Even though it really does not matter for this sake of this senseless arguement as it is in the past, however, here is what really went down with the UCF game. I do not think it was the first year that UCF was in the league as the 110 went to Orlando the year before and played at the UCF game (first time in years that a visiting marching band went to the UCF game). The 110 performed at Disney, practiced at UCF, played halftime and played halftime the next day at the Jaguars game. I know because I set up their whole trip and accompanied them as their tour guide.

The next year, the UCF band said they could not afford to come to the game and said they would not be coming and Yes it was our Homecoming. The 110 Alumni Band plays at halftime and an opposing band would not have time to perform halftime. When the UCF Athletic Dept. found out that the UCF band planned on not coming to OU, they went crazy and asked the band to make the trip, even though UCF band director knew they could not perform at halftime. The UCF Band Director did not tell his band that they would not be performing halftime until sometime during their trip to Athens.

Rick Suk had to scramble as this all went down about two weeks before the game. He had to convince the OU athletic department to give up almost 300 seats, thus the reason the UCF band sat on the student side of the field. Rick offered the band a chance to perform at Pre-Game, but the band misjudged the time coming from their rehearsal in Charleston, West VA and arrived after the game started. I know this as I was marching in the Alumni Band that year and Rick asked me what I thought he should do as they were not there and Pre-Game was starting. He had to take the 110 on the field and their band showed up during 1st quarter. Rick offered them to perform after the game, but the UCF band had to leave right away to go play at a band festival somewhere near Chillicothe. Therefore, the UCF band came from Orlando to sit in the stands and be a pep band. This had to be somewhat maddening and humiliating for those students. However, it was not the 110's fault that the UCF band did not perform that day. A lot of the band had not gotten the word yet that the band director knew they would not perform halftime and that it was their fault they were late to perform pre-game. Out of frustration is probably why they tried to steal one of the OU flags.          

Ah yes, I remember when that UCF tuba attempted to lower the OU flag. I remember looking up and seeing the flag a little lower than usual and thought nothing of it. A while later, I looked again and it was substantially lower, so I nudged Brad (snare next to me) and we ended pointing it out to Suk and one of the GAs. It was quite satisfying seeing the tuba escorted out hehe.

BUT I do have to say that I thoroughly enjoyed their band! During our trip to Orlando in '02, I had the pleasure of meeting many of their members. Talk about classy members! I don't think I've enjoyed any trips more than that one.