Washington State University’s slogan is “World Class. Face to Face.”
And the Cougar marching band proved it Friday night, led by Troy Bennefield, assistant professor of music and director of athletic bands.
When the University of Washington marching band bus crashed on Interstate 90 outside of George, Wash., the night before the 111th Apple Cup, causing minor injuries to 47 of the 56 people on board, it was no secret Cougs would be there to pick up UW’s slack in their absence.
And they did.
Leading up to Friday’s kickoff between No. 7 Washington State and No. 16 Washington, the Cougar marching band was hard at work, putting together their own musical gameplan. Band members showed up several hours before the game to rehearse UW’s anthem, “Bow Down to Washington.”
With less than a day’s notice, the band in crimson and gray carried the purple tune in a wet, white blanket of Pullman snow.
The Cougar marching band put aside their Husky hatred and practiced the Husky harmony. The band formed a giant “W” on WSU’s football field to represent their rivals from across the state.