Blue Band on ESPN.com front page

The hype meter is officially redlining. I guess the whole revenge thing really sells. ESPN.com has an entire spread on its front page about tomorrow night's Penn State game.



There are two videos along with Ivan Maisel's article. The first was Howie Schwab breaking down the game from an average fan's perspective. Pretty good. But then we have Todd McShay, who doesn't seem to understand the importance of differentiating opponent quality when trying to prove a point. Just watch the clips and you'll know what I'm talking about. (hint: Northern Illinois? RLY?)

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Time to can Beaver Stadium's canned tunes

After attending Penn State's season opener against Akron this weekend, the hopes I had gone in with were essentially crushed. No, not hopes for a victory or an injury-free game. Rather, I had gone to Happy Valley this weekend with one extra hope, that Penn State would seriously scale back the canned pop music played over the PA system.

Well, it didn't happen. We were still made to suffer through those heart-racing tunes like "Sweet Caroline," and about a thousand repetitions of "O Fortuna." Today, I'd like to revisit an article written earlier this spring, as part of my season preview. In it, I called for less cookie-cutter stadium music, and more authentic college football atmosphere... more Blue Band.

The following was originally posted Jan. 26:

Stop smothering the Blue Band

When I first walked into Beaver Stadium, on Aug. 31, 2002, it was awe-inspiring; for this wasn't just any first-time visit to the (at the time) second largest stadium in American football. That first step onto the grass was in front of more than 100,000 fans, who all erupted as the drum major landed his flip. It was tough to concentrate on what I was doing. I was in the Blue Band for four years, never missed a home game, was fortunate enough to watch the program emerge from the lowest of lows to the highest of highs, two bowl games, away games, and more than my share of crushing defeats and joyous victories. The majority of those games were won and lost in Beaver Stadium. It is what inspired me to pursue my career, and eventually, this blog.

I thought the fire was first restored when Guido D'Elia was hired in 2004 as Penn State's football communications and branding director. That was the year (my junior year) the first "White Out" appeared*, along with the first playing of Kernkraft 400, more commonly known just as Zombie Nation. While the football team wasn't all that explosive most of that season, you felt a spark igniting under the steel beams and metal bleachers in Beaver Stadium. The Penn State nation was ready to explode, but needed just one more nudge.

Then it happened, Penn State's uncharacteristically great recruiting class prior to 2005 brought the pressure to its limit, and the Nittany Lions began winning... and winning, and winning. You couldn't have timed it more perfectly. Penn State became "the Greatest Show in College Football," in no small part due to D'Elia.

But since 2005, with Penn State firmly re-entrentched in the college football elite, the expectations set four years ago have pushed D'Elia's department to the brink of completely selling out.

In a November 2005 interview, D'Elia told the New York Times that his intention was to,

"operate more like professional sports businesses and should be sold forcefully to recruits and to younger fans... [and] hire professionals that can manage the image, promote its brand, market its content and recruit its personnel... I am the designated trouble-stirrer of change... I'm the lightning rod. I'm Darth Vader. I'm the angel of death."

Did that interview get overlooked by a few too many around Penn State? I'm positively sure the Penn State athletic administration knew what they were getting into. Otherwise, you don't hire someone like D'Elia. The idea that Penn State would take a more "professional" approach to its football experience under D'Elia may have given a few folks headaches.

But everything was looking great, until 2007. Penn State used its home game against Notre Dame to roll out a few new tricks, particularly new, musical ways to involve the fans. Songs like "Sweet Caroline," and "Livin' on a Prayer" began ringing over the PA system, slowly pushing out the old standards like "Testify", "Boo Gonk", and the Penn State fight songs, previously played by the Blue Band.

While it's very good for any sporting event to get the fans involved, the goal shouldn't be to recreate Friday nights at The Saloon. In some cases, the identical songs once played by the Blue Band (O Fortuna), were replaced by recorded versions over the PA system.

The most visually noticeable change to Beaver Stadium–how could you miss them–was the installation of two LED boards on the north and south decks. They would have been tollerable, if not for the complete lie told by the university about their intended use:

"New LED ribbon boards that run the length of the end zones on the north and south deck facings. The ribbon boards will be the brightest message centers in the stadium and include game information and statistics, as well as interactive messaging for the crowd."

I was only able to get to the Indiana game this past season, so I only had one game to fully observe these boards in person. But prior to that, I was hearing horror stories about these LED boards, specifically that they display (almost exclusively) advertisements, with minimal "game information and statistics." And from the one game I went to, I'd have to agree with the fans. The lack of statistics and game-relevant information is pathetic. The installation of these boards was an insult, if not a waste of money.

