You may have to push SWAC commissioner Duer Sharp to make comments regarding the state of SWAC football and all it implies, but one never has to worry about the commissioner issuing statements about SWAC marching bands.
Sharp once again showed the stuff he is made of when the SWAC issued a public reprimand to the Jackson State marching band on Thursday “for failure to comply with league procedures and policies during SWAC football contests.”
According to the release:
The offense occurred during the Jackson State home game vs. Mississippi Valley State on October 20.
Being the understanding guy that he is, Sharp expressed the importance of bands following proper protocol during games.
“While we completely understand the importance of the bands to our total game experience, the rules of playing during the game must be adhered to in the interest of competitive balance”, SWAC Commissioner Duer Sharp said. “There are a number of opportunities for the bands to play and perform between plays, as well as, prior to the offensive team approaching the line of scrimmage. We expect all of our outstanding bands to follow these guidelines.”
There is nothing wrong with what Sharp is saying here. This rule has been in place for years and it’s unfortunate that SWAC bands play as if no football game is in progress at all. The problem with Sharp’s statement is that we have heard it before…about 2 or 3 times before.
Around this same time two years ago the SWAC issued the bands from Jackson State and Alabama State public reprimands for the same offense. In that release Sharp was quoted:
“While we completely understand the importance of the bands to our total game experience, the rules of playing during the game must be adhered to in the interest of competitive balance”, SWAC Commissioner Duer Sharp said. “There are a number of opportunities for the bands to play and perform between plays, as well as, prior to the offensive team approaching the line of scrimmage. We expect all of our outstanding bands to follow these guidelines.”
In October 2009 the Grambling and Prairie View bands were reprimanded by the SWAC for committing the same offense. In the reprimand Sharp issued the same statement.
“While we completely understand the importance of the bands to our total game experience, the rules of playing during the game must be adhered to in the interest of competitive balance”, SWAC Commissioner Duer Sharp said. “There are a number of opportunities for the bands to play and perform between plays, as well as, prior to the offensive team approaching the line of scrimmage. We expect all of our outstanding bands to follow these guidelines.”
It’s been said that insanity is repeating the same course of action while expecting different results. Considering the fact that commissioner Sharp continues to issue the same rubber stamped statement years and years over proves that insanity reigns supreme.
Given what we have seen from SWAC bands, they do not take the reprimands of Sharp seriously. But when has anyone ever taken anything the commissioner does seriously.
It’s a joke that I am even commenting on the commissioner’s repeat reprimands of SWAC marching bands. So here is where I will end.
