As expected, the year 2019 proved to be another stellar year of performances from HBCU marching bands.
But we believe the marching bands from Bethune-Cookman, Florida A&M, Grambling State, Jackson State, Norfolk State, North Carolina A&T, and Southern University were the bands that consistently showed up and showed out.
For their efforts, the aforementioned programs are the seven finalists for the 2019 HBCU Sports Band of the Year.
And the winner will be decided by our audience.
Below is a closer look at the body of work of each finalist.
Bethune-Cookman
Ranked No. 12 on 2019 HBCU midseason top 15 band poll
Ranked No. 5 on the list of top 5 halftime shows from Week 1
Ranked No. 2 on the list of top 5 halftime shows from Week 8
Ranked No. 1 on the list of top 5 halftime shows from Week 9
Ranked No. 1 on the list of top 5 halftime shows from Week 13
Ranked No. 3 on the list of top cover songs 2019 by HBCU bands
Ranked No. 1 on the list of top 10 HBCU band halftime shows of 2019
Florida A&M
Ranked No. 6 on 2019 HBCU midseason top 15 band poll
Ranked No. 1 on the list of top 5 halftime shows from Week 4
Ranked No. 2 on the list of top 5 halftime shows from Week 6
Ranked No. 1 on the list of top 5 halftime shows from Week 8
Ranked No. 5 on the list of top 5 halftime shows from Week 12
Ranked No. 3 on the list of top 5 halftime shows from Week 13
Ranked No. 18 and No. 24 on the list of top cover songs 2019 by HBCU bands
Ranked No. 3 on the list of top 10 HBCU band halftime shows of 2019
Grambling State
Ranked No. 10 on 2019 HBCU midseason top 15 band poll
Ranked No. 1 on the list of top 5 halftime shows from Week 1
Ranked No. 3 on the list of top 5 halftime shows from Week 6
Ranked No. 3 on the list of top 5 halftime shows from Week 10
Ranked No. 2 on the list of top 5 halftime shows from Week 11
Ranked No. 15 on the list of top cover songs 2019 by HBCU bands
Ranked No. 4 on the list of top 10 HBCU band halftime shows of 2019
Jackson State
Ranked No. 1 on 2019 HBCU midseason top 15 band poll
Ranked No. 3 on the list of top 5 halftime shows from Week 1
Ranked No. 4 on the list of top 5 halftime shows from Week 4
Ranked No. 3 on the list of top 5 halftime shows from Week 5
Ranked No. 4 on the list of top 5 halftime shows from Week 10
Ranked No. 1 on the list of top 5 halftime shows from Week 12
Ranked No. 2 on the list of top 5 halftime shows from Week 13
Ranked No. 5 and No. 9 on the list of top cover songs 2019 by HBCU bands
Ranked No. 3 on the list of top 10 HBCU band halftime shows of 2019
North Carolina A&T
Ranked No. 3 on 2019 HBCU midseason top 15 band poll
Ranked No. 2 on the list of top 5 halftime shows from Week 1
Ranked No. 1 on the list of top 5 halftime shows from Week 5
Ranked No. 4 on the list of top 5 halftime shows from Week 6
Ranked No. 2 on the list of top 5 halftime shows from Week 9
Ranked No. 22 on the list of top cover songs 2019 by HBCU bands
Ranked No. 9 on the list of top 10 HBCU band halftime shows of 2019
Norfolk State
Ranked No. 2 on 2019 HBCU midseason top 15 band poll
Ranked No. 1 on the list of top 5 halftime shows from Week 2
Ranked No. 2 on the list of top 5 halftime shows from Week 5
Ranked No. 5 on the list of top 5 halftime shows from Week 6
Ranked No. 2 on the list of top 5 halftime shows from Week 10
Ranked No. 8 and No. 22 on the list of top cover songs 2019 by HBCU bands
Ranked No. 6 and No. 8 on the list of top 10 HBCU band halftime shows of 2019
Southern
Ranked No. 4 on 2019 HBCU midseason top 15 band poll
Ranked No. 2 on the list of top 5 halftime shows from Week 4
Ranked No. 2 on the list of top 5 halftime shows from Week 7
Ranked No. 1 on the list of top 5 halftime shows from Week 10
Ranked No. 2 on the list of top 5 halftime shows from Week 12
Ranked No. 1 and No. 10 on the list of top cover songs 2019 by HBCU bands
Ranked No. 2 on the list of top 10 HBCU band halftime shows of 2019
It’s time to select a winner. Cast your vote below.
