DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. — One other revered HBCU band director has voiced opposition to the Pink Lobster “Band of the 12 months” competitors placed on by ESPN, reigniting a rising debate concerning the rating system used to judge and evaluate traditionally Black school marching bands.
Dr. Donovan V. Wells, longtime Director of Bands for Bethune-Cookman College’s Marching Wildcats, launched a public assertion explaining why his program doesn’t help the competitors’s construction. His feedback come simply weeks after Dr. Roderick Little of Jackson State College’s Sonic Increase of the South made the same declaration.
Wells: “Marching Band Is Not a Sport”
In a letter to alumni and supporters, Wells made clear that his subject is philosophical, not private.
He believes the rating format reduces an academic artwork kind right into a contest.
“As Director of Bands, I’ve by no means been a supporter of this competitors idea,” Wells wrote. “There are higher, extra significant methods to showcase and have a good time the HBCU marching band artwork kind with out inserting us in direct competitors towards each other. Marching band will not be a sport — it’s an instructional entity.”
The Marching Wildcats are probably the most revered and acknowledged HBCU bands within the nation, recognized for precision, musicality, and nationwide tv appearances.
Wells mentioned his concern facilities on how the rating system shapes public notion of what HBCU bands signify.
Pressured Into Competitors
Wells mentioned he has requested a number of instances for Bethune-Cookman to be excluded from the Band of the 12 months rankings, however these requests haven’t been honored.
Regardless of my repeated requests to exclude the Marching Wildcats, because the occasion’s inception, my request has been ignored,” he wrote. “It feels as if we’re being pressured into participation. I can not, in good conscience and as an educator, settle for this rule of thought for the younger ladies and men I signify.”
Wells added that skilled collaboration — quite than direct competitors — has all the time been his most well-liked mannequin for HBCU band occasions.
He cited previous organizations that emphasised dialogue amongst administrators and alternate of instructional concepts as an alternative of scorecards.
ESPN plans to adjudicate all bands
John Grant, Govt Director of ESPN Occasions, which presents the Pink Lobster Band of the 12 months, addressed the issues throughout a current interview with HBCU Gameday.
Grant defined that the rankings are based mostly on adjudication from a panel of judges, not simply recognition, and that each collaborating band is evaluated by the identical standards.
He additionally famous that bands rating within the high 5 have the choice to decide out in the event that they select to not be listed publicly — a clarification meant to make sure that participation stays voluntary.
Grant mentioned the aim of this system is to “honor the excellence, pageantry, and affect of HBCU marching bands” whereas giving them elevated nationwide publicity via ESPN’s platforms.
HBCU band heads
Wells’ put up drew widespread consideration throughout social media, with followers and alumni praising his willingness to take a principled stand.
Many commenters described his determination as “defending the tradition,” arguing that HBCU bands shouldn’t be was a aggressive spectacle.
Supporters of the Marching Wildcats additionally identified that Jackson State’s Dr. Little raised related objections earlier, saying that the Sonic Increase of the South wished to give attention to musical excellence quite than rankings.
The truth that two of probably the most acknowledged HBCU packages have now publicly voiced concern has amplified the dialog throughout the HBCU band world.
HBCU band possession and illustration
Wells emphasised that he harbors no unwell will towards administrators who select to take part.
He referred to as for unity and mutual respect amongst band packages whereas warning that commercialization might dilute the artwork kind.
“We should demand respect and shield our HBCU band tradition,” he wrote. “If we fail to take action, we threat dropping possession of what makes us who we’re.”
The Band of the 12 months competitors stays a celebration of HBCU expertise — however with voices like Bethune-Cookman and Jackson State now calling for change, the dialogue round how greatest to honor that legacy continues to evolve.
