URBANA, Ill. (AP) - School hasn't even started yet and already there is competition for spots in the University of Illinois Marching Band. Barry Houser is the director. He says there are about 500 musicians auditioning. That's more than ever before. But their numbers will rapidly thin. By Thursday more than 100 will be cut to get to the final 360-375 members. Houser guesses that this year's travel itinerary might be behind the big numbers. The band will play at the Macy's Thanksgiving Parade in New York City. There will also be dates at the Chicago Bears home opener on Sept. 13 and the Illinois game at Northwestern at Soldier Field on Nov. 28.
Record number tries to win a place in the Marching Illini
