Marching Band Delivers Big Game's Most Touching Moment

Washington State plays University of Washington's fight song after UW bus accident
By Jenn Gidman,  Newser Staff
Posted Nov 26, 2018 12:43 PM CST
After Bus Accident, School Band Helps Out a Rival
The Washington State University marching band plays the University of Washington's fight song in a pregame tribute to the UW band Friday.   (AP Photo/Ted S. Warren)

The Washington State University Cougars faced off Friday against the University of Washington's Huskies during their annual Apple Cup football matchup, but it was the Cougars' marching band that ended up generating the most buzz. That's because they played "Bow Down to Washington," the opposing team's fight song, as an homage to the Husky band after one of its buses flipped Thursday en route to the game in Pullman, the Seattle Times reports. Forty-seven of the 56 Husky band members ended up hospitalized; two remained there as of Friday with "injuries that are not believed to be life threatening," per a statement from the University of Washington.

In the meantime, the Apple Cup went on, and so did the generosity of spirit of the Cougars' band, which put on a "display of exceptional sportsmanship," per Newsweek: The musicians spent Friday learning the Huskies' song so they could play it at the game. "The Huskies are missing their band, and that's an important part of the game day experience," says Troy Bennefield, WSU's band director. "We want to honor the camaraderie and their dedication and show our sportsmanship. … We are only one ice patch away from that happening." The Huskies showed gratitude to their rivals in a Friday night tweet, posting a clip of the performance: "Thank you for putting rivalry aside and showing your support." (This marching band says its on-field efforts were "misinterpreted.")

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