Pride of the Pioneers

Since the mid-70s, every home Michigan football game has been sold out. Some would find it hard to believe that in the 50s and 60s the stadium was only about 2/3rds full for most games. One tradition during those days was to hold a high school "band day" at one of the early season games. Members of dozens of high school bands from around the state would sit in the usually unoccupied seats in the end zones and then would join Michigan's band on the field at halftime for a massive band show. Also, each year a couple of the high school bands were invited to put on their own show in the Big House after the game. In 1965 the Ann Arbor High School Band under the direction of Victor Bordo did just that!