Despite uncertainty earlier this week, Blue Band members will play at Saturday's football game at the University of Wisconsin, a Wisconsin official said Tuesday.
But Penn State's 17-member pep band could be the only band at Camp Randall Stadium on Saturday, after Wisconsin suspended its marching band Friday "as a result of serious hazing allegations" including "inappropriate alcohol-use, hazing and sexualized behavior," according to a press release.
On Monday, Blue Band officials said Wisconsin officials hadn't confirmed that the pep band could play at Saturday's game.
But Vince Sweeney, Wis-consin's senior associate athletic director, said Tuesday the situation was merely a misunderstanding.
"We've never had a problem with the Penn State pep band. They've been welcomed. It's probably a lack of communication other than anything else," Sweeney said.
This summer, Penn State sent a letter to Wisconsin requesting that the pep band be allowed to play in the stands during the game.
Sweeney said Wisconsin never responded to the letter.
"There was no follow-up [from Penn State], and had someone called us in September, maybe we could have cleared it up at that time," Sweeney said.
He added he had spoken with Penn State officials on Tuesday on the matter.
Greg Myford, Penn State's associate athletic director for marketing and communications, said there is "no issue" between Penn State and Wisconsin.
"The letter we sent requesting it was never responded to. It wasn't that it was denied," Myford said. "Now that the connections have been made ... they will definitely play."
The Wisconsin athletic department is "awaiting word" on whether or not the Wisconsin marching band will play on Saturday, Sweeney said. The band did not play at this past Saturday's game against Ohio State.
"We certainly are anxious to get word so we can plan accordingly," Sweeney said.
Blue Band Director Richard Bundy said despite the pep band's smaller size, its members are still excited about the game on Saturday.
"A small band in a big stadium isn't going to have the kind of impact that the full Blue Band has. But our students will be, I'm sure, very enthusiastic and create as much support for Penn State as they can," he said.