Although the LED boards are in-your-face obvious, I still go back to the auditory changes made on game days. You all know I have a slight conflict of interests, as a Blue Band alum. But knowing all too well the love and admiration towards the Blue Band from the fans, I can say with near certainty, that the minimalization the band's role during games is seriously hurting Penn State's roots as one of the last remaining "old school" programs.

I understand completely that there is a need to stay current, or risk being left in the dust. D'Elia and Penn State have done a fantastic job, for the most part. But I really have to express my discontent towards some of the more recent "improvements" to the Beaver Stadium game day experience. And I have to ask, if Penn State is trying to keep one foot in tradition, with the other foot advancing into the future, how far can it go? LED boards? Fine. White Outs? Great! Zombie Nation? Fantastic! But replacing the one facet of college football that comes to symbolize the separation between it and the NFL, the bands, with artificial, cookie-cutter stadium music, is something I cannot let go.

It's not so easy to get rid of material improvements, and I'm not suggesting that. Like I said, the LED boards will turn out to be acceptable, and the lettering installed on the luxury boxes were a very nice improvement to the stadium. However, as scaling back on music piped through the PA system may seem like an insignificant move, it could be just the fix Beaver Stadium needs to maintain a healthy balance between the old days, and the days ahead.

*What many don't remember, is that the "White Out" wasn't the only one-color experiment that season. Anyone remember the "Code Blue" that failed so miserably? Yeah, unfortunately, so do I.

Unfortunately, nothing was changed that I had hoped. The canned music still blared loudly. "Sweet Caroline" still put the crowd to sleep more than anything else. And to top it off, I don't even remember "Hey Baby" being played between the third and fourth quarters this weekend! If my memory is correct, then it's actually gotten worse, rather than better. I can only hope for this situation to get better as the year goes on. Sadly, I'm not so sure it will.

More below the fold...

Stop smothering the Blue Band

◊ ZN's 2009 Penn State Football Preview - My wishlist for 2009

When I first walked into Beaver Stadium, on Aug. 31, 2002, it was awe-inspiring; for this wasn't just any first-time visit to the (at the time) second largest stadium in American football. That first step onto the grass was in front of more than 100,000 fans, who all erupted as the drum major landed his flip. It was tough to concentrate on what I was doing. I was in the Blue Band for four years, never missed a home game, was fortunate enough to watch the program emerge from the lowest of lows to the highest of highs, two bowl games, away games, and more than my share of crushing defeats and joyous victories. The majority of those games were won and lost in Beaver Stadium. It is what inspired me to pursue my career, and eventually, this blog.

I thought the fire was first restored when Guido D'Elia was hired in 2004 as Penn State's football communications and branding director. That was the year (my junior year) the first "White Out" appeared*, along with the first playing of Kernkraft 400, more commonly known just as Zombie Nation. While the football team wasn't all that explosive most of that season, you felt a spark igniting under the steel beams and metal bleachers in Beaver Stadium. The Penn State nation was ready to explode, but needed just one more nudge.

Then it happened, Penn State's uncharacteristically great recruiting class prior to 2005 brought the pressure to its limit, and the Nittany Lions began winning... and winning, and winning. You couldn't have timed it more perfectly. Penn State became "the Greatest Show in College Football," in no small part due to D'Elia.

But since 2005, with Penn State firmly re-entrentched in the college football elite, the expectations set four years ago have pushed D'Elia's department to the brink of completely selling out.

In a November 2005 interview, D'Elia told the New York Times that his intention was to,

"operate more like professional sports businesses and should be sold forcefully to recruits and to younger fans... [and] hire professionals that can manage the image, promote its brand, market its content and recruit its personnel... I am the designated trouble-stirrer of change... I'm the lightning rod. I'm Darth Vader. I'm the angel of death."

Did that interview get overlooked by a few too many around Penn State? I'm positively sure the Penn State athletic administration knew what they were getting into. Otherwise, you don't hire someone like D'Elia. The idea that Penn State would take a more "professional" approach to its football experience under D'Elia may have given a few folks headaches.

But everything was looking great, until 2007. Penn State used its home game against Notre Dame to roll out a few new tricks, particularly new, musical ways to involve the fans. Songs like "Sweet Caroline," and "Livin' on a Prayer" began ringing over the PA system, slowly pushing out the old standards like "Testify", "Boo Gonk", and the Penn State fight songs, previously played by the Blue Band.

