In 1962, TCU Band Director Jim Jacobson* took two bus loads to Austin. That's around 100 to 105 kids. Off loaded the bus and started to run thru the show for half time. The arrogant UT fans walked by and said things like,... is that the TCU band....? Sure is small, etc.... How are we going to hear that dinky sized band?..... ..Hell, we were small and Jim felt the wind go away from his band. He gathered everyone ......'Bring it in people. He quietly said, 'you heard those people making fun of us and I know how you must feel. So, this is what we're going to do. We're going to do the exact routine for half time now, except half of you are going to play for the run thru, the other half act like your playing.' Dear Lord we did sound like a Jr High band, really bad. We bought into Jim's idea on the practice run-thru and got even more hoot and hollers from fans going into the stadium.
At half time we're about to go on and Jim said to us, 'Now people...blow, blow like you've never blown before. We'll show them just how good TCU band is.' With Spinning-Flat-Jack base drums spinning away, TCU started its half time show. Talk about feeling 15 feet off the ground we've never felt so empowered,.... so proud to be a Frog.
Before we knew it, the program finished. In those days we were known for intricate marching programs. Very difficult to count steps, walk backwards, and side way in straight lines, know field location and play at the same time. .......
When we walked off the field, they gave the TCU Band a standing ovation, those arrogant UT fans. .......The great Longhorn band had to wait until the crowd settled down before they could go on. (how about that)
So, that's the story of how the little TCU Horned Frog Band got the best of Texas that day. And that is exactly the way it happened.
Side Note: the texas band in those days was about 165-180 members. Texas had a base drum so big it had its own cart to move it around.
*the best band director TCU ever had
