Hello, and welcome back to View From The Sidelines! The 1st Ever HBCU Band National Championship quest is right around the corner, and the anticipation for the start of this season’s chase couldn’t be higher. VFTS dropped the Division 2 (Mid Major) poll this past weekend. We’ll now take a look at the major players in the craft, the Division 1 (High Major) HBCU programs. ESPN polling will be part of the adjudication framework for determining a champion. We’ll look at the favorites and the darkhorse band programs that will be contenders for Celebration Bowl weekend. Without further adieu, here’s our Pre-Season Top Ten!
1) . The Human Jukebox – Southern University
There are a handful of programs that have a reach that transcends the confines of the craft itself. The Jukes are among those programs. There’s a reason why elements of the Jukebox’s on-field concept has made its way all over the country in regional and other college programs alike. That precision, sound quality, and continuity gives S.U. a decided leg up in the national championship chase. The odds are good that we’ll see the Capital ‘S’ one of the last left standing on Celebration Bowl Weekend.
2). The Blue & Gold Marching Machine – North Carolina A&T State University
When the venerable Johnny B. Hodge stepped away from the A&T program, HBCU Bandom was in a phase of growth. A number of fans and diehards within the culture wondered whether the program would take the hit without losing too much. Those days seem like a pretty distant memory, as the machine under Dr. Kenneth Ruff has become one of the most engaging and creative shows on turf out there. The hybrid style, the auditory & drilling precision, and the creativity of the show themes have made the BGMM a must-see attraction within the culture, and a REAL threat to bring home championship hardware at the close of this season.
3). The Spartan Legion – Norfolk State University
Fans and band enthusiasts that have long-standing CIAA conference ties, already know the deal. The Legion started as the brainchild of an HBCU directorial legend in Emery Fears, and has grown into one of the most consistent programs in all of the craft. The warrior motif, the discipline, and the overall commitment to its hybrid, on-field identity make the Spartan Legion a difficult out in its own quest for the brass ring. The Spartan Legion is also one of two programs in this poll that have been instrumental in Grammy-award-winning musical work. Something to think about as the season gets started.
4). The Sonic Boom Of The South – Jackson State University
Fine-tune your sensory apparatus! The Boom is arguably the most entertaining showband in the culture today. From the moment you see the tiger run-on to JSU rocks the house ends a show, you know there aren’t many programs in all of America that can match THAT kind of showmanship. That field continuity gives the SBOTS a fighting chance of making the big dance on Celebration Bowl weekend. The margin of error is extremely small for all of the programs in this poll, so attention to detail and show consistency will be paramount in the eyes of judges. The Boom has the potential to check all of those boxes.
5). The Incomparable Marching 100 – Florida A&M University
Bastille Day…The Sudler Trophy…The father of HBCU Band Paegentry…The Standard. There are a LOT of descriptors that can be used to frame what the Marching 100 is. The legacy speaks for itself as arguably the most STORIED and LEGENDARY program in the craft. Dr. William P. Foster’s formula for precision, superior sound quality, and intricate marching and drilling have stood the test of time with fans. Will it stand up to adjudication? I wouldn’t bet on the blueprint not doing so. That said, creativity for all of the programs in contention will be at a premium. The Marching 100 are no different, as that standard may find them on the cusp of another accolade for that legacy.
6). The Aristocrat Of Bands – Tennessee State University
Bruh, These guys won a Grammy. I repeat…A GRAMMY! The Crats were indeed in rarified air this past season with their work off of the field. The tradition on the field is solid, too. One of the most venerated programs in the poll, the Aristocrats don’t necessarily have the benefit of performing to HBCU-centric crowds all the time, which makes their field concept and identity all the more remarkable. The talent and drive for a National Championship run is definitely present, but questions remain about show consistency and clarity on the field. Again, attention to detail will be the catalyst for both winners and losers in the quest for the title. The Crats definitely have what it takes to get there.
7). The Mighty Marching Hornets – Alabama State University
Another tradition-rich and storied program makes the poll. The MMH, under the direction of James B. Oliver, has been a constant presence in the mainstream of the culture outside of HBCU bandom. Whether it’s been reality television shows on network TV, or appearances in the Rose Bowl parade, the Marching Hornets have been at the forefront of the culture, and have served as great ambassadors for it to boot. The program has developed a level of on-filed sound quality that’s hard to match when the band is executing well. There may need to be a bit more emphasis given to drill intricacy, and the further implementation of the MMH’s superior auxiliary teams to really add uniqueness to their halftime presentations. If the MMH can achieve those objectives, they’re a dark horse contender for making Championship Weekend In Atlanta.
8). The Marching Wildcats (The Pride) – Bethune Cookman University
The Bethune Cookman University family has had to deal with its share of ups and downs over the past year. The only constant? The Pride. The Marching Wildcats have arguably the most uniform and precise field presence in ALL of HBCU bandom. You won’t see ANY BCU show where they’re out of the envelope. That can be a blessing and a curse though, as the Wildcats have gotten critiqued over the years for not pushing the envelope much when it comes to the creativity or complexity of their shows. The formula has worked for a long time for audiences familiar with the Marching Wildcat brand. Can they push the envelope, even a little? If the Wildcats can, you’re looking at a program with real designs on getting back to the top of the hill on CelebrationBowl weekend.
9). The Ocean Of Soul – Texas Southern University
What do you get when you take a musical and directorial prodigy from one of the most talent-laden programs out there and give said prodigy the baton over one of the crafts’ sleeping giants? You get a ton of competitive trouble for the rest of this field. Brian Simmons is one of the most talented directors to come into the craft in a generation, but the staff he’s got at TSU reads like a who’s who of musical talent in their own right. The sound quality that was a signature with Simmons behind the pen at Southern University, has almost immediately translated to Houston, making the Ocean Of Soul truly formidable on gameday. The Ocean’s on-field continuity and presence have improved drastically as well. Will we continue to see that growth as the season progresses?
10). The Marching Maroon & White – Alabama A&M University
Surprised to see these guys in the poll? You shouldn’t be. Carlton Wright has put his musical imprint on a program, in a state where there’s maybe the biggest collection of competitive HBCU programs in the craft. The MMW’s sound concept and sound quality have become among the SWAC’s best under Wright’s watch, though overall halftime offerings can be a bit pedestrian at times. This is another instance where stretching the envelope a bit could yield big dividends on the field, and with audiences. The MMW belongs here, and they have the chops to make this race for the crown really interesting, under the right circumstances.
Next Up: UAPB M4, Grambling (The World Famed). Alcorn State (Sounds Of Dynamite)
That’s it for the High-Major (D1) Pre-Season VFTS National Championship Poll. Stay tuned to View From The Sidelines as we follow the quest for the national championship from beginning to end. We’ll be with the culture every step of the way to Championship Weekend, in Atlanta at the Celebration Bowl. Until the next entry!
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