DALLAS — Leading up to game day for the University of Cincinnati Bearcats, to get fans excited both UC and Alabama showed off their talents in the battle of the bands — something extra special for one Cincinnati family.
What You Need To Know
- Noah Moorhouse is in the UC band and his older brother, Christopher, is in the Alabama band
- The brothers even both play the alto saxophone
- They said they were hoping their two teams would match up at the end of the year
- Of course the winning team, and brother, will get bragging rights forever
Not only was it the battle of the bands, but it was also the battle of the brothers. Noah Moorhouse plays for the University of Cincinnati band, and his older brother, Christopher, plays for the University of Alabama’s “Million Dollar Band,” and only one of them will have bragging rights after the game.
On Thursday, the bands took their turn in facing off, with the brothers facing off against each other for the first time for their respective schools.
“I don’t think either of us thought it would really happen,” Noah Moorhouse said. “And then slowly as the season started progressing, it started looking more and more likely.”
Their mom had high hopes from the beginning.
“Our mom had been saying it all year long,” Christopher Moorhouse said. “She was like wouldn’t it be awesome if this happened. We both laughed, like ‘Oh, yeah that would be cool but it’s probably not going to happen.’”
Noah Moorhouse is a sophomore at UC and plays alto saxophone, coincidentally, the same instrument as Christopher.
“I was like well he plays the alto sax, so I might as well,” Noah said.
For Christopher, it’s a dream come true to face his younger brother his senior year.
“I couldn’t have asked for a better way to go out,” Christopher said. “Getting to share the field with my brother and both my parents being here to watch it. It’s just remarkable really. The stars had to align for it to happen.”
And were parents are front and center to watch their sons face off in the battle of the bands.
“Noah’s on the left hand side maybe in front of the second sousaphone,” said Micheline Moorhouse, the boys’ mother.
Micheline said she’s so grateful that the moment is here.
“It’s amazing, dream come true,” she said. “I’m holding back the tears right now because I’m so proud of both of my boys.”
Of course the parents aren’t taking sides, even with their apparel.
“My daughter made it because we’re committed to staying neutral so every day we’re wearing something that represents both bands and both of our boys play sax,” Micheline said referencing the shirt the couple wore to the battle of the bands.
And even with all the fun and games, win or lose, it’s a moment these brothers will never forget.
“I’m looking forward to hopefully bumping into him on the field,” Christopher said. “I think that that would be an experience that most brothers never get. Seeing each other on a stage of that magnitude.”
