Inside the UK marching band: The beat behind the Wildcats’ spirit
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LEXINGTON, Ky. (Nov. 11, 2025) — For seniors in the University of Kentucky marching band, the last weeks of college football signify more than just a countdown to the end of the season. It also means they’ll be hanging up their Wildcat blue uniforms for the last time.
Sports communication major Carson Kitts is all too aware that there are fewer days ahead than behind him as a member of the Wildcat marching band.
“I'm just trying to enjoy everything I got left here because once it's done, it's done,” said the senior sousaphone player. “And there's nothing I can do about that. But I've got a lot of good people that are kind of helping me get through it.”
UK Public Relations and Strategic Communications shadowed Kitts with the marching band Oct. 25 for the Wildcats’ home game against Tennessee. Watch the video above to see what a day in the life of a marching band member looks like.
As the state’s flagship, land-grant institution, the University of Kentucky exists to advance the Commonwealth. We do that by preparing the next generation of leaders — placing students at the heart of everything we do — and transforming the lives of Kentuckians through education, research and creative work, service and health care. We pride ourselves on being a catalyst for breakthroughs and a force for healing, a place where ingenuity unfolds. It's all made possible by our people — visionaries, disruptors and pioneers — who make up 200 academic programs, a $476.5 million research and development enterprise and a world-class medical center, all on one campus.