Voting ends Tuesday, Jan. 21 at 11:59 p.m. (CT)
Disclaimer: This poll is not scientific. You are encouraged to come back and vote often. However, please note that the poll will view rapid-fire voting coming from a single IP address as an attack and will trigger a timeout. In this case, your vote will not be counted. Poll results reflect only the views of the readers who choose to participate and not the public as a whole.
A&T TOP BAND
I vote for my first College NSU. Of course
Behold
The Marching Wildcats of Bethune–Cookman
Southern University Human Jukebox
NSU gets my vote. Behold!
I also am a NSU fan
Southern University The Human Jukebox has my vote!
There is only 1.
The Human Jukebox…….
Often Imitated Never Duplicated……
BEHOLD THE GREEN AND GOLD. YEAH BABY!!!
You guys ROCK!
Southern University Jaguars
Jackson State Sonic Boom…Band of the year
Behold the Green and the Gold!!!!
Behold The Green and Gold ??NSU Spartans Legion????
World Famed marching band. Grambling St.
FAMU best consistent marching musically talented band all year
THE Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University Marching 100!!! #FangsUp
Bethune-Cookman University Wildcats
Florida A&M University Marching 100
The # 1 HBCU NON OTHER THEN BETHUNE-COOKMAN UNIVERSITY! HANDS DOWN, IM AN ALUMNI ‘ Luvv being A WILDCAT!!!!#1 BAND HAILWILD CATS!!!
Southern University Human Jukebox
Excuse me!!! Did you not notice that Morgan State University was the lead band at the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade? The Magnificent Marching Machine has always been a delight to see. Morgan State is Truly Great. Go Bears
“Always duplicated, and NEVER imitated!!!!”
“Momma, There goes THAT Band!!!!”
“THE ??? FAMED”
GRAMBLING STATE UNIVERSITY TIGERS MARCHING BAND!!!!
Always imitated, NEVER duplicated.
Jackson state of course
Famu 100 it’s the only hbcu duh
Bethune cookman University matching band
Florida A&M University marching 100
Hail WILDCATS
World Famed Grambling State University Marching Band.
North Carolina A&T Blue and Gold Marching Machine ..Aggie Pride
BEHOLD THE GREEN AND GOLD!!! SPARTAN LEGION
NSU, I LOVE IT , I LOVE IT, I LOVE IT???????
J S U………..NOTHING ELSE NEEDS TO BE SAID
I am a fan of every band listed here by HBCU Sports. However you know there’s no other HBCU band that has a style all unto their own. THE NORFOLK STATE UNIVERSITY MARCHING SPARTAN LEGION IS “THE STANDARD OF EXCELLENCE” AND “PRECISION PERSONIFIED”!
BEHOLD BEHOLD THE MIGHTY GREEN & GOLD!
Behold?????????????
BEHOLD THE GREEN AND GOLD!!! SPARTAN LEGION !!!!!
No One, Not Anyone, No band in this land can compete with Southern University Jaguars and y’all know this.
Bethune Cookman University Marching Wildcats!!
Each and every one of these bands are, in their own right, uniquely different in their performances, and therefore, I vote for each of them, as they jointly protect and pass on our HBCU musical legacies, and as a musical product of an HBCU that closed its doors, I thank each and every participant in all of the bans, and God bless all of them
Keep your coins!!!!!!!!!
