WSU Cougar Marching Band won’t play at Apple Cup

The Washington State University Cougar Marching Band will not accompany the team to Husky Stadium for this Sunday's Apple Cup matchup against the University of Washington. This decision follows changes in seating arrangements at the stadium, which have relegated visiting school bands to the upper deck. These alterations stem from a seating realignment that occurred when the University of Washington joined the Big Ten Conference in 2024.

As a result, the marching band, along with the ticket allotments for visiting teams, now occupies the upper northeast corner of the stadium. This change has disrupted a longstanding tradition between the two rival programs, as the Apple Cup game has not been played at Husky Stadium since the seating modification took effect. Jon Haarlow, WSU's vice president and director of athletics, attributed the absence to the logistical challenges posed by the conference realignment.

He highlighted the difficulties of transporting a 260-member ensemble from the upper deck to the field and back, as well as the impact of missing key moments during the game due to the band's move. Rick Flores, president of the board for the Cougar Alumni Band and a former band member, echoed these concerns, noting the immense logistical hurdles involved in moving such a large group of people and instruments.

The absence of the band represents a significant break from the tradition of mutual sportsmanship displayed in previous years. In 2018, a UW charter bus crashed ahead of a rivalry game, and the WSU band quickly learned and played the Husky fight song to show solidarity. Flores urged visiting fans to step in and make up for the band's absence with their own support in the stands.