The roar of the crowd, the playing of “Seven Nation Army” as the Broncos take the field and the words “Touchdown Broncos!” are all familiar sounds to anyone who has been to Albertsons Stadium for a Boise State football game. Another sound, albeit one that may go unnoticed by most spectators, is the triumphant sound of the Keith Stein Blue Thunder Marching Band.
During its humble beginnings as a junior college, Boise State possessed a tradition of excellence in music. In 1932, the music department created an orchestra, and simultaneously, the small student body started a pep band that would play at athletic events.
At the start, the band would play during home football games in street clothes and received partial academic credit for their efforts in supporting the team and rallying fans. In 1950, the pep band transitioned into a full-time marching band, donning gray trousers, blue sweaters and bright orange bow ties.
In 1975, after the university decided that the marching band would no longer play during sporting events due to financial constraints, the future of a long-standing band at the school was uncertain.
In 1986, everything changed after Boise residents Keith and Catherine Stein donated $250,000 in scholarship money, reigniting the possibility of the marching band returning. A total of $545,000 was raised to support scholarships for members of the new Keith Stein Blue Thunder Marching Band through numerous donors and contributors in the Boise community. The Keith Stein Blue Thunder Marching Band made its home football debut on Sept. 5, 1987.
The band continued to grow and flourish through the 90s and early 2000s. The year 2006 saw the band move its offices and storage from the bowels of Albertsons Stadium to the Keith and Catherine Stein Band Hall, which was built in conjunction with the Caven-Williams Sports Complex.
Band Director Joe Tornello, who has held the position since December 2011, helped excel the band even further year after year. In 2015, the band was asked to perform for then-President Barack Obama when he visited Boise. This feat is a testament to the talent of the band and the prowess of Tornello.
Today, the 200-member marching band continues to embody the spirit of the school and create an exciting atmosphere for fans week in and week out.
“We have a pretty big impact on the games,” tenor drummer Landon Quaintance said. “We’re always bringing energy to everyone, and from my experience, people enjoy seeing us around and it makes people want to come to the games even more.”
Quaintance also noted that in-game situations that the band plays during, such as third or fourth downs for the opposing team, help build the energy in the stadium. Additionally, he mentioned the halftime show as another moment of the game that showcases the band’s impact on the fans.
Bronco fans aren’t the only group of people in the stadium who feed off the band.
During any football game, you can always find players on the field and on the sideline raising their arms up during big moments to tell the crowd, “GET LOUD!”. It’s safe to say that for Boise State players, they’re not just speaking to the fans, but to the band, too.
“We practice right outside the football facility, and we’ve had players come up to us and tell us how much they enjoy what we bring,” Quaintance said. “We even played the fight song during a team meeting one time and all the players loved it. We definitely have a big impact on them.”
The energy that the band brings to the fans and players isn’t a one-way street. Fans and players reciprocate that energy back to the band, resulting in what is essentially a game of catch with energy.
“Both the band gives energy to the crowd, and the crowd gives it back to the band,” colorguard member Kate Alvarado said. “It makes for a really good vibe.”
The fans feel the vibe, too.
“It’s definitely cool to hear the band play on a big third down or after someone makes a big play,” Bronco fan Chad Turner said. “When I played football in high school, I used to always get fired up hearing the band and it still gets me hyped even just as a fan.”
The thundering impact that the band has on football games can be attributed to the hard work that band members put in during the week.
“Aside from academics, the band is definitely the number one priority in our lives,” Quaintance said. “In total, we only practice together for about 7 hours a week, but outside of that, you have to practice on your own a lot. We’re always learning new shows and trying to get things as clean as possible.”
Despite the time and effort that it takes to be a member of the Keith Stein Blue Thunder Marching Band, the memories that are made and the impact that the band has on the school are both undoubtedly rewarding and long-lasting.
“There are a lot of memories and experiences that come with being in the band, especially when we travel,” Alvarado said. “All the people and the relationships that get built, it’s all really fun.”
