UCLA Band Cut Short for Bowl Appearance

I am a member of the UCLA marching band. As is known, our football team is going to the John Hancock Bowl. However, our athletic department has decided to take only 100 of the 230-piece marching band. Meanwhile, Illinois will be bringing their entire 330-piece marching band.

Hancock Bowl officials told our band that we will be given a total of 13 minutes on the field, but due to lack of members at the game, we will not be able to perform the field show. Although the Hancock Bowl may not be the most prestigious bowl game, as a representative from the Southland, I feel that the presence of the UCLA band is very important.

I don’t know how important the halftime show is to the sports fan, but to us, college students, it is unbearable to see the other school’s band being featured and not ours, especially at a bowl game.

REINA MAEHATA

Los Angeles