History of the TCU Band

[PurplFrawg]

My big brother was on the last band trip to…Arkansas, sometime 73-76. Whiskey bottles flying (from Arkie fans), TCU “tea” being mixed in band hotel bath-tub, multiple noise complaint's, Prof got called & went on “patrol” down the hallway in his robe & slippers.
And bullhorn.

Hotels in Arkansas would not allow the band to make reservations due to their lack of sportsmanship and generally being Pigs. Prof had the trips planned so that we got most of the way there on Friday, then played a High School game on Friday night, stayed with the local band kids, then went on to the Arkansas game on Saturday morning. When we played in Fayetteville, our overnight was in Tulsa, and when we played in Little Rock, we stayed in New Boston. The scheme saved money for a tight band budget, was good PR for the school (usually), and got all of us a great home cooked meal or two. Win/win. With Prof's connections, he could overnight the band almost anywhere for free, and we used that overnight model in a lot of different locations.

 

[namollec]

Hotels in Arkansas would not allow the band to make reservations due to their lack of sportsmanship and generally being Pigs. Prof had the trips planned so that we got most of the way there on Friday, then played a High School game on Friday night, stayed with the local band kids, then went on to the Arkansas game on Saturday morning. When we played in Fayetteville, our overnight was in Tulsa, and when we played in Little Rock, we stayed in New Boston. The scheme saved money for a tight band budget, was good PR for the school (usually), and got all of us a great home cooked meal or two. Win/win. With Prof's connections, he could overnight the band almost anywhere for free, and we used that overnight model in a lot of different locations.

I think it was the '76 trip to Fayetteville where we (band) had a police escort from the highway exit to the hotel, then to the game, posted police around the band, and then back to the hotel. As for what went on in the hotel, I remembered less and less as the night went on.

It might have been the '75 trip to Little Rock. TCU Band was the first SWC band allowed to go to Arkansas in years. We were hung out there to see if visitors could be welcomed in their stadium.

 

[PurplFrawg]

I think it was the '76 trip to Fayetteville where we (band) had a police escort from the highway exit to the hotel, then to the game, posted police around the band, and then back to the hotel. As for what went on in the hotel, I remembered less and less as the night went on.

It might have been the '75 trip to Little Rock. TCU Band was the first SWC band allowed to go to Arkansas in years. We were hung out there to see if visitors could be welcomed in their stadium.

When we went to Fayetteville, there were lots of things being thrown at the band. I remember one item was one of those restaurant sized cans for green beans or peas. I mean who actually carries around a can like that? Vincent DiNino had already said that he would not be taking his Longhorn band back to Arkansas after some of the bandsmen were actually hit with flying objects. Prof followed suit as did a few more band directors. We had one trombone player, Steve Holder, who had worked all summer to buy a brand new bass trombone, and when Arkie came to Ft Worth that fall, some anonymous Pig fan threw something that hit his horn and put a huge dent in the bell. He wanted to head into the crowd to find the guy, but he was restrained by a drum major. I have zero respect for those jerks.

 

[TxFrog1999]

When we went to Fayetteville, there were lots of things being thrown at the band. I remember one item was one of those restaurant sized cans for green beans or peas. I mean who actually carries around a can like that? Vincent DiNino had already said that he would not be taking his Longhorn band back to Arkansas after some of the bandsmen were actually hit with flying objects. Prof followed suit as did a few more band directors. We had one trombone player, Steve Holder, who had worked all summer to buy a brand new bass trombone, and when Arkie came to Ft Worth that fall, some anonymous Pig fan threw something that hit his horn and put a huge dent in the bell. He wanted to head into the crowd to find the guy, but he was restrained by a drum major. I have zero respect for those jerks.

Reminds me of the 1996 game in Norman. We had a group of drunk Sooners steal items from our stands while we were performing our halftime show (not to mention the number of beer bottles and batteries thrown at us on the way to the field). We had to get a Sheriff to escort a few of us into the endzone stands to retrieve our stuff. That was a lot of fun.

 

[Big Frog II]

When we went to Fayetteville, there were lots of things being thrown at the band. I remember one item was one of those restaurant sized cans for green beans or peas. I mean who actually carries around a can like that? Vincent DiNino had already said that he would not be taking his Longhorn band back to Arkansas after some of the bandsmen were actually hit with flying objects. Prof followed suit as did a few more band directors. We had one trombone player, Steve Holder, who had worked all summer to buy a brand new bass trombone, and when Arkie came to Ft Worth that fall, some anonymous Pig fan threw something that hit his horn and put a huge dent in the bell. He wanted to head into the crowd to find the guy, but he was restrained by a drum major. I have zero respect for those jerks.

I was at the game in Fayetteville. I was sitting above the band and below Arkansas fans. I do remember things flying over my head most of the game until a large can came flying out of their crowd and hit a girl in our band. That was it. The band director got involved and got the attention of the police. Thankfully with the help of some of their fans, the perp was taken out of the stadium. It was the last time a TCU band would go to Arkansas. I believe other SWC bands had similar issues and also quit going. Never had much regard for any Arkansas fan or citizen after that.

 

[BrewingFrog]

The Arkansas bas was still on when the Frogs went on the road in 1984 to play, and we Bandsmen were left to empty bottles in the safety of a Fort Worth bar.

It is still a cherished memory to be sitting with a bunch of friends, listening on a radio to the game. The 2-pt for the win was wonderful...

 

[ShadowFrog]

Hotels in Arkansas would not allow the band to make reservations due to their lack of sportsmanship and generally being Pigs. Prof had the trips planned so that we got most of the way there on Friday, then played a High School game on Friday night, stayed with the local band kids, then went on to the Arkansas game on Saturday morning. When we played in Fayetteville, our overnight was in Tulsa, and when we played in Little Rock, we stayed in New Boston. The scheme saved money for a tight band budget, was good PR for the school (usually), and got all of us a great home cooked meal or two. Win/win. With Prof's connections, he could overnight the band almost anywhere for free, and we used that overnight model in a lot of different locations.

I too benefited from Profs HS connections, Fall ‘77 I think, trip to TT and we performed Friday night in Petersburg (?) outside Lubbock. Local band families happily adopted us & we were well fed.

 

[PurplFrawg]

I too benefited from Profs HS connections, Fall ‘77 I think, trip to TT and we performed Friday night in Petersburg (?) outside Lubbock. Local band families happily adopted us & we were well fed.

We overnighted in Levelland on one trip and Snyder on another. And yes, the home cooked meals were incredible when compared to the student center cafeteria.

 

[FroginBedford68]

Reminds me of the 1996 game in Norman. We had a group of drunk Sooners steal items from our stands while we were performing our halftime show (not to mention the number of beer bottles and batteries thrown at us on the way to the field). We had to get a Sheriff to escort a few of us into the endzone stands to retrieve our stuff. That was a lot of fun.

 

[FroginBedford68]

Yeah...and beat a poorly-coached OU team 20-7, IIRC....

 

[FROGLEGHOP]

I remember being at an Arkie game at War Memorial Stadium in Little Rock. Some little old lady sitting near the Band was friendly most of the game. But then it got pretty close toward the end at a time when we had a pretty lousy record. And the little old lady got pretty PO'd and developed a pretty foul mouth. But alas, we lost again and she still had a pretty foul mouth.

 

[PurplFrawg]

These Japanese High School kids put on a better show than anything the TCU drum corps has done in the past 10 years. Their enthusiasm, musical style, and dedication is amazing. You will notice that they are all in step, they have the music and the marching memorized, and they do this show within the confines of a concert stage.