While it's very good for any sporting event to get the fans involved, the goal shouldn't be to recreate Friday nights at The Saloon. In some cases, the identical songs once played by the Blue Band (O Fortuna), were replaced by recorded versions over the PA system.

The most visually noticeable change to Beaver Stadium–how could you miss them–was the installation of two LED boards on the north and south decks. They would have been tollerable, if not for the complete lie told by the university about their intended use:

"New LED ribbon boards that run the length of the end zones on the north and south deck facings. The ribbon boards will be the brightest message centers in the stadium and include game information and statistics, as well as interactive messaging for the crowd."

I was only able to get to the Indiana game this past season, so I only had one game to fully observe these boards in person. But prior to that, I was hearing horror stories about these LED boards, specifically that they display (almost exclusively) advertisements, with minimal "game information and statistics." And from the one game I went to, I'd have to agree with the fans. The lack of statistics and game-relevant information is pathetic. The installation of these boards was an insult, if not a waste of money.

Although the LED boards are in-your-face obvious, I still go back to the auditory changes made on game days. You all know I have a slight conflict of interests, as a Blue Band alum. But knowing all too well the love and admiration towards the Blue Band from the fans, I can say with near certainty, that the minimalization the band's role during games is seriously hurting Penn State's roots as one of the last remaining "old school" programs.

I understand completely that there is a need to stay current, or risk being left in the dust. D'Elia and Penn State have done a fantastic job, for the most part. But I really have to express my discontent towards some of the more recent "improvements" to the Beaver Stadium game day experience. And I have to ask, if Penn State is trying to keep one foot in tradition, with the other foot advancing into the future, how far can it go? LED boards? Fine. White Outs? Great! Zombie Nation? Fantastic! But replacing the one facet of college football that comes to symbolize the separation between it and the NFL, the bands, with artificial, cookie-cutter stadium music, is something I cannot let go.

It's not so easy to get rid of material improvements, and I'm not suggesting that. Like I said, the LED boards will turn out to be acceptable, and the lettering installed on the luxury boxes were a very nice improvement to the stadium. However, as scaling back on music piped through the PA system may seem like an insignificant move, it could be just the fix Beaver Stadium needs to maintain a healthy balance between the old days, and the days ahead.

*What many don't remember, is that the "White Out" wasn't the only one-color experiment that season. Anyone remember the "Code Blue" that failed so miserably? Yeah, unfortunately, so do I.

More below the fold...

Around Happy Valley

Ok, so this is more of a way to keep you all busy while I get my act together. Here's some decent reading for the rest of today.

• The Collegian did their yearly, "yes, we do have a band, and they do stuff" article. Frankly, they always give the impression that it's really hard to get into, and participate in the Blue Band. I know, this is more about the new Blue Band documentary premiering tonight. But just reading the article brings me back, to hating all those dork-ass bandos.*

"He said the tryout process begins with an initial music audition, in which the person selects a piece to audition with. Then they are asked to do some sight-reading -- on the spot playing of a composition they have never seen before. If someone makes it past this part, they join in on the days of fast-paced marching drills, he said."

• Staying with the Collegian, there's still a lot of hoopla around the post-Ohio State riots downtown. I guess the borough council never realized State College was a hard-core COLLEGE town.

"Other council members also denounced the riot and briefly discussed how to keep students out of Beaver Canyon during potentially riot-inciting conditions. The balconies in Beaver Canyon “make it entirely likely that somebody’s going to get killed,” said Mayor Bill Welch."

Really? You just thought of that now, Mayor Welch? I mean, it's not like those apartment towers haven't been there for decades.

"Borough Councilwoman Theresa Lafer said she has "neighbors who are thinking of using violence against students," after Police Chief Tom King recounted the riot in Beaver Canyon after Penn State's football victory over Ohio State. “They’re not just unhappy,” said Lafer, who lives on East Foster Avenue. “They’re furious.”

Sure, I mean, why would anyone expect there to be college students living in State College? Can Lafter and her neighbors really sit there with a straight face, pretending they didn't know that living so close to downtown State College was going to be quiet and peaceful? I mean, I'm not one who thinks what college students do is acceptable in the real world, but downtown State College–and the four to five block radius surrounding it–is not the real world, never mind quiet and peaceful. These townies need to get over themselves.

• Joe Paterno was happy to talk about the election, and had some very impressive things to say about the country.

