An Open Letter To Marching “100″ Bandheads (2587 hits)

By Kendrick Marshall on May 15, 2012

Dear hardcore Florida A&M Marching “100″ bandheads,

I, like many HBCU alums, are disheartened by the famed band being suspended for the duration of the 2012-13 school year for actions stemming from the beating death of Robert Champion on a bus following a gig in Orlando last year as part of some hazing ritual.

However, do not play the role of fanboi and fangirl and not attend home football games or even Classics this season as a result of this development.

Please refuse to stoop to such Neanderthal, short-sighted levels. If ticket sales decrease and empty seats abound, do you know what that makes you? An accessory to the crime which ended the life of Mr. Champion. It’s the unbridled cult-like support not only the Marching “100″ has received for decades, but bands in general have received, which have allowed such brutal activities to manifest.

All to often during this tragic saga there have been cries in the distance from overzealous 5th Quarter zealots claiming the Marching “100″ is not deserving of banishment from the gridiron on Saturdays in the fall.

Wise up. The Marching “100″ is not bigger than Florida A&M. The group is just a part of the pageantry of the game day atmosphere. And I know hundreds of people just show up at Bragg Memorial Stadium and elsewhere to see the band only to leave after the halftime performances are completed. This, however, is not the season to participate in such routines.

Right now Florida A&M is in dire need for support from all factions within the Rattler community. The school thirsts for every dollar, every filled seat and every public relations victory.

If any FAMU alum, student or otherwise chooses to refrain from attending contests because the band is absent, they would be hurting themselves and the reputation of the university they claim to ride or die for.

Unfortunately, the Marching “100″ would win, as it would have been proven by your cowardice and irrationality that 15 minutes of entertainment are valued more than the 26 years of life a dedicated drum major lived. And you know who else wins? Those savages who killed the young man.

Mr. and Mrs. Bandhead, do you really want to go there?

I would hope not.

Sincerely,

Kendrick Marshall

Source: http://fansnthestands.hbcufannation.com/ Posted By: How May I Help You NC
Wednesday, May 16th 2012 at 11:07PM
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