Video: Penn State Band Day 1960

An absolutely FANTASTIC video uploaded to YouTube by Russ, one of our readers and Twitter followers. It's a home movie from Penn State's 1960 Band Day. Russ says in the description that it was his grandfather's 8mm reel of film, converted to DVD. You all know we love Penn State history here at LBU, so this is a no-brainer that deserves a post.

Penn State would face West Virginia that day, October 29, in the newly-moved Beaver Stadium. Lions' QB Dick Hoak would pass for two touchdowns and run for another, as Penn State crushed the Mountaineers 34-13. Steelers fans probably recognize that name, as Hoak spent 10 years playing, and 35 more coaching, for the Black and Gold.

As for Band Day at Penn State, it's been a rough ride back to pseudo-relevance:

LBU Video: 2003 Blue Band 'Gladiator' Show at Purdue

Check out our new LBU Videos page, listing all the videos you've seen on LBU.

Figure we could all use a little taste of college football in these dark days of February when there's NOTHING going on.

You are all aware of the somewhat infamous Gladiator video, debuted before the 2003 season opener. That original video still resonates with me, as it did with the Penn State fan base for years. The Gladiator soundtrack theme was so popular, the band eventually make a "chaser" (a short clip played during the game) out of it. You would recognize it when an opposing team faces third down. But do you remember the halftime show which spawned the Gladiator chaser?

The Blue Band's original show included three songs: Themes from Gladiator, The Pines of Rome, and Funiculì, Funiculà. It was first performed during halftime of the 2003 Kent State game. But I could only find the away-version of the halftime show, when the Blue Band (myself included) headed to West Lafayette. The halftime shows are shortened for away games, so Funiculì, Funiculà, was cut from the program. But we can still enjoy one of the Blue Band's classic halftime shows, and still one of my all-time favorites:

LBU Video: Float The Lions! 2002 UCF Pregame

There aren't too many classics between Youngstown State and Penn State, so we're going to fill the void this week with something else to get your blood pumping for Penn State's season opener just a few days away.

Today LBU Videos presents the Penn State Blue Band's 2002 season opening pregame show. It was a hot, sunny day in Happy Valley, for a rare August football game. Of course, this was my very own baptism by fire in the Blue Band, as I was a mere freshman experiencing the gargantuan Beaver Stadium for the first time. I tell you this, there is no better way (other than to be on the football team itself) to experience your first Penn State football game than to march out of that tunnel and hear the roar of the crowd when the drum major lands his flip.

So here it is, before we had any idea this season would lead to Larry-Johnson-2000-yards, Zack-Mills-not-crippled, We're-Back, glory...