Underneath all of the hatred and animosity and vitriol, this is what a real college football rivalry looks like.
Thursday, one of the six buses carrying members of the University of Washington’s marching band and spirit squad was involved in an accident that resulted in the bus rolling over on its side. Icy road conditions were blamed for an incident that happened roughly halfway between Seattle and Pullman.
While no one was seriously injured, nearly four dozen individuals were transported to local hospitals to be treated for cuts, back pain and other non-critical injuries; two of those remain hospitalized with unspecified injuries.
As a result of the accident, the university announced earlier Friday that the marching band will not continue on to Pullman and will not be in attendance for the Apple Cup rivalry matchup with No. 8 Washington State. In response to that development, the Wazzu marching band took it upon itself to, on very short notice, learn UW’s fight song, which they will play during tonight’s game.
The Cougar marching band was on the field practicing the Husky fight song today because the UW band won’t make it after last night’s accident. The Coug band will play it in the absence. #GoCougs #AppleCup #KOMOnews pic.twitter.com/pYZaLPb76m
— Eric Johnson (@EricJohnsonKOMO) November 23, 2018
Even prior to that gesture, the Wazzu band had set a classy tone.
If the wonderful @huskyband is able to come down tomorrow after tonight’s accident, DO NOT boo those kids. Applaud their efforts and sacrifice to be here supporting their team and university. Please spread the word.
— WSU Marching Band (@WSUCMB) November 23, 2018