with a long history of excellence.
Rev. John Baldwin
AHS ’79