The Washington State University (WSU) Cougar Marching Band will not make the trip to Husky Stadium for the highly anticipated Apple Cup matchup against the University of Washington (UW) this Sunday. This decision comes in response to recent seating changes at the Seattle venue that have shifted visiting school bands from the field level to the upper deck of the stadium.
The adjustments to seating arrangements are a result of UW's upcoming transition to the Big Ten Conference in 2024, which has altered the distribution of ticket allotments for visiting teams. Consequently, marching bands will now be located in the upper northeast corner of the stadium, a change that has not been experienced during an Apple Cup held at Husky Stadium since its implementation. A spokesperson from UW confirmed that the decision to not send the band was made by WSU.
Jon Haarlow, WSU's vice president and director of athletics, discussed the situation on the Inside WSU Athletics Podcast, which is sponsored by BECU. He highlighted how conference realignment has impacted ticket distribution and the logistical challenges that arise from these changes. Haarlow stated, "I get the logistical changes for tickets. You see that with conferences changing and how those allotments are changed pretty regularly." He expressed concern that the new arrangements would hinder the band’s experience during the game.
Rick Flores, president of the Cougar Alumni Band and a former trumpet player in the band, elaborated on the complexities involved in moving a large ensemble from the upper deck to the field level. He noted that transporting 260 band members through crowded areas while carrying instruments would likely result in missing significant portions of the game. "Trying to maneuver around crowds with big instruments and moving 260 people, they’re going to miss a good chunk of the first quarter, I would imagine," Flores explained. He also pointed out that getting the band down for halftime would require them to leave during the second quarter, further complicating their participation.
This absence marks a significant departure from a long-standing tradition shared between the rival teams. Flores reminisced about a moment of camaraderie during the 2018 Apple Cup when a UW charter bus crashed on Thanksgiving. In a show of sportsmanship, the WSU marching band learned and performed the Husky fight song during their pregame rehearsal to demonstrate solidarity with their rivals. "We showed up to game day rehearsal, had to learn their fight song in like less than an hour," he recalled.
Flores emphasized that the effects of conference realignments extend beyond just student-athletes, impacting band members and cheerleaders who play a vital role in enhancing the game-day atmosphere. He encouraged WSU fans to compensate for the absence of the band by bringing their energy and enthusiasm to the stands. "I would be devastated. I think we’ve just got to focus on putting that energy into just being the best Coug fans we could be at the stadium," he urged.
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