Nashville’s Music City Bowl Executive Director Scott Ramsey said today that “[programs] centered around our local marketing effort,” will push the University of Wisconsin’s Marching band off of the field during this year’s Music City Bowl.

 Relegated to a pre-game battle of the bands and the Fifth Quarter that must be shared with the Southeast Conference team’s band, one of Wisconsin’s showcase attractions is being held off the field during the halftime show.

 It is well known from anyone who travels to the far west side of campus the amount of sweat and effort put in by band members throughout the fall.   

 While we certainly agree that local interests play a large rolein any bowl contest, thousands of Wisconsin students, alumni and fans who will trek south for the contest should be, at the very least, allowed to see their band play at halftime. If the band itself is to take the expense and hassle of the trip south, they should be allowed to do what they do best: captivate crowds with their unique brand of halftime performance. Why should we expect anything less from the Music City?