Sept. 17, 2014
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - The Penn State Marching Blue Band will perform at 2 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 20, in the Bryce Jordan Center for the UNRIVALED Band Jam, among the highlights this weekend surrounding the first gridiron meeting between the schools.
The "Band Day" game will kick at 4 p.m. in Beaver Stadium and air on BTN, the Penn State Sports Network and GoPSUsports.com. Penn State will be hosting "Band Day" for the first time since 1975 on Saturday.
The Blue Band will be performing with the University of Massachusetts Minuteman Marching Band, in addition to four high school marching bands from Pennsylvania prior to the game and during the post-game show in Beaver Stadium.
Doors to the Bryce Door Center open at noon on Saturday. Admission is free for the UNRIVALED Band Jam. Concessions will be open inside and outside of the Jordan Center. The show will conclude with the Blue Band marching to Beaver Stadium for its pre-game show on the field prior to kickoff. The show will include a performance by the three-time defending national champion Penn State Lionettes Dance Team.
"The Blue Band looks forward to combining with the UMass Minuteman Band and high school bands from Pennsylvania to add to the game day experience for Nittany Lion fans, said Blue Band Director Richard Bundy."
The Blue Band staff coordinated the event with the Penn State Intercollegiate Athletics, UMass Minuteman Marching Band and the high school marching bands. The Mifflinburg High School Marching Band, the South Williamsport High School Marching Band, the Southern Columbia High School Marching Band and the Portage Area High School Marching Band will perform at the UNRIVALED Band Jam and during the post-game show in Beaver Stadium.
The 2014-15 season is the Blue Band's 115th season.
Throughout the 2014-15 academic year, Penn State will be celebrating the 50th Anniversary of Women's Athletics on the University Park campus. Some of Penn State's current and former head coaches and student-athletes will be recognized at the UMass games for their accomplishments during the past 50 years of varsity women's sports. Recognitions of the 50th Anniversary of Penn State Women's Athletics also will be held Friday at field hockey vs. Michigan (4 p.m.), women's soccer vs. Ohio State (6 p.m.) and women's volleyball vs. DePaul (7:30 p.m.), as well as at Saturday's women's volleyball match vs. East Carolina (8 p.m.).
Public tickets for the Penn State vs. UMass game are also available for as little as $40 at www.PSUnrivaled.com, 1-800-NITTANY (weekdays from 8 a.m.-5 p.m) or at the Bryce Jordan Ticket ticket office (weekdays, 9 a.m.-6 p.m.). The Beaver Stadium ticket office near Gate E will open Saturday at 12 p.m.
Penn State students also can purchase two tickets for $40 each with their valid student ID at the Bryce Jordan Ticket ticket office or Saturday after 12 p.m. at the Beaver Stadium ticket office. The seats for this special student ticket offer will not be located in the 21,000-seat season ticket student section in Beaver Stadium. Penn State is 3-0 for the first time since 2009 and James Franklin is the first Penn State first-year coach to start 3-0 since Bob Higgins in 1930.
More than 6,000 new Penn State football season tickets and 65,000 single game and group sale tickets have been sold for this season. Ticket purchases and information are available at www.PSUnrivaled.com or by calling 1-800-NITTANY, weekdays from 8 a.m.-5 p.m.
Pre-paid single game parking passes for the general parking lots for all home games also are available at www.GoPSUsports.com/tickets. Penn State Football is on Twitter (@PennStateFball) and Facebook.