Nebraska high school bands and the Cornhusker Marching Band cover the field during a halftime performance at Band Day in 1959. A story not well known outside of University of Nebraska-Lincoln band circles is that during the depths of the Great Depression, the band came up with an idea that increased attendance at football games and brought in much-needed revenue to the UNL Athletic Department. The Great Depression of the 1930s had an impact on everything and everyone.
Attendance at UNL home football games had tanked, and the department was scratching for revenue to keep the department solvent. Newly arrived on campus was Don Lentz, a superb musician who had played in the famous John Philip Sousa touring band. Lentz taught in the UNL College of Music and was director of University Bands, which included the Cornhusker Marching Band.
Historically, the Athletic Department had given financial support to the band. But when Lentz arrived, that support had dwindled, rendering the band unable to purchase new instruments, buy new music or conduct normal operations. Lentz came to Nebraska from Ohio, where he had experience with an event called Band Day.
At one game per year, high school bands were invited to attend a football game and perform a mass concert pre-game and during halftime. Despite the Depression, parents of the young musicians would find a way to buy tickets to attend a game where their sons and daughters performed. Lentz suggested to the Athletic Department that having a .