Junior Caitlyn Collette leads the band as the drum major during the football game. The band arrived in El Paso at 4:30 a.m. (photo by Thomas Collette/contributor).
Pillows, blankets, instrumets, chips and sodas.
On Aug. 27 at 4:30 a.m., the band kids made their way through the parking lot and into the band room to get ready to leave to San Antonio for the football team’s first regular season game.
“A twelve-hour bus drive may seem like a lot,” said sophomore Rebecca Salinas. “When you’re with band kids, everything’s fun.”
The trip started at five in the morning. Five busses full of kids who were half awake but were ready to make the trek to the Alamodome.
“My bus was pretty fun,” said sophomore Brianna Alston. ”No one fell asleep until like nine in the morning.”
The caravan arrived in San Antonio at approximately 5:45 p.m. Friday evening and had until 6:30 to be back on the bus to head to the Riverwalk. The Riverwalk, if someone hasn’t had a chance to see it up close and personal, is a beautiful sight with plenty of restaurants offering good food.
Anyone’s dream, right?
At 9 p.m., it was back on the busses for the band and time to head back to the hotel. The band had a long day ahead.
5:20 a.m. Alarms going crazy. Breakfast at 6:15 and, for the girls, getting your hair checked. Yes, it’s a difficult task but, as director Cassie Hammond said, “I don’t want to know you’re a girl,” and that’s exactly what ends up happening.
One last practice before performance time. This took place at the Alamo Convention Statidum. It wasn’t as big as the Alamodome but it was big and the fake turf was the same as the Alamodome.
The first football game of the year is always the most exciting and nerve wracking. Students have fun dancing to all the songs the band plays but when it comes to performing, nerves start acting up.
Overall, the band did extremely well for its first performance. 36 pages of drill in three weeks was definitely worth the hours in the sun and all the extra indivual practice.
Winning the football game was something the Hanks’ community hoped for but, unfortunately, it was something that didn’t happen. With an ending score of 41-20 some left back a little heart broken.
Dave and Busters always lightens the mood.
Around 3 p.m. the band made its way to D&B. After eating the band recieved a game card with $10 worth on it. The game area was packed.
All good days must come to an end. The band had to be on the bus ready to go at 7 p.m. It was back to El Paso.
Another twelve hours, with a couple stops in between, and finally coming back home at 4:3o Sunday morning. Even though the trip came to an end that won’t be the last San Antonio will see of the Hanks Knights Marching Band.
State competition is in San Antonio.
