LSU To Send Pep Band To Seattle, Four SEC Road Games

After making cost reductions to three of the band's four trips to conference road games during the 2009 football season, LSU Athletics has decided to send a pep band to the game at the University of Washington.

The fact remains that the LSU Athletic Department has been asked to contribute more financially to the University this year than ever before in the wake of state budget cuts to higher education. With an increase in administrative fees levied on University auxiliaries rising from 3 percent to 5 percent, and an increase in student fees the athletic department must pay for its 450 student-athletes, LSU Athletics will be passing an additional $2.5 million to the University in the coming academic year. The athletic department must cut costs in various areas, and expenditures for band trips is one area that will be impacted.

LSU Athletics places a high value on the Tiger Band which is evidenced by the fact that the LSU Athletic Department funds the band at a higher rate than any other school in the Southeastern Conference. In addition, the Athletic Department has committed $4.5 million to the construction of a new band hall, making it the single largest contributor to that project.

LSU will be sending pep bands to each of the four road conference games in 2009. The band will bus to and from each location on the day of the game for three of those games with no hotel stay in order to facilitate the cost necessary to send a pep band to Washington. There will be no full band trip to any road game except a post-season bowl game. These measures will result in cost savings of $125,000 to $150,000 for the athletics program during the 2009-2010 fiscal year.