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TRIVIA

  • The Husky Band is credited with creating 'The Wave', when, at a 1981 Homecoming game against Stanford, former Yell King Rob Weller and director Bill Bissell originated what has gone on to become a global fan phenomenon.
  • Kris Lambright, daughter of former head coach Jim Lambright, is a band alumnus and is active in the Husky Marching Band Alumni Association.
  • The Husky Band was recipient of the 'Most Valuable Player' award following the 1991 shutout of USC at Husky Stadium (31-0). The defeat was only the 3rd time in 23 seasons that the Huskies had shutout the Trojans
  • The Husky Band is one of only three Pac Ten bands that continue to use the physically demanding, traditional 'high step' style of marching.
  • Members of the Husky Band fully enjoy the benefits of being associated with one of the most successful college athletic programs in the NCAA. Fully funded by the Department of Intercollegiate Athletics, band members represent the UW at all Husky Football home and away games, including bowl games, receive Husky merchandise and participate in many more activities sponsored by the Athletic Department.
  • The University of Washington Husky Marching Band marches 240 members on the field for every performance.
  • Husky Band prides itself on its unique system of organizational staff. Six students are selected each year to assist the directors in the upcoming season. There is also fourteen senior staff to assist in game day operations.
  • Husky Band members rehearse approximately 12 hours each week for each home game.
  • At each home football game, the HMB 'raises' its 45' by 75' American Flag to the strains of America the Beautiful. Brass and percussion form the flagpole and woodwind players bear the flag, one of the most unique presentations of the colors in the nation.
  • The Gamma Chapter of Kappa Kappa Psi, a co-ed Honorary Band Service Fraternity, is made up largely of HMB members.
  • The Husky Band produces a new CD of music from the football season every two years and includes both show tunes and old stands favorites.
  • The Husky Marching Band has performed in six Rose Bowl Parades since 1980.
  • The Band and Cheer Squad have a unique interactive relationship, each relying on the other to make the best performance possible. Before each home game, they team up to entertain the crowds in Dempsey Indoor Facility at the Husky Huddles.
  • Husky Band is used as an important community music promoter. Each year during football season, the band hosts 'Band Day,' which allows high school students to participate in both pregame and halftime field shows in a university environment. Additionally, the band holds a Young People's Concert for elementary and middle school students to introduce them to marching band and spark their interest in musical performance.

QUOTES

  • "... and finally, I want to thank those guys in the back of the room. I've loved and supported every Husky Band - you guys are great!"

    Mike Lude
    former athletic director
    concluding his acceptance speech during his 1998 induction into the Husky Hall of Fame

  • "Everything was so great out there but then I heard the Band and looked down the court and saw Amber Hall and Molly Hills and it just tears your heart out."

    Chris Gobrecht
    former Husky womens hoops coach
    during her emotional 1998 return to Hec Ed Pavilion as coach of the USC Trojans

  • "These past two or three days we've worked just about as hard as the Band."

    Jim Owens
    former Coach
    at the Long Beach rally on the eve of the legendary 1961 Rose Bowl

  • "There's nothing better than coming home at 3:00 in the morning from a big game and having part of the band waiting for us outside the crew house playing 'Bow Down to Washington'."

    Jim Lambright
    former Coach
    during his 1997 annual pre-season address to the Band

  • "In fact, Washington is the only school which has sent its band to the [NCAA College Softball] World Series ... the players favorite song? 'Bow Down to Washington', they agree."

    'The Seattle Post Intelligencer'
    reporting on the Bands trip to the 1996 NCAA College Softball World Series in Columbus, GA

  • "The Husky Band, song girls, rally squad, and card section is due laudits."

    Tom Hansen
    Pac Ten Commissioner

  • "I'll tell you - Thursday is my favorite day of the week."

    Scott Lineham
    former Offensive Coordinator
    commenting on the bands tradition of playing for the teams Thursday afternoon practice (1998)