Bishop Gorman player free to blow his own horn

Stephen R. Sylvanie / Special to the Home News

Bishop Gorman lineman Brian Glasgow performs with the marching band during halftime of a game against Spring Valley.

By Ray Brewer (contact)

Thursday, Oct. 9, 2008 | midnight

It's easy to get lost in the shadow of star players on Bishop Gorman's football team.

But Brian Glasgow, an undersized defensive lineman who has played in three of the Gaels' six games, received the some of the loudest cheers Sept. 29 during Gorman's crucial Southwest Division victory against Spring Valley.

Glasgow didn't play in the Gaels 14-6 win, but with one blow of his trumpet at halftime, he helped the school's marching band perform for the first time since the early 1990s.

When his teammates on the defending state champion football team went into the locker room at halftime, Glasgow grabbed his trumpet and joined the band for their memorable march in front of the home crowd at Fertitta Field.

The 42-person band was dressed in their new blue uniforms, which blended in nicely with Glasgow's orange football jersey. With the exception of his helmet, the 5-foot-10, 195-pound Glasgow was in full uniform — bringing hoots and hollers of encouragement from the crowd.

It was a moment Glasgow had been waiting for since his freshman year. He loves playing the trumpet as much as football and has been a key component of the band's growth from just a handful of students his freshman.

"It was amazing. I was ecstatic," Glasgow said. "It was a rush playing in front of all those people."

Glasgow sits in the first chair out of seven trumpet players in the brass section — the chair system is common among bands to rank performers — and also plays bass drum in the drum line.

Talk with band director Steve Purifoy and he'll confirm Glasgow, the lone trumpet player as a freshman, is the band's star player.

"(Glasgow) is one of those band members you like to have around," Purifoy said. "He's very dedicated and committed."

Football coach Bob Altshuler, who plays the guitar, has a policy that any of his players in the band will be allowed to skip halftime in the locker room to perform.

"It shows leadership in a different way," the coach said. "It helps build character. You'll find that kids who play an instrument turn out to be successful."

Like some of his football teammates who draw attention from colleges, Glasgow might also be playing on Saturdays — in the band. He has auditions set up with Northern Arizona and DePaul in the spring and would love nothing more than to continue marching at halftime.

The pageantry of football, whether it be watching from the sideline as his teammates won the state title last fall or helping lead the cheers with the band, is something Glasgow cherishes.

"I love band and football and being part of both," said Glasgow, who was Gorman's football manager last year after breaking his arm. "I was in the stands with the band for halftime when we beat McQueen (for the state title), then back on the field. It was so much fun."

Glasgow will be back performing dual duties Oct. 10 when Gorman hosts Sierra Vista for its homecoming game. It will be a night that surely produces more memories.

"It's amazing to be part of this team," he said.

Sports Editor Ray Brewer can be reached at ray.brewer@hbcpub.com or 990-2662.