The "Pride of the Sunshine" Fightin' Gator Marching Band is in demand, but high travel fees have prevented it from performing in two high-profile events this month.
False rumors had circulated that the band declined to perform at Barack Obama's Jan. 20 inauguration in Washington, D.C., and this weekend's Super Bowl in Tampa.
Band Director David Waybright said the band was never invited to play at the inauguration, adding they looked into it, but never formally applied.
The band did, however, receive an invitation to perform at the Super Bowl. After some negotiations, the officials decided to rescind the invitation.
It was possible that covering the band's transportation and performance at the game would have been too expensive, Waybright said.
Playing at an event like the Super Bowl costs about $20,000. Providing transportation for nine buses at $1,000 each, feeding and lodging all 325 members and other extraneous expenses add up, Waybright said.
Not to mention the time and effort of the staff that accompany the band, he added.
But there were other concerns with the conditions of performing, Waybright said.
"The way the Super Bowl presented it to us, I'm not sure we would have been able to go anyway," he explained.
Unlike in the past, the band members would not have seats to watch the game after their performance. The last time they played in the Super Bowl in 1984, also in Tampa, students were given those seats.
"It wasn't going to be an acceptable situation for our students," he explained. "It would have been a negative for all of us. We wouldn't use the students in that capacity."
Also, Waybright said Super Bowl officials approached the band about performing only a month ago. According to Waybright, they plan their season about a year in advance.
The normal marching band season went two weeks longer due to the Gators' appearance in the BCS National Championship Game in Miami. Once spring semester starts the marching band is not active, he said.
Band members are disappointed about not playing at the Super Bowl but understand the circumstances and costs.
Trumpet section leader Joe Scannella was looking forward to putting such a great accomplishment on his resume. But he said he understood watching the game wouldn't be a possibility.
"I went to the Super Bowl in 2005, and the face value of my ticket was $600," he said. "I just multiplied that by 350 people in my head and thought there is no way the NFL has got that many tickets."
Scannella said although the season has been long and draining, no one in his section would have a problem giving up one more Sunday for The Gator Nation.
