After doing several summer stints with numerous other performers, including a month-long trek with The Clarks, Fastball is ready to help Penn State students get into the Homecoming spirit.
Diana Maxham, Homecoming special events overall chair, said she was very enthusiastic about being able to book a band like Fastball for a late-night themed event like this one.
"I worked with [former Penn State concert director] Jerad Sorber to get a band booked for the event here," Maxham said.
"We had some problems with the original bands we had planned to have perform; so when Jared suggested Fastball I checked them out.
I listened to a few songs and said 'Wait a minute, I know these guys! They're my band.'"
Fastball's performance is not the only event that will be taking place for LateNight Homecoming, however.
Free iron-on T-shirt making, buffalo wing and pizza eating contests, and a "most spirited class contest" are all on the agenda for the second-to-last day of Penn State's 2004 Homecoming schedule.
"We have [the HUB] booked for maximum capacity," Maxham said.
"We definitely expect a large turnout."
Homecoming overall chair Andrea McDonald was equally as optimistic.
"The student response [to Homecoming] has always been really positive," McDonald said.
"A lot of work and preparation goes into getting events like this put together, and the students appreciate that I think."
McDonald mentioned that several changes have been made to the way that this year's LateNight event will be taking place.
"We were outside last year and the weather was really crappy,"McDonald said.
"So now we are having it inside this time."
The main idea of this year's LateNight Homecoming, and Homecoming as a whole, is to appreciate the different aspects of Penn State's rich history, McDonald said.
"It's all about atmosphere, spirit and tradition," McDonald said.
Student response to this year's Homecoming events seems to reflect much of McDonald's opinion as well.
"Free events definitely bring a wider range of students because of the financial aspect," said Greg Taylor (senior-economics).
However, Taylor did have another suggestion as to how to really get the older student crowds packed into on campus events, though.
"It would be great if Penn State could put on events for people over 21, with stuff like dollar drafts," Taylor said.
"It would encourage a lot more upper level students to come too."
