September 27, 2007 — EVANSTON, ILL. — The Big Ten Network, which now televises most Wildcat football games, will feature the Northwestern University "Wildcat" Marching Band (NUMB) in their weekly Friday Night Tailgate broadcast on Friday, Sept. 28 from 7 p.m. until 9 p.m. CT.

The Big Ten Network has been featuring a different conference school each week throughout the late summer and fall, and this week is Northwestern University's turn.  The network's production crew attended NUMB's rehearsal on Wednedsay while the band prepared it's halftime show, which will include highlights from Leonard bernstein's classic, West Side Story, which celebrates its fiftieth anniversary in production this year.

After filming the band's rehearsal, the production crew took time to record a performance of one of Northwestern's fight songs, Go U, Northwestern!, as well as a special version of the fan-favorite tune Hey Baby! Instead of the traditional lyrics, the band members sang, "Hey Amanda, do you want to want to be my girl?", commemorating the birth of NUMB director Dan Farris's first child, Amanda Danielle Farris, this past Monday. 

"She's got an astonishing growl," Farris says, "Who knew that a little baby and a marching band would have so much in common?"

The Big Ten Network also interviewed Farris, and the interview, rehearsal footage, and a live feed from an event hosted by the Big Ten Network (also featuring NUMB) at Walker Terrace at Ryan Field will be combined for the Friday night broadcast on Big Ten Network, which is available to all DirecTV subscribers and on some special packages from other cable and satellite television providers.

Fans may also see NUMB live on Saturday as the Wildcats take the gridiron against the University of Michigan Wolverines at 11:00 AM at Ryan Field.  The band will also be featured at the free pep rally at Wildcat Alley in Rocky Miller Field at 10 a.m.

—Daniel M. Reck (GSESP08)

Photo by Yunji Kim '07.  Big Ten Network logo is the property of the Big Ten Network.