Tracz has fought for K-State Marching Band for 30 years; Manhattan Catbackers have his back
By Tad Thompson
Dr. Frank Tracz was new as K-State’s director of bands. It was 1995, the first time for his Pride of Wildcat Land to perform in a home football game against KU.
Suddenly, the leader of the band noticed two Jayhawk fans beating up on his drum major! As a sold-out crowd watched with considerable interest, “I went out there to try and save my drum major.”
“I’m from Cleveland, you know,” Frank recently recounted the memory. “I know how to fight, so I took them both down. I couldn’t do it now, but back then, I did!”
More specifically, he added, “I tackled the guy and grabbed the other guy and ripped them down. And I thought the police were coming to help.”
Instead, he learned Birds’ attack was actually a skit. No one had told him…. And where was Willie while this transpired? “He was laughing his butt off,” he recalls with a big grin. “It’s a great story.” The fun, humble, charming music professor can certainly laugh at himself. As to the last laugh, K-State throttled KU, 41-7 on that day.
“People don’t know that I played high school football,” Frank continued. “I was a starting center and the starting outside linebacker. I know how to take a hit. And give a hit. That’s why my knees are bad. And everything else.”
Thirty years down the road, Frank’s band has been recognized as the best in the nation, through the Sudler Trophy for the 2015-16 season.
The Pride of Wildcatland got a big boost in December when donors ponied up to build what will be the Tracz Family Band Hall, located on the northwest side of Memorial Stadium.
Despite countless hours dedicated to boosting team morale and entertaining Wildcat fans at sports events, band members and the cheer squad enjoy none of the financial benefits given to the sports teams.
Manhattan Catbackers is a volunteer group that works to raise money and otherwise support the band and cheer squad.
“These guys and gals have been great. We always appreciate everything the Catbackers – especially the Manhattan Catbackers – do for us,” Frank said.
He cited the annual spring auction, which raises tens of thousands of dollars to support his students. This is an auction to lead the band at halftime. There is also an annual fundraising golf tournament, which will be held again in Manhattan on May 6, 2023.
Want to get involved and support great groups like the Pride of Wildcat Land, you can join the Manhattan Catbackers.
Highlights for the 2023 season, Frank said, will be football halftime performances from Les Misérables music, another featuring the music of Billy Joel, Stevie Wonder and Neil Diamond and others.
Section leaders for the K-State band and cheer squad reported for the season on August 14, when Manhattan Catbackers presented a pre-practice cookout prepared at McCain Auditorium. The rookies reported on Aug. 15, and the full band was going to work on Aug. 16 for the September 3, 6:00 p.m. season-opening kickoff against South Dakota.
