BALTIMORE — Historical Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) are not only known for their academics and sports, but also for their marching bands. One of the biggest, proudest bands has to be the Marching100 of Florida A&M University (FAMU), home of the Florida Rattlers.
The Marching 100 was suspended for nineteen months for serious infractions ranging from theft and destruction of property at an event they participated in Detroit, to the more serious hazing death of student, Robert Champion. FAMU interim President Larry Robinson announced his decision to lift the marching band’s indefinite suspension and implemented a set of rules and penalties meant to ensure something like this would never happen again. No timetable has been given as to when the Marching 100 will take the field. Let’s hope the band will be ready when it’s time to play the Bethune-Cookman Wildcats for their annual game, The Classic, November 23, 2013 at the Florida Citrus Bowl in Orlando, Florida.
In other HBCU News, the 6th Annual Atlanta HBCU Alumni Run/Walk event took place on Saturday June 29 with alumni representing their HBCU alma mater. Three thousand people took part in the event, which was established to raise money to contribute to a scholarship. While the event was mainly a fundraiser, it also helped raise awareness about the importance of being active to help prevent heart disease, cancer, stroke and diabetes—diseases that are prevalent in the black community. It’s wonderful to see the black community working together for a great cause! Next year we want to see you and your family at the 7th Annual Event.
That’s a look at HBCU sports for this week. Please send any questions, comments or HBCU Sports and news to pdemps@btimes.com. You can follow Phinesse Demps on Twitter: @lfpmedia; Baltimore Times: @baltimore_times.