Barstow High School band hopes for miracle after Alamo Bowl trip canceled
Barstow High School Band members were disappointed after a winter storm canceled the group’s flight from Los Angeles to Texas, where they were scheduled to perform at the Alamo Bowl this week.
After repeated delays on Monday, the team’s flight on Southwest Airlines was canceled, prompting Band Director Dan Barilone, chaperones, and nearly 60 band members to return home from Los Angeles International Airport.
The band was scheduled to compete on Tuesday, followed by a halftime performance on Thursday during the Valero Alamo Bowl at the Alamodome in San Antonio.
The Alamo Bowl will include the University of Texas football team taking on the University of Washington.
Hoping for a miracle
Booster Vice-President Jessica Ramirez told the Daily Press that she’s trying to connect with an organization that would allow the band to attend the Rose Parade or Rose Bowl on Jan. 2 in Pasadena.
“It would be amazing to perform pre-game, but that would be a miracle,” Ramirez said. “It’s so unfortunate that the band worked so hard to fundraise and practice every week for this trip to get canceled.”
An additional miracle would be NCAA officials asking the BHS band to perform at the College Football Playoff National Championship Game on Jan. 9 at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, said Ramirez.
“The band practiced in the cold weather for a couple of hours every Monday since October to prepare,” said Ramirez, whose family was scheduled to fly to Texas on Tuesday. “This was the senior’s big trip and Mr. B’s last big trip before he retires.”
Ramirez said Mrs. Kramer and her husband had arrived safely in San Antonio and were at the hotel with the band’s luggage and gear. The hotel even had cookies waiting for the band.
Band supporter and former “band mom,” Louise Miller, told the Daily Press that many people are saddened by the band's inability to travel to Texas.
“The whole town helps to raise funds for our kids to go on these trips,” Miller said. “The Booster Club and Mr. Barilone work hard to provide these opportunities for the students."
Canceled flights
On Monday, a historic winter storm forced Southwest Airlines to cancel more than 2,900 flights at airports across the U.S.
On Monday night, roughly 110 Southwest flights had been canceled, and another 27 were delayed, according to FlightAware.
More than 3,900 flights within, into, or out of the U.S. had already been canceled by 7:50 p.m. PST on Monday, according to FlightAware, while almost 8,200 flights had been delayed.
The flight cancellations and delays disrupted holiday travelers and stranded many passengers, with some booking hotel rooms, camping out in airports, or renting vehicles.
WorldStrides
In December, WorldStrides announced that 43 marching bands, including BHS, from across the country had been chosen to perform at college football bowl game halftime shows.
WorldStrides works directly with high school band directors to enable marching band students to participate in the bowl experience. The company said that bands are selected in an application process that examines their quality of sound, past performances, and the strength of the program.
For more information on the Barstow High School Band, email dan_barilone@busdk12.com or visit Barstow High School Band Boosters on Facebook.
Daily Press reporter Rene Ray De La Cruz may be reached at 760-951-6227 or RDeLaCruz@VVDailyPress.com. Follow him on Twitter @DP_ReneDeLaCruz.
This article originally appeared on Victorville Daily Press: Barstow High School band hopes for miracle after Alamo Bowl trip canceled
