Two-way player: Bishop Gorman’s Glasgow sports pads, trumpet

Bishop Gorman High School senior Brian Glasgow gives new meaning to the term “two-way player.”

A reserve defensive lineman for the Gaels’ defending state champion football team, Glasgow also plays the trumpet for the school band.

The 5-foot-10-inch, 195-pounder is a sight to behold at halftime, marching with the band dressed in his full football uniform.

“I’ve always encouraged our kids in past years’ if they’re in the band, then be out there in a football uniform at halftime,” Bishop Gorman second-year coach Bob Altshuler said. “The band is supporting us and it’s the same thing with our kids supporting the band. We try to work together.

“I don’t want (my players) to have to make a choice (between football and band). High school is too short.”

Glasgow has embraced that philosophy. He also is a member of the school’s photography club, works on running crew for spring plays and is very active in school retreats.

“Everything that interests me, I try to do. I don’t want to miss out on anything and regret anything,” said Glasgow, who had a 3.6 grade-point average last semester and hopes to earn a college scholarship for band.

Of his twin passions for football and band, he said “I enjoy both so much I couldn’t really choose.

“But with band, I can see it being at least a small part of my future. Even if I can’t get a scholarship, I definitely want to continue with band. I love it.”

Glasgow has played the trumpet for the past seven years, since he was introduced to the instrument in middle school. He also plays bass drum, at 6:30 a.m. daily, in a branch of band called “Drum Line,” which performs at school assemblies, concerts and sporting events.

On the gridiron, Glasgow has played sparingly for the Gaels (8-1, 5-0 Southwest League), but that hasn’t dampened his enthusiasm for the game.

“I still love playing. I’m not out there necessarily for all the playing time,” he said. “The time I get during practice is the same experience for me (as getting playing time in games).”

A member of the football team and band all four years at Bishop Gorman, Glasgow broke his left wrist last year in the first scrimmage of the junior varsity season. But he didn’t let the injury slow him down.

He played the trumpet with one arm and also served as team manager for the varsity squad, which went 14-0 en route to the state title.

“Even though I wasn’t able to play anymore, I still wanted to be part of the team,” he said. “I worked too hard all summer, it would feel like a waste not to do anything about it. So I learned to keep myself in the program.”

Also a part-time special teams player, Glasgow has been compared by his coach to the title character in the film “Rudy,” which was based on the true story of Daniel “Rudy” Ruettiger, an underdog who overcame adversity to play for the Notre Dame Fighting Irish football team.

“There’s a “Rudy” on every football team. They take great pride in the program and push the other kids,” Altshuler said. “(Glasgow is) a hard worker. He has a great attitude. He’s always positive and doesn’t complain about not playing. At the same time, he takes a great deal of pride in his role on the football team.”

Glasgow, who gets updated by his teammates on missed halftime speeches, said his friends often chant his name when he plays with the band.

“Everyone’s really supportive of it and a lot of people think it’s cool,” he said.