Governor Mandel Guest Conducts

It was an away football game at the University of Maryland, in oh-so-scenic College Park. The political climate in Maryland was rough: then-Governor Marvin Mandel was facing felony charges of racketeering, corruption, and mail fraud. The Pep Band was doing a half-time show.

The Pep Band Announcer excitedly asked the crowd in attendence to welcome "our featured Guest Conductor for the afternoon, the Governor of the great state of Maryland, Marvin Mandel!" A figure laboriously took the field, clad in a black and white striped prison uniform, dragging a large ball and chain - and proceeded to conduct the remaining songs in the show.

Representatives in the Maryland state legislature were so un-amused that they quickly passed legislation outlawing any performance by the UVa Pep Band on any field owned by the state of Maryland. Which includes, of course, the field of Byrd Stadium at the university. This, in case anyone is wondering, is why we don't ever do shows at Maryland.

Mandel was later convicted on most counts, and served a jail term. This, we thought, really vindicated our show. But somehow nobody hurried to overturn that legislation.