SEATTLE — After 30 seasons heading up the University of Washington’s marching band, outgoing Dr. Brad McDavid has a retirement wish.
“One more halftime,” said McDavid as he was busy preparing his 208 members for their Sugar Bowl trip.
The UW football team is playing the University of Texas in the College Football Playoff semifinal game in New Orleans on New Year’s Day. The winner plays in the national championship game the following week.
McDavid would like his final performance to be a title-winning celebration.
When McDavid started as director of athletic bands at UW, the Husky football team was on bowl probation. Now it's in the final four.
“You couldn’t have scripted it any better,” said McDavid.
The Sugar Bowl will be his 20th as director.
McDavid has led the 250-member band’s rendition of crowd favorites “Tequila” and “Louie, Louie” at more than 300 road and home football games.
”That’s what I’ll miss, just being able to spin the creative wheels and come up with those halftime shows that hopefully over the course of a season tickled the musical funny bone of everybody in the stands,” said McDavid.
He’ll also miss the students, potentially more than 6,000 former musicians who have gone through his program.
McDavid said he’s been around so long that some of his current band members had parents who were under his leadership.
He said it’s been great seeing students graduate and become professionals and not just musicians.
“Got out of a speeding ticket one time because I got stopped by a former band member,” said McDavid. “So it’s helped me in a lot of different ways. I hope I’ve been a help to them over the years.”
Second-year trombone player Josie Boyles called McDavid one of the best teachers she’s ever had.
“I feel like he holds the whole program together,” said Boyles.
McDavid said with the UW moving from the Pac-12 to the Big10 conference next year he thought it would be good to have someone new take over.
“I’ve had so many wonderful opportunities,” said McDavid. “I felt it was time to pass the baton to someone else.”
There were times during last month’s Apple Cup when it started to sink in that game would be his last as band director in Husky Stadium. He tried to soak in the moment.
Will he do the same in New Orleans?
”Depends on what the score is," McDavid said. "If we’re winning, no way. I’ll be dancing along with the band.”