KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Tennessee's marching band has issued a statement saying it's in a "bitter battle" with the athletic department regarding a reduction in travel and a reduced role at home football games.
The Pride of the Southland Band said Wednesday its travel budget was "slashed." The band also said it has been "reduced to playing the team's fight song after touchdowns and a few seconds of music in between plays" at home games while commercials and pre-recorded music play at other times.
The complaints were first reported by the Knoxville News Sentinel.
The athletic department released its own statement Wednesday, saying the band is "a much valued and integral part of the university" and that the band's operating budget for the 2013-14 fiscal year was reduced by only 0.8 percent.