It's not often you can use the words "cool" and "marching band" in the same sentence (and before you start flaming me in the comments section, know that in high school I was a choir geek - which, on the social ladder, is a rung below band geek).

But the idea of the University of Utah's marching band going to Washington, D.C., later this month to play in Barack Obama's inaugural parade is pretty darn cool.

The only problem is, of course, money: The band doesn't have any, and the university is looking for alumni and the community to donate the $150,000 needed to send the band to D.C.

"It is not cheap to send 128 members of a band across the country," Fred Esplin, the U. vice president for institutional advancement, told the Tribune's Brian Maffly. "All the hotels in D.C. are filled. You would have to stay in Baltimore or Philadelphia."

For those wanting to donate to the travel fund, the U. has a web site to help you.

Labels: Barack Obama, University of Utah