By placing high in national band competition two years ago, the Marching Cougars earned an invitation to perform at the Outback Bowl in Tampa on New Year's Day.
"This is like the big thing before I go off to college. It's pretty intense, and it will give me a good feel of what college will be like next year," says senior Mike Long.
The band will compete against 29 other top bands, march in a parade and play for the crowd during halftime of the nationally televised game.
"All my hard work has been finally recognized, along with everyone else's," says senior Sarah Burney.
Many of the students creditband director Joe Akersfor leading them to the right note and recognition.
"It's a wonderful opportunity for the kids," Akers says. "They get the opportunity to see what other bands across the nation are doing and see how we stack up against those other bands."
The band was scheduled to leave Apex Thursday night to head to Tampa. South Carolina takes on Ohio State in the Outback Bowl at 11 a.m. Monday on ESPN.
The Clayton High School band will perform at the Nokia Sugar Bowl in New Orleans.
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