I’ve been asked sometimes about the most impressive whatever. The most impressive football uniforms, the most impressive band, the most impressive, whatever.

We were playing in the first round of the playoffs. Gordon was coaching, about 1970 something, and he and Morris had been up to take a look at this team. It was a team in Fort Worth and I don’t remember what team it was and it doesn’t matter. The fact is, I probably would leave it out if I knew it. But it was a football team in Fort Worth, probably the Bi-District round of the playoffs. Those two went up to scout the team. They fooled everyone. They came back and said, “Forget the football team. Our band is going to be totally embarrassed.” He said, “I don’t know a whole lot about bands, but I can tell a good one. We have a good band, but this one is a great band.” Then he said, “I don’t want our kids to be embarrassed.”

Go to work the band did. They worked probably harder than I had ever seen them work on anything. I had even got wound up a little bit and I was kind of excited about what was going to transpire. This was going to be a big deal. This was going to be a band, well, beyond what we could imagine. We go to the game and we keep waiting for the band to show up. We found that a little bit strange and so we did our thing before the game – still no entrance of the other band. There was nothing else played except when it came time for the National Anthem by that band. It was strange and that was the first time we heard “Come on John”.

Finally halftime came and we we’re up 42-0 or something or pretty close. The Brownwood band was awesome! They went out and had a spectacular performance! Now it was time for them. The other band is ready to come out and come out they did. They walked out on the field – just the edge of it. I think they had seven people, well they really had six people and the band director, because he was playing an instrument – and they played. With every song the band director was yelling, “Come on John”! I’ll let you use your imagination on the band.

I’ll bet you that band director and ole John were used as an inspiration by Gordon before the season ended. For six or seven members, it was pretty good. But, then there was John. Apparently, he needed encouragement and he got it, and Coach and I needed help and got it.

Our band director was angry (for a while) and who could blame him…”Come on John”. I never knew what John was playing. It didn’t matter.

Until next time, so long everybody.

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‘Out of the Box’ with Dallas Huston is published each Monday morning at BrownwoodNews.com. Dallas was the radio voice of the Brownwood Lions and Howard Payne Yellow Jackets for more than 55 years. He currently is Pastor of Center City Baptist Church and hosts a Men’s Bible Study in Brownwood on Monday evenings. Your comments are welcome at lindalh2@verizon.net.