Karsceal Turner – I Got Next!
After 21 months the wait is over. The Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University (FAMU) Marching 100’s newest incarnation will take the field September 1, at the Florida Citrus Bowl during the MEAC/SWAC Challenge. Oh yeah, there’s a football game too.
Since the announcement that the band’s suspension was lifted, the only question remaining was when would they return. The 2013 Marching 100 has about 126 musicians ready to take the field with another 75 still trying to meet the new academic standards required to be able to participate and take field in Orlando.
This ain’t your Mama’s “Marching 100”
FAMU takes the field September 1 against the Delta Devils of Mississippi Valley State University in the SWAC/MEAC Challenge in Orlando. Speaking of the Delta Devils and their band, “The Mean Green Marching Machine” will likely make the 744 mile trek to the “City Beautiful” for a showdown.
Rattler faithful wouldn’t give a rat’s ass if there wasn’t a showdown at halftime just as long as they can see that familiar wave of Green and Orange hiss on the field.
Indeed, the “100” will have fewer members than past years, as a result of new, more rigorous guidelines for participation, according to FAMU officials. From 400 members in 2001, a portion of which weren’t on scholarship nor in school, there were 203 FAMU students at Saturday’s initial try-out session for new and returning members nearly a month ago.
In true band director fashion, Dr. Sylvester Young made a bold assessment concerning his troop’s readiness. “Throughout my career, there has never been any correlation between size and quality,” he said.
“We have made a thorough assessment of the students who have auditioned for the band and firmly believe that we are ready to return and positively represent Florida A&M and its proud students, faculty, alumni and community,” Young said.
Would Robert be Happy with what is now happening at FAMU?
The hazing death of 26-year-old Robert Champion after the 2011 Florida Classic still leaves a void within the institution. His death, which was ruled a homicide, left 14 band members charged with felonies. Several entered pleas of no contest, while others have pleaded not guilty.
The first of gavels levied against the University came in the form of the indefinite suspension of the marching band, followed by the firing of then band director Julian White, and subsequently the resignation of then president James Ammons.
Champion’s parents later filed a wrongful death lawsuit against the University and felt a $300,000 settlement offer was an insult and rejected it.
“We think we’re in a position to demonstrate to the world that this band is ready to perform at the level of quality and excellence that’s in its rich tradition and also absent of all of those things that led us to its suspension in the first place,” said interim FAMU president Larry Robinson.
“I think people are a little bit concerned, as they should be, because of the nature of what happened in 2011,” he added.
I can’t begin to imagine whether Robert Champion is pleased with what he’s seeing as he sits in the clouds playing the Clarinet. I imagine he is shaking his head at the fact he had to ascend for this to be exposed. See you in Orlando in Sept.
SMALL OR LARGE THEY ARE STILL THE BADDEST BAND IN THIS COUNTRY!