Hi John! Bruce Cusick here-PA guy for the Swarm. I found your email and wanted to give you a shout. First of all, after reading your bio I got from Howard, I want to say thank you very much for your service in the military-I've had relatives serve and I don't think they ever heard thank yous enough from people.

Also, I love the Hive and how passionate all of you are for the Swarm. I wish that they could have given us the time to get you great fans more involved in the game during the Swarm's first year when I was there. After the game the other night I was fortunate enough to chat with some of the members and I think it's awesome that they had some great ideas that they'd like to see in the game. That's part of the reason that I wanted to get in touch with you. I'd love to meet as many members as possible, maybe before or on Friday, and to get you guys more involved during the game. You guys are the foundation and "fan-atics" of the Swarm. It was a blast getting back into the swing of things with the game of Lacrosse on Friday night, and for them to play like that for the opener was fantastic! I've read some things on the message boards and I think everyone realizes that it's a whole new production crew getting their feet wet and things should only get better. With all the things that goes on behind the scenes, it's almost like starting from scratch in a way. We are all adding and trying to implement new ideas-like "who's that goaltender!"--yes, of course I beat that up pretty hard because that's one of the things that I want to start doing only for great saves, but had to do it quite a bit to make it obvious that it's not just a one game thing. I've spent many hours going through funny movie clips and having them down loaded into the Excel's system to play during the right moments and we just have to have the Excel's staff get used to that system too. We want to do "visiting coaches cam" when time allows, we would like to incorporate individual fun things for the players, like one of the member's ideas for Morgan-it was a great idea! I've already talked to Rudy about it, who does the music and sound effects. I didn't like reading that you guys were "blown off" in the past when you tried passing on ideas. I think that you guys should get involved and be acknowledged in the crowd some how. I think it's important that other fans new to the game know you're out there. After doing the Viking's game yesterday, and seeing, hearing and feeling what the crowd can do for each other as well as the energy that the crowd gives the team, is what home field advantage is all about. I think the crowd definitely helped the team win Friday and I think it's important that we get you guys to be a part of the game experience because I think it can even be more energized with your help!

Give me a shout back and I look forward to meeting you.

Bruce Cusick

Oh and Chips and Guac. I don't care if Chipotle's not the sponsor. That cheer stopped being about Chipotle after that awesome game. It's still an epic piece of Swarm history.

He's also wondering what sections everyone sits in. I know a few of your sections, but not all. Where y'all sitting?

Bruce tracked down my email and dropped me a line as well. Definitely sounds like he has more planned. He's also wondering what sections everyone sits in. I know a few of your sections, but not all. Where y'all sitting?

I want to E-mail Bruce my superb idea

Ok, so it sounds like the "We Are?" Chant is going to go live. Bruce likes it and he's even having the scoreboard guy make graphics for it!

So yeah, how bout it Fro Bros? You wanna have a battle of the sides?

How long would this take to get through? By the time you get halfway there could be two more goals scored. This might work for halftime/beginning of the third quarter, but may be too long for after a goal.

Very cool news...it will be interesting to see how it goes over...We sit in section 116 with you Nik, so we will be loud when Bruce plays this...don't give up on it the first couple of times, it will take a couple games for people to catch on I think...thank you, Bruce for accepting our ideas!!!

I watched the game online tonight and here are my thoughts ( i know it doesnt really count, not being in person)

who are these clowns running the show? I have been to 4+games every year but watching it tonight, it was kind of embarrassing.

Majority of the game it looked like a Division 3/high school game. a band?? seriously!? High school aged kids running the pa systems? lots of empty green seats.

Great game to watch though.

They were better tonight than last week and should be getting better as the season continues.

The one thing I would like to hear him do is get people on their feet at the beginning- when the players come on the field. I think that might pump it up a bit. Other wise keep up the good work.

I don't see where the high school aged kids running the PA came from. I met the dudes running that and I'm pretty sure the youngest of them hasn't seen high school in 20 years.

I sure he was referring to Casey and Jonathan. Jonathan by the way is pretty cool. I talked to him at the Bowling Bash and he said they are getting a better feel for the game and crowd atmosphere. Hopefully by the Feb 13th or 20th game they will have found their groove.

I tried talking to Casey but she was either busy or didn't feel like chatting much.

The Swarm Band was better tonight, too. Furing the first game the transitions between live band and recorded music was not very seamless. Tonight the band and the rest of the production staff seemed to have worked out a lot of the kinks. Also, last week I could hardly hear the band when they did "The Incredible" theme. This week they sounded a lot louder and more confident.

I would like to see SPT members in the stands handing out prizes like in previous years.

I want the Chipotle parachutes again! That is probably the best promotion of them all, IMHO.

What, playing Sunday indoor lax isn't enough running over little kids for you?

I'm not too keen on the "Peachy Keen Twins" either-- they should have the guys that are healthy scratched and not playing doing the PA stuff. Or at the very least one PSA from the Roller girls.

I think when they announce the opponents we should all hold up our programs in front of our faces (like in Mystery, Alaska) and play game show music. Or something like the theme from "A Summer Place".

I like the nicknaming the Swarm teammates- but i bet they have their own nicknames for eachother- Bruce should find out what they are and use them, use them, use them.

I like the goalie chant and the Hive and Swarm Chant but we do need a goal song. And i STILL like my idea of TICK TICK TICK BOOM by the Hives.

Oh and the SPT need to come up with a better plan of rocketing the shirts into the crowd- don't we have some T shirt cannons?

I'm not too keen on the "Peachy Keen Twins" either-- they should have the guys that are healthy scratched and not playing doing the PA stuff. Or at the very least one PSA from the Roller girls.

I know... but they're too chirpy- they remind me of Will Farrell and what's her name when they did the cheerleading skit on SNL - IDKY it's just me probably- but they do. Maybe they'll settle into their roles as the season goes on. We sat by them at the Headwaters on opening night. We didn't know they ere part of the "crew" until we saw them on the big screen.

Hey all, this is the Crazy Band Director
The band is adding new tunes each game.
This week we added
THE HEY SONG
RESPECT
HAWAII 50
SMOOTH


I will take a look to see if I can get Eye of the Tiger, Gonna Fly Now and some others

We are hoping to add BEER BARREL POLKA and maybe some THRILLER next week as well.

Please feel free to throw me any suggestions, amd I will see what I can do

Gotta do some Polka. Good choice.

How abou the "UMD Fight Song" aka "In Heaven There Is No Beer". (I'm a UMD grad and have no idea what our REAL fight song is!!)

I ought to record a Swarm fight song. I'm in a band and have a recording studio in my basement...

sorry miketuba, but the band has got to go. just my opinion.