Band Director Bill Schaffer confirmed earlier this week that his students will perform in the ceremonies leading up to one of college football's oldest bowl games. Schaffer said he and the students will leave Tuesday, Dec. 30, and return home on Saturday, Jan. 3. "We had several other bowl game invitations we were considering," Schaffer said, "but we picked the Cotton Bowl because it was a major bowl and because of a combination of the cost and location of the game." Wright City's band last participated in the Cotton Bowl festivities in 2005. The school, a Division 1 entry (based on enrollment), was the grand champion of the '05 Cotton Bowl. "We are the only Division 1 school to win the grand championship," said Schaffer. "I don't know if we'll be able to duplicate that feat, but we will certainly give it our best effort." Schaffer called the experience of performing on such a large stage "one of those life memory things our students will always have with them. "It's exciting for them when they march in the stadium," he added. "It's a tremendous experience to perform in front of crowds that large." In the 2008 Cotton Bowl, viewed by a crowd of more than 73,000 fans, Missouri throttled Arkansas, 38-7. In addition to marching in the bowl parade and at halftime of the game, the Wright City band also will enter its jazz band and concert band into the Cotton Bowl festivity competition. "That many opportunities to play makes the trip worthwhile," said Schaffer. In addition to the Cotton Bowl, Schaffer said he also considered an invitation for the band to participate in the Liberty Bowl as well as several other minor bowls. "I was a little leery about the weather in Memphis at the end of December," he explained. "I think we have a better chance for good weather in Dallas." Schaffer has been the band director at Wright City for eight years. He called the 2008-09 school year group one with the potential to be among the best units in school history. "We have an exceptionally strong group of seniors coming back next year," he said. "The rest of the returning band members have continued to progress very well. "And we have a very strong group of freshmen coming in who will be in the (varsity) band for the first time," he added. The band will unveil its new uniforms for the first time during the 2008-09 school year as well. In addition to the new look and color scheme, Schaffer said the band will wear hats featuring a 14-inch-high plume. "That's nearly the highest you can go," said Schaffer. "There's one band with a 16-inch plume, but we think this height of plume will give us a more polished look." The band has worn a traditional 8-inch plume for years, according to Schaffer. "These new plumes and uniforms will make the kids look taller," he said. "The taller plumes tend to greatly exaggerate a mistake in the marching routine as well. But I think the new uniforms will relate to us marching and performing better overall." Last year, the band made an out-of-state trip to perform at a football game at the University of Kansas. "This bowl game is part of our regular four-year rotation," Schaffer explained. "We go to a bowl game, then make an out-of-state trip the next year. "In the third year of the cycle we compete at the grand nationals, then follow up with another out-of-state trip," he added. "So this year we're back to a bowl game again and the kids are real excited about it." Schaffer said the band has already started working on its routine, based on the theme "The Beauty Killed the Beast" from the "King Kong" movie. "It's a more involved, complex program," said Schaffer, "but I think the kids will be able to handle it."