This former Wildcat knows how to Hook ’em
Cindy Boykin

University of Texas Longhorn fans begin filling DKR Memorial Stadium well before kickoff expecting to see a fierce battle on the gridiron. All the while, 380 members of the Longhorn band march toward them, finally gathering in a concrete-lined tunnel beneath the stadium.

Then the Longhorn faithful hear it. A rumbling drum cadence. Spectators pass the word, “the band’s here.” Big Bertha, touted as the world’s biggest bass drum, is rolled out onto the field. Early arrivers, and there are many, stand to their feet and start clapping a steady beat, signaling their eagerness for the pregame show to begin.

From the small opening of a dark tunnel, band members pour out seamlessly, spreading across the north end zone like an elaborate domino trick. They are clad in their iconic burnt orange uniforms with zigzag trim down the trousers, white-fringed jackets, and broad cowboy hats.

Standing between Big Bertha and this massive block of musicians is one band member dressed in white. White hat. White shirt. White jeans. He is not carrying an instrument, only a whistle. He is the drum major.

Upon his command, the band marches onto the field in 5-yard intervals and the familiar notes of “Texas Fights” echoes through the stadium. Amid hollers and boisterous singing of the school fight song, the spirit of college football is officially unleashed. David Forinash, a 2008 graduate of Plano Senior High School, is that young man clad in white this season. Not only is this a honor, it is a rare honor: In the history of the Longhorn band, David is one of only a few people to hold this position—as a junior.

A major accomplishment
David is one of six of Glenn and Sharon Forinash’s children: Alan, Brian, Chris, David, Eric, and finally a girl, Faith. Even with the demands of a large family, David’s parents encouraged his involvement with the school band, Boy Scouts, church, and academic pursuits. He started playing the trumpet at Wilson Middle School and hasn’t put it down since. Yet, “I can say with all honesty, I am not the most talented musician in the Longhorn band,” he shares. “There are some very talented musicians in the band.”

One might assume that a band this tremendous would attract mostly music majors, but David sets the record straight. “Actually, there are more engineering majors in the band than music majors. In fact, just a few are music majors—but they definitely help us out a lot!” Keeping the roster at 380 students means tryouts are necessary, even for returning members. The competition varies depending on the instrument played. Earning a place on the elite drum line is tough; trumpet players have a better chance of making the band since there are 70 spots in that section.

If anyone understands tough competition, it’s David. Last spring he tried out for drum major against band members two years his senior. The audition required conducting fellow band members in the school fight song, teaching five members a short marching drill, and being interviewed by the Longhorn band directors, much like a job interview.

“I went into this with a no-regrets attitude,” David confides. “I didn’t expect to get it—obviously I didn’t go in saying I wasn’t going to get it—I don’t think that’s the way to approach it,” he laughs.

This speaks to his humility and his drive. He also believes that his training in Plano bands gave him a huge advantage. “I don’t think I would have made the Longhorn band without that experience,” he states. “There are a lot of people I can thank. Jeremy Kondrat at Plano and Bill Freeman at Vines, and even Mrs. Lee back at Wilson, inspired me to do more than I ever thought was possible.”

This is our house
Bands play a vital role at college football games. David said several coaches, including Mack Brown, have addressed the band and expressed how important they are to them, to the players, and to the fans. They understand.

David says, “During pregame we form the interlocking UT and play our songs before marching off the field. I’m glad that when we get to the stadium, we state our position: Hey, we’re here! We are not going to quietly take our seats until the halftime show.”

Halftime is the highlight of the game for the band. Routines change every week, and David feels the pressure. “As drum major, I’ll teach the section leaders, who’ll teach the marchers…and I’ll teach the marchers, too. So it’s a lot of pressure. But I think after a couple of weeks, I’ll be able to look at the band and see the marching fundamentals are there, demonstrating exactly what I taught. I have the responsibility of making the band look good—and it’s a lot of pressure.”

So what is the halftime experience like from his vantage point on the field in front of 100,000 cheering fans?

“It’s awesome!” David says excitedly. “You’ve got Hook ’Em the mascot dancing around, and Bevo’s on the other end; the sun is beating down and you feel twice as heavy because your uniform is made of wool. And there’s an explosion of sound when you get out there! Your heart is pounding, your adrenaline is pumping—it’s awesome.”

His emotion was so strong conveying this thrilling experience, it seems possible that on the field, his eyes might fill with tears at the pageantry of it all. But he laughs, “Well, I don’t know about that…mostly it’s sweat.”

 The band frequently travels to away games during the season. The return to campus is one of David’s favorite traditions. He relates, “As the buses pull into the university, we’re exhausted—it’s 3 o’clock in the morning—but we hold our Hook ’ems up and softly sing ‘The Eyes of Texas’ with all our friends. That’s a great tradition. And we’re reminded why we’re band kids and not choir kids!” Humor, humility, drive, and determination—we look for David to lead more than a band in years to come.