the long running cross-town rivalry with Glendale High School. "BGD" known as "Big Game Day" or "Beat Glendale Day" is the biggest social/athletic event of the school year. Even though every sport has its own "BGD" game, American football is the biggest of them all. On the day of the big football game, the school provides events such as "The Poster Drop", which is a competition for every grade (9-12) taking place on the Friday morning of the game, and spirit assemblies. The game usually takes place at Glendale High School because Hoover High School does not have a "proper" field. The BGD game did not take place in 2018 due to security concerns regarding the large scale brawl that occurred weeks prior to the game, breaking the 89 year tradition, while the 2020 game did not take place as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. The school's mascot, "The Tornadoes", was temporarily changed in the past to the "Wind Gusts" when a Kansas team whose town had just been ravaged by tornadoes came to visit. Vic Francy, who had coached the Hoover track teams for 27 years, had previously assisted the 1924-1925 Glendale High School football team while he was a University of Southern California student. The school also includes a wrestling team. The number of participants declined in 2014, but coach Dave Beard stated that the students who remained were more committed. In 2015 the school marching band won its first California State Band Championship. Miscellaneous activities BETA Beta is a business academic program for which students must process an application if they are interested in the program. Those who are accepted are required to take at least five semesters of classes that include business technology, keyboarding, virtual enterprise and introduction to business. Fine Arts Academy Students are nominated to the Hoover High School Fine Arts Academy. Academy students are invited to take advanced classes at Hoover to create a fine arts emphasis in their degree program. Students must take three years of arts classes while enrolled at Hoover in order to be considered an Academy graduate. Of these three courses, at least two must be at Hoover. Along with the academic distinction that comes with being part of the Academy, students are eligible to participate in events at the Hoover Arts Gallery. Jazz Ensemble Students audition to play in the Hoover High School Studio Jazz Orchestra, the