The Return Of The Marching 100

((HT: ESPN))

Before the MEAC/SWAC Showdown in Orlando, the Florida A&M University band- the "Marching 100"- took the field for the first time on almost two years after being banned after the hazing death of band major Robert Champion.

FAMU's interim president, Larry Robinson, released this statement in announcing their return:

"This band will be a model of excellence for other bands across this nation. It will actually focus on its founding principles of character, academics, leadership, marching and service," Robinson said. "When you look at all these actions that we've taken in total, we are fairly confident that we are about to launch a new era and a new understanding and appreciation as to why hazing is not necessary to advance these principles."

Here's their pre-game return...


Fifteen band members were charged with manslaughter and felony hazing in Champion's death two years ago. Seven have accepted pleas. One more has pleaded, but hasn't been sentenced. The rest are still awaiting trial.

But Champion's mom thinks it's still too soon for the band to get back on the field...

"I do believe that it's too soon,"Pam Champion said. "I don't see anything that's different to ensure the safety of those students. Everything that has been put in place is not something that was done voluntarily."

The Champions think the return is looking at the money that can be gained by reinstating the 100 and having them perform.

DEVELOPING: Marching 100 Suspended Through 2012 Academic Year

Florida A&M President James Ammons is recommending that the Marching 100 band remain suspended through the 2012-2013 academic year.

"We will continue to work with the music department...especially those students that were in the band," Ammons said to the Board of Trustees.

FAMU is now having to explore different ways to celebrate halftime for their school's football games this season. The HQ thinks that there will be a severe decrease in attendance this season across the board and the school only has themselves to thank...

"The FAMU Board Of Trustees hope people will support the football team: band or no band. We need die-hard Rattlers now more than ever," one trustee said in the release from the school after the meeting.

Eleven FAMU band members face felony hazing charges stemming from drum major Robert Champion's death back in November. Two others face misdemeanor counts. Ammons suspended the band soon after Champion's death.

And that turned out not to be all of the shenanigans with the 100...

Last week, it was revealed that over 100 of the band's members last season were not even FAMU students at the time of Champion's death. Longtime band director Julian White then decided to retire when that revelation was made public.

Here's the concerns before the meeting, from our friends at WCTV...

BREAKING: Prosecutor Links FAMU Hazing Beating Death Linked To Multiple Blows

13 band members from the Florida A&M Marching 100 are set to be charged in the hazing death of drum major Robert Champion after a football game last November, according to the Champion family attorney and the Associated Press.

According Christopher Chestnut, Champion's family has been told that 13 students will face either felony or misdemeanor hazing charges. He said the family was disappointed because it had hoped for more serious charges.

Champion was punched, kicked and suffocated by fellow band members who has filed a wrongful-death lawsuit against the charter-bus company and bus driver. There were as many as 20 people on the bus who allegedly witnessed the incident after the Florida Classic on November 19th.

Since Champion's death, 7 more members of the band have been charged in more hazing incidents. In December, three students were arrested on charges of hazing a freshman so severely that they broke her leg. In January, four other students were each charged with misdemeanor hazing.

From Denise Marie-Balona at the Sentinel:

The four were accused of either participating in or failing to stop the hazing of five pledges who were trying to join a clique affiliated with the band's clarinet section known as the "Clones."

During initiation meetings that began about September 1, pledges were lined up by height. They were punched, slapped or paddled and forced to exercise and play music, according to police.

11 of the 13 people charged in Champion's death face felony hazing charges.

More when we know more...

1630 UPDATE: Here's early returns from WCTV-TV


At least two of the people charged in the hazing death of Robert Champion have been arrested and brought to the Leon County Jail as of 3PM.

FDLE agents in unmarked cars got out and escorted them into the booking office in Tallahassee.