The University of Minnesota Marching Band performed alongside Justin Timberlake in Super Bowl LII’s halftime show.
The band was prominently featured in Timberlake’s “Suit and Tie” on Sunday night at U.S. Bank Stadium.
WATCH: University of Minnesota Marching Band performs at halftime with Justin Timberlake
Joe Becker, a sophomore in the band, said the show was exhilarating.
“We just… performed in the biggest show in the country,” Becker said.
Becker said band members have kept the performance a secret since finding out in December.
“There was a lot of anticipation because everything was supposed to be top secret,” Becker said. “All of our friends, our family… were in the dark and now we’re able to talk with them. It’s great.”
A social media movement to get the band to the half-time show started in October and support grew quickly, according to an email from Owen Luterbach, a band member who helped organize the movement.
“Everything that happened next will stick with me, and everyone involved for the rest of our lives,” Luterbach said.
Sophie Wiitala, a junior in the band, said the performance was surreal.
“There was a lot of changing stuff on the fly so that was kind of crazy, but it was really worth it to see it put all together,” Wiitala said.
She said today felt like “a normal game day,” up until there was 20 seconds left in the second quarter.
“We all started freaking out… and then a few of us just held hands,” Wiitala said. “Then, we were out there.”