This has got to be the last vestige of my college days. The uniforms of the UW-La Crosse band are being replaced. As a freshman clarinetist in September 1970, I was the recipient of one of the (then) brand new black, red and white uniforms. The uniforms which were being replaced were heavy, grey things that looked like they were lifted from West Point. The new uniforms hadn’t arrived for our first halftime show, so rather than wear haul out the old uniforms, the band wore white shirts and dark slacks. When the new uniforms arrived, my uniform was either number 124 or 128, as I remember.

Our second show was at the highly anticipated rematch of Super Bowl IV: Vikings vs Chiefs at old Met stadium, September 18, 1970. In those days, half-time shows were still shown on television. This would have been national tv coverage for the band and the university. I say “would have been” because, as fate would have it, Syria invaded Jordan on that day and we were pre-empted.