Columbia band not true to its school

The self-described "Cleverest Band in the World," Columbia University's marching band altered the lyrics of the Ivy League school's fight song to mock its own 0-9 football team after a 62-41 loss to Cornell on Nov. 12.

Playing a parody of "Roar, Lion, Roar," the band used lyrics such as "Why do we even try, we always lose," and "We always lose, lose, lose; by a lot, and sometimes by a little."

As punishment for its actions, the band initially was barred from performing today at the Lions' home finale against Brown. However, citing the school's "core free-speech values," Columbia athletic director Dianne Murphy reinstated the group.

The band is known for its irreverence, such as a "Running Nose" formation in which the musicians form a nose and run down the field. But in a show of respect today for school tradition, the band isn't expected to reprise its "Roar, Lion, Roar" parody.

Instead, it probably will pay tribute to the team by playing a medley of inspirational tunes such as "I'm A Loser" (The Beatles), "Beautiful Loser" (Bob Seger), "Even the Losers" (Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers), "Losing My Religion" (R.E.M.) and "Lose Yourself" (Eminem).

In related news, the UNLV marching band is reportedly busy rewriting the lyrics to the school's fight song "Win With The Rebels" in an effort to get itself banned for the remainder of the football season.

Judging by the meager crowds at Sam Boyd Stadium, many fans banned themselves right after the 41-16 pasting by Southern Utah on Sept. 24.

■ IVY LEAGUE O'LEARY -- Yale quarterback Patrick Witt said he took the advice of his coach, Tom Williams, when deciding whether to attend a Rhodes Scholarship interview today in Atlanta or to play in "The Game" against Harvard.

Williams said he faced a similar decision when he played at Stanford in 1992.

"I followed my dream to play NFL football," Williams said. "I have no regrets about it at all."

While Williams did make an NFL roster, The New York Times reported he was never in the same situation as Witt, who chose "The Game" over the interview.

The Rhodes Scholarship Trust told the Times it found no evidence Williams applied for the scholarship in 1992, when he graduated from Stanford.

Sounding a lot like George O'Leary -- who was fired from Notre Dame in 2001 for lying on his resume -- Williams said it was a misunderstanding.

"I wasn't trying to confuse anyone or make it sound different than it was," he said. "No, I didn't get as far as (Witt) did. I was in the preliminary stages at Stanford and I had to decide, but the interview wasn't official."

Yale is conducting an investigation into Williams' claim. But it need look no further than "The Game" from 2009 in which Williams called for a fake punt on fourth-and-22 from his 26-yard line while leading Harvard 10-7 late in the game.

The fake failed, the Bulldogs lost, and it became abundantly clear that Williams was never a Rhodes Scholar candidate.

COMPILED BY TODD DEWEY
LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL