2008-2009
Conductor: Steve Malinski
Managers: Bonnie Domigan, Kevin Schildhorn
Freakout opponent: Yale (Lost 1-4)
Gift: T-Shirt
Road Trips
October 10-11, 2008: If you die in Canada, you die in real life
Men's hockey overnight vs. Vermont (Lost 1-4) in Québec City, PQ. The trip was partially funded by the Athletic Department in part to try to improve the atmosphere at the game. This goal was achieved, as the band brought over 50 members to the season opener.
The game was held at the Pavillon de la Jeunesse, roughly a 7 hour drive from Troy. The band drove up to Québec the night before the game to avoid any potential traffic issues from making the band late for the Saturday game. On the morning of game day much of the band explored Old Québec, a walled part of the city. Later at the game, the Canadian fans cheered for Vermont most of the time. This was probably due to the overwhelming RPI fan and band support present (Vermont didn't bring a band). It was a close game for the first two periods, but Vermont scored 3 unanswered goals in the third period to take the win. On the way back from the game the border through which the band entered Canada was closed, forcing the bus to backtrack and find another way home across the border.
Steve Malinski recorded the band playing at the game, which can be heard here.
Regarding the title of this section, in one of the final emails leading up to the trip Bonnie Domigan wrote the following: "Don't forget that you are representing RPI on this trip, so please behave responsibly. And remember: if you die in Canada, you die in real life." The last sentence is a reference to this webcomic.
October 24-25, 2008: Men's Hockey, Governor's Cup
Men's hockey day trips to the Times Union Center for the Governor's Cup (Tied 1-1 vs. Union (Lost in shootout), Won 2-1 vs. Robert Morris).
Novemeber 16, 2008: Women's Hockey @ Union
Women's hockey day trip to Union (Won 2-1).
December 5-6, 2008: Women's Hockey @ Quinnipiac & Princeton, Men's Hockey @ Yale
Due to the short distance between Quinnipiac and Yale (~10 miles) and fortunate scheduling, the band traveled to three away games over two days. The women's team won their games against Quinnipiac and Princeton (2-1 and 3-2 respectively) while the men's team lost to Yale 3-7.
January 23-24, 2009: Men's Hockey @ St. Lawrence & Clarkson
Men's hockey overnight to St. Lawrence (Won 7-6 (OT)) and Clarkson (Lost 3-4 (OT)). RPI beat St. Lawrence 9 seconds into overtime. SLU's fans heckled the RPI band to the point of throwing trash at the band. Although Clarkson beat RPI the next night, it was more welcoming to be at Cheel Arena and hear "RPI still sucks" from the Clarkson fans than to be at the SLU game.
January 30, 2009: Men's Hockey @ Dartmouth
Men's hockey one night stand to Dartmouth (Lost 2-5).
February 7, 2009: Men's Hockey @ Union
Men's hockey day trip to Union (Lost 1-2 (OT)).
March 6-8, 2009: Then a miracle occurs...
Men's/Women's hockey overnight (Men @ Dartmouth (Won 3-2 (OT), Won 3-1), Women @ Harvard (Won 3-2 (2OT) vs. Harvard, Lost 1-6 vs. Dartmouth)).
March 13-15, 2009: Men's Hockey @ Cornell....now self clearing!
Men's hockey overnight to Cornell (Won 1-0, Lost 0-4, Lost 3-4).
Regular Season
Football
- 8-2 (5-2 Liberty League)
- Second place in the Liberty League.
- Transit Trophy Game vs. WPI: Won 35-21.
- Dutchman's Shoes Trophy Game vs. Union: Won 25-12.
- Senior Night vs. Hobart: Lost 17-20.
Men's Hockey
- 10-27-2 (6-15-1 ECACHL)
- Eleventh place in the ECACHL with 13 points.
- Black Friday vs. Harvard: Won 3-2.
- Pep Band Alumni Night vs. Dartmouth: Lost 2-5.
- Freakout vs. Yale: Lost 1-4.
- Senior Night vs. St. Lawrence: Lost 0-2.
- White-Out: ???
Women's Hockey
- 19-14-4 (11-8-3 ECACHL)
- Sixth place in the ECACHL with 25 points.
- Senior Night vs. Colgate: Won 4-1.
Playoffs
Football
- ECAC North Atlantic Bowl vs. Alfred: Won 34-31.
Men's Hockey
- ECAC Tournament
Women's Hockey
- ECAC Tournament
Other
- Don't Stop, Enter Sandman, Fire, Crazy Train, and Pinball Wizard are purchased by Malinski. They were chosen by a poll of the band that he put forth. He later brought Sir Duke, Wild Thing, and Paranoid back into the active set.
- Played at SO 4 on July 26.
- Held third annual 100% Natural Noise NRB event on August 23.
- Played in the Uncle Sam Day Parade with a setlist of Hogan's Heroes, Twist and Shout, Louie Louie, Spirit in the Sky, and Hail.
- Showed up to play at the Hockey Line Celebration on September 8 - however, there was no one at the Union to play for because the Hockey Line was weakly planned that year.
- Played Carry On and Final Countdown with the WPI band at halftime of the Transit Trophy Game on September 27.
- Record broken for longest en queue cheer: Islanders (from the last quarter of WPI football game till end of the first period of the women's hockey game) on September 27.
- The band held its second annual Pep Band Thanksgiving on November 23.
- Natural Noise Black won the Fall 2008 C-League Intramural Ice Hockey Championship.
- Played Children of Sanchez with the Colgate band.
- Played at Accepted Students Day on April 4.
- Played at RPI's fourth annual Relay for Life and fielded a team of 20 for the event on April 17-18.
- Played at annual Spring Concert in EMPAC on April 18.