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Two jets from Whiteman Air Force Base fly over David Booth Memorial Stadium prior to Kansas’ game against Long Island University on Sept. 4. Kansas went on to win 51-6.<\/p>\n
Jackson Schreckenghaust \/ The Kansan<\/p>\n
The University of Kansas Marching Jayhawks will be performing their halftime show, \u201cLong Live the QUEENS<\/a>,\u201d during the Kansas City Chiefs\u2019 season opener against the Denver Broncos on Monday, Sept. 14.<\/p>\n Director of Athletic Bands at KU Sharon Toulouse and Assistant Director of Bands Melissa Sawyer said the opportunity likely resulted from the university hosting the majority of its home football games at Arrowhead Stadium during the 2024-2025 season.<\/p>\n \u201cI think some of it has to do with our relationship that we built with them two years ago,\u201d Toulouse said. \u201cThey actually reached out to us, sent us an email and said, \u2018would you be interested? We would love for you to come march the season opener.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n The last time the band marched a halftime show for the Chiefs was the 2012 season opener against the Atlanta Falcons. But for that performance, the band asked the team, according to Toulouse.\u00a0<\/p>\n With Kansas City being on the border of Kansas and Missouri, two states with a historic sports rivalry, as well as KU hosting the University of Missouri football game at home just three days prior, the directors are expecting the pressure to be high.<\/p>\n \u201cI think it\u2019s kind of a no-win situation for us going in there because if we beat Missouri, they\u2019re not going to be happy with us,\u201d Toulouse said. \u201cAnd if we lose to Missouri, they\u2019re going to make sure we know that and remember that.\u201d<\/p>\n There are positives to the game being played in Missouri, though, according to Sawyer.<\/p>\n \u201cWe have many Marching Jayhawks from Missouri,\u201d Sawyer said. \u201cSo it\u2019s kind of nice to be in their home state, too, and represent them in that way.\u201d<\/p>\n This opportunity and many others like it give students an experience that others may never have, according to Toulouse. Being able to provide that is one of her favorite parts of the collegiate experience.<\/p>\n \u201cJust something as simple as that, just being able to give them these experiences is pretty neat to me,\u201d Toulouse said.<\/p>\n The band often gets these opportunities, as it frequently travels with KU\u2019s sports teams, particularly football and basketball, during the postseason. Even during the regular season, the team gets opportunities like these, with a portion of its members traveling to London to perform at the upcoming Union Jack Classic on Sept. 19.<\/p>\n Both directors want to grow the band\u2019s presence in Missouri and have been reaching out to many sporting organizations in Kansas City to set up more opportunities for the band to say yes to.<\/p>\n \u201cThe more we can say yes to these opportunities, the more doors we open,\u201d Sawyer said.<\/p>\n This article was edited by Head Arts and Culture Editor Allie Mapes. If the information in this article needs to be corrected, please contact allie.mapes@ku.edu<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\n