Q&A: Band director Garza takes break to talk Lions-Bobcats

RIO HONDO — Believe it or not, there are two men named Robert Garza from Rio Hondo that are very good at what they do.

One is of course the lineman for the Chicago Bears and former Bobcat standout.

But the other is the head band director for the Rio Hondo High School Band, one of the top marching bands in South Texas.

The Bobcat Band has garnered countless awards and honors during Garza’s 22 years with the program. Although this is not a state competition year for 3A bands, Rio Hondo is currently ranked No. 2 in Texas after winning the silver medal at last year’s state competition. In addition, they won the United States Scholastic Band Association (USSBA) state championship last weekend in Conroe with their super show, Area 51: The Invasion. Rio Hondo competed against Class 4A schools and bands of similar size and was able to bring home the title.

With the Bobcats getting ready to host the La Feria Lions in the Valley Morning Star’s Game of the Week on Friday, Garza took time to talk to RGVSports.com.

Q: Just how much has the Bobcat Band been able to accomplish over the years?
A: Well, we won the silver medal at last year’s competition and we have a streak of 13 years of straight first divisions (straight 1s) in marching. We also have a string of 12 straight years of straight 1s in the sweepstakes division. We haven’t competed in sweepstakes yet, but we fully expect to make it 13.

Q: Do you think marching band has grown in popularity over the years?
A: Oh, yeah. It’s an amazing sight to see. If you’ve never been to the Pigskin Jubilee contest, you really oughtta go. It’s standing-room only and the tickets sell out way before the event. We’ve got a big following. We had 200 tickets allotted to us and we sold them out in a little over a day. And the UIL had to move the state marching contests to the Alamodome because other stadiums couldn’t hold the crowds.

Q: Tell me what goes into choosing which show to perform for a particular season and how much work is put in to get it on the field?
A: Well, we just finished our last competition, so we already have different ideas we’re looking at for next year. A lot of times, we’ll get input from the kids and our other band directors and we’ll go from there. That decision should be made by January. Once that happens, we send it to the music arrangers, and we’re in constant touch with them. We like to have the music ready for editing by March and then we pass it out in early April. At that point, the music is sent to the show designers, and the show is ready on paper by July. We work on fundamentals in the meantime and we start practicing the show on Aug. 1. It takes us a good while.

Q: Just like football, band is about putting a program in place. How many band members march for Rio Hondo and what kind of steps are taken at the junior high level?
A: In the high school, we have about 150 band members. We start the kids at sixth grade and right now we have between 300-350 at the junior high. We have a system in place so when they get to the high school, they know how we do things. All five of us directors teach band from sixth-12th grade.

Q: On to football. You’ve seen a lot of Bobcat football games over the years. Any particular one stick out?
A: Well this year, the game against Hidalgo that went into overtime was one of the most exciting games I’ve seen in a while. We were on pins and needles. I also remember the very first time we beat PI in a long time (1999). We did it on their field and we won by a field goal (10-7). We weren’t expected to win that one. I think that’s what got this thing started.

Q: This is a do-or-die game for the Bobcats. A win and they’re in the playoffs, a loss and the season’s over. What’s your take on the game?
A: Well, I know they’re fired up. We have several kids in band that play ball on the varsity and they’re talking about how much work they’re putting in for the game. They’re not taking them (La Feria) lightly. They believe they’re going to win, but they’re not overconfident. I firmly believe confidence helps them succeed.

Armando Garza covers District 32-3A football for Valley Freedom Newspapers. He can be reached at armandog@valleystar.com.

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GAME OF THE WEEK
LA FERIA (4-5, 3-3) AT RIO HONDO (4-5, 4-2)
WHEN: 7:30 p.m., Friday
WHERE: Bobcat Stadium, Rio Hondo (grass)
TICKETS: $6 reserved. $4 general admission.  For more information, call (956) 748-1220
LAST MEETING: Rio Hondo 35-17 (2008)
SERIES HISTORY: Rio Hondo leads 39-33-1
OF NOTE: It all comes down to one game for both Rio Hondo (4-5 overall, 4-2 district) and La Feria.(4-5, 3-3) The winner advances to the state playoffs and the loser gets ready for basketball. The Lions are trying to claw into the playoffs for the second straight season as the third place team. Rio Hondo has made the playoffs four straight years and will try and win at home to make it 2-for-2 under head coach Rocky James...The game will be a matchup of La Feria’s up-and-coming offense with quarterback Justin Rodriguez and wideout Gilbert Jimenez against Rio Hondo’s defense. The Bobcats will also try and run the football with Trevor David, who is fresh off two straight 100-yard rushing games.