The Irish Guard's absence from this weekend's football game at Purdue resulted from a behavior violation that occurred previously, Assistant Director of Bands Larry Dwyer said Monday.
The Guard routinely travels with the band to its away game performances. Dwyer was unable to specify the last band performance that had not included the Guard.
Dwyer declined to elaborate on the nature, time or persons involved in any incident because of student privacy rules.
The absence - which Dwyer declined to describe as a suspension - is not slated to extend to other planned band performances.
"I would think they will be back for the rest of the season," he said.
Dwyer said all 10 Guards dressed for the band's previous performance at the Sept. 22 home game against Michigan State.
Only nine Guards performed on the field at that game.
The incident leading to the Guard's absence Saturday "had to do with a violation of the band's code of conduct," Dwyer said.
This code is an "extensive" 24-page booklet that "essentially incorporated everything in du Lac by reference" while also including rules specific to band activities, he said.
The set of rules applies to "behaviors which would have an impact on the band's practice, performance or public image," Dwyer said.
The Guard was not at band practice last week, he said.
"I expect they will be back with us [today] at regular rehearsal," he said.
Guard captain Connor Martin declined to comment "out of respect for the privacy of individuals involved."
Director of Bands Kenneth Dye said the absence of the Guard was behavior-related.
"They didn't do what they were supposed to do," he said.