"So, I think it's great to see that there will be, you say 200 million people are going to vote? Well, that's fine. I think that's great. Because it's our country. It not just your country, it's not 100 million people's country; it's not the rich cats who spend a lot of money to have some impact on the economy. It's our country. I read something three or four weeks ago that in 50 years from now, there will be more Hispanic and African-Americans than there will be white Americans in the sense of whatever a white American is; that we will have more people who have a different background than this country had when we fought the Revolution. We are very dynamic and we are a very, very exciting place to be, and it's a very challenging thing for leadership, because you've got such diverse groups. Now, can 200 million people make a better decision than 100 million? Well, if you believe that, you don't believe in democracy."

Of course, that was before John McCain got bitch-slapped by Barack Obama. That's not to say Paterno won't respect Obama as President. Joe's the kind of guy who practices what he preaches, to respect your leaders, even if you don't agree on everything.

• Here's BWI's coverage of the football parts of the press conference.

*I can say that because I was in the Blue Band for four years, earning a spot as Marching Guide and Music Section Leader.

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No tickets for you

Talk about bursting my bubble. I got two letters in the mail today. One addressed to me, the other to my wife. The return addresses were the PSU alumni Blue Band ticket office. Of course, I got really excited. We've been able to get great homecoming tickets every year, and was thrilled to see PSU beat Michigan... finally, revenge.

But no:

"Penn State Alumni Blue Band Member:

Due to the demand for Penn State Football tickets this fall, we are unable to accommodate your request for the Michigan Game. We received more requests than tickets available.

Thank you for your interest in Penn State Football.

Penn State Ticketing Services"

I guess giving four years to upholding one of the greatest Penn State traditions... The freaking Blue Band! wasn't good enough. I was music section leader, a marching guide, and volunteered for most everything. We had to suffer through those terrible, horrible years of football. We had to stay happy, and try our hardest to keep the fans upbeat. Imagine what we felt when we had to stand out there for post game after a loss, having to play our songs and pretend we were happy. Now put that into Michigan Stadium in 2002, Ross-Ade Stadium in 2003, The Horshoe in 2004, and Michigan again in 2005. Yeah, it was bad.

I won't even really get into the fact that we've been paying dues to the Blue Band Alumni every year.

So that's where Penn State is. I won't tell you how to feel about it. Maybe you were lucky enough to get tickets. Good for you. It's just a little upsetting right now that it doesn't mean squat if you were in something like the Blue Band your entire Penn State career. But what do I know? Sorry, I had to rant.

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ZN Exclusive: Custom Stadium Sounds

Some of you already know that I played in the Blue Band for four years, so I performed each of these songs thousands upon thousands of times at more than 30 Penn State football games, as well as bowl games. To this day, I could still play them in my sleep.

If you wish to have a completely accurate Beaver Stadium experience, follow the guide I've set up below. I've created files for every Custom Stadium Sound slot in NCAA 09, so all are accounted for.

How to do it:

First, print this guide. It will make it a whole lot easier to match the correct songs each stadium event.

Then, just click on each link. The file will automatically download.

Finally, burn all of the songs (I made an iTunes playlist) to a CD, rip to your console, and enjoy!

(Note: If you share these clips with your friends or others, please give credit to this website. I worked hard on these, and I expect at least a little courtesy. Thanks!)

File/Song Title	Event(s)
ABC College Football	Start 4th Qtr
Percussion Entrance	Kickoff; TO Away
Gladiator Short	Def. 3rd Down
Lions '68 Letter 'C'	Def. On Field; 4th Down Conv.
Parade Order Intro	Review
Parade Order Bass	TO Home
Parade Order Lets Go State	Got 1st Down
Parade Order Penalty	Pen. Away
NFOS Long	Field Goal
TD FOS Post TD	Touchdown (Let this one play completely through before kicking the PAT. I edited it to cut off the same way the real Blue Band does. It's pretty cool.)
TD FOS Post PAT	PAT; 2 Point Conv.
Victory Short	3rd Down Conv.; TFL/Sack
Victory Long	Safety
Right Stuff PSU	Def. Stop 3rd
Zombie Nation PSU	Turnover
Rock & Roll - @5	Def. Stop 4th; Opp FG Miss

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Working? Wednesday

It's deadline day, and all my writing is done. So what else is there to do but search for some interesting videos. Did you ever notice that there's always someone's big head in your way when trying to watch pregame? I'm only 5'8", so it's particularly frustrating to people of my stature.

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