#COVER1 Bobcats Preview: Bringing The Friday Night Lights To Life

I have yet to see any of the bands traditions this year. Last year they had more like 396 students. Some where no longer interested and some did not want to participate just because of having an new band director. I had hear that out of many parents. They have always had the tradition and the theme of the band until this year. MIGHTY BOBCAT BAND PLAY IT LOUD PLAY IT PROUD. If you have been to a game then you will notice they do not play as loud. I have been told that was Jason Jones decision. If you don't play it loud you cannot hear it on the home side of the field. When the TexAnns preform the band is so quite the home side cannot hear the music. The loudest thing they play is the fight song. Loud is how it should be. Fans cannot get into the quite sound. They should be playing constantly for the most part but 3rd and 4th quarters they just quit. Can't blame the band for it as it seems it not expected of them any more. Some things need to change to live up to there motto.

Just a quick response to the above comment. First, we are new here so are not aware of the past traditions, but when we spoke to the director last year he told me the band was in the low 300's not close to the 400's as you have indicated. Next, many of the kids are new students and are learning, and are improving every week. These kids work very hard to put on a show, love what they are doing and are doing a great job, let's get behind the new band director and support this wonderful group of dedicated young people and the new director. Lastly, as a band mom, I have been impressed with the amount of playing time they put in on game day. Remember those kids have probably been up since 5 am, had a full day of school, stay at school and then play for close to four hours. Both games I have watched that band played, cheered and danced all four quarters. After a 15 plus hour day, my kid comes home with sore muscles, exhausted and happy because he is having the time of his life. This rant above has made its way to the students' group chat and has upset them. They think they are not good ( and believe me next to many marching bands, they are amazing). They are so proud of what they have done, let's give them a hand and watch how each game is better and better! These kids could be many other places on all those practice days and game days, but they are so dedicated! Change is hard, but we all have to deal with it and teach our children change is not bad, just different. GO Bobcat Band!

I agree with J.L. There has been a big difference with the Bobcat band this year. The band is supposed to lead the football team out of the Bobcat at the beginning of the game and at halftime but do not play until the players are already halfway down the field. Also, when are they going to wear their uniforms? They look sloppy in their current attire. And as for being LOUD, every other band this year has been louder than the Bobcat band and drown them out. The bands are even smaller than ours! The Bobcat band needs to become MIGHTY again.

I agree with some of the comments made about the band not being loud as in the past. They have also not played the whole time as in the past. The tunes they play, believe it or not, get the crowd going and also get the football players excited. I understand there is a new band director, but we cannot hear the band on the home side and the guests bands do play louder and longer! Sorry not sorry! Let's get this party started! Always a band mom!!!

I would like to respond to the comments above. First, as Band Mom said, we should be grateful that these kids choose to spend their Friday nights entertaining us at football games, as we all know there are many other, less wholesome places teenagers could spend their time.

J.L., with all due respect, the Bobcat Band has never had 396 students. It has been 300 or a little bit over (like 310 or 315) for the past several years. They are currently at 296. Maybe a few left because of the change in directors, but that can be expected with any change and honestly, 10-20 kids (at most) less is kind of amazing with such a change. More than likely, the number will increase in the coming years, just as it did under the past director.

As far "all" (2) other bands being louder, the band last week, Cedar Park, is the reigning state champion for their division. I admit, they were amazing. But, the Bobcat Band was much better, both technically and musically, than the Del Rio band the week before. There was simply no comparison.

For those of you saying you cannot hear the band on the home side, I have videos of them playing from the home side, and they can be heard very well, so I am not sure where that is coming from. Yes, they have some different songs this year, Change can be good. Please give the new director a chance. He is a great guy, and the band is pretty great, too. They should all be proud of what they have accomplished so far.

And, the plan since the beginning of the season has been to wear their uniforms at the Homecoming, so this will be the first week they show them. I hope you come and show them your support!

I have to agree about the band not being loud. It’s kind of sad because the Mighty Bobcat Band has always been MIGHTY!! We have a huge band compared to what it was back in the day. I remember the days the band was 175-200 strong but I could here it all the way past Randall Motors where I grew up on Kenwood. This doesn’t mean we don’t support the band and the comments above don’t state that either. We all just want the band to play LOUDER!! Cedar Park band was way smaller and blew the roof off the press box. THAT WAS AN AMAZING BAND!!! So, with that being said, maybe the kids will see these post and tell the new band director that they want to blow the roof off of the Verizon Building across the road. Sic’em Cats!!!