The Jukebox is free.!!!!!!!
SU all the way baby.
Grambling State World Famed !
THE BLUE & GOLD MARCHING MACHINE
NC AGRICULTURAL & TECHNICAL STATE UNIVERSITY
THE BLUE & GOLD MARCHING MACHINE from the world renowned NORTH CAROLINA AGRICULTURAL & TECHNICAL STATE UNIVERSITY —-AGGIE PRIDE!!!!
BETHUNE COOKMAN UNIVERSITY
WILDCATS “THE PRIDE” MARCHING BAND
You didn’t include Benedict College or Tennessee State who outperformed most of these bands. Stop only looking at the same bands year in year out
Not by the NSU Spartan Legion…….Bands trying to imitate them now….?
Lord forgive me, I went to Texas Southern but I will vote for my first HBCU choice Jackson State University.
Now everybody knows the Marching 100 are the originators and are always attempting to be duplicated!!! Go Rattlers!
The North Carolina A&T State University Blue and Gold Marching Machine… nuff said
What about the Red Sea of Sound??? No love for the little guys???
NSU! BEHOLD THE GREEN AND GOLD. SPARTAN LEGION
What happen to Prairie View? Only the best band in America!
“Often IMITATED,
And NEVER DUPLICATED!!!!”
“MOMMA, THERE GOES THAT BAND!!!!” ???
????
“THE ??? FAMED”
??TIGER?? MARCHING BAND
??????????
OF GRAMBLING STATE UNIVERSITY
????????
I went to Morehouse and we are not a contender in this area so that allows me the right to vote for another school right? SMH
For a few years in my youth I lived pretty close to Norfolk State and was able to really see what band excellence looks like.
NSU has been a powerhouse band forever. Go Spartans! Behold.……the green and the gold!!!!
Grambling State was and IS and Will ALWAYS be #1 Ranked and World renound!!!
Who Dat… Who Dat…
Southern University Marching Band is my clear choice for Band of the year
Behold behold the Green and Gold. Norfolk State University Spartan Legion.
NSU SPARTAN LEGION! BEHOLD!
GSU THE BEST BAND IN THE WORLD!!!!
FAMU.
Norfolk State!!
Human Jukebox – Southern University
Bethune Cookman and FAMU….both coming through. They have the heart and soul to hold it together.
North Carolina A&T Blue and Gold all day.
NCA&T!!
[…] for the Spartan Legion to be the 2019 HBCU Sports Band of the Year! Click here and scroll to the bottom of the page to vote. Voting ends Tuesday, January […]
Southern University Human Jukebox!
LET THE HEAVENS RESOUND TO YOUR MAGNIFICENT SOUND and LET EVERY MUSICAL MEASURE be a SOURCE of AUDITORY PLEASE!! BEHOLD THE MIGHTY GREEN AND GOLD!!! SPARTAN LEGION, LET’S GO!!!
“LET THE HEAVENS RESOUND TO YOUR MAGNIFICENT SOUND AND LET EVERY MUSICAL MEASURE BE A SOURCE OF AUDITORY PLEASURE!!!” Spartan Legion, LET’S GO!!!
I vote my mf college A&T and JSU !!!
Norfolk State University
Behold the Green and Gold
GS..GS…GS..U..U.. I THOUGHT U KNEW! We are so excited to be selected to participate in this showcase of great bands. WE ARE THE “WORLD FAMED MARCHING BAND”.
Norfolk State Marching Spartan “Legion” Band
Behold the green and gold!! Spartans for life!
Spartan Legion.. BEHOLD@@@ NORFOLK STATE UNIV!
NSU all the way… Behold the Green and Gold
NSU is the top band
Behold the Green and Gold!! Norfolk State Spartan Legion!!!
LETS GO WILD CATS BETHUNE COOKMAN
Be holding the Green and Gold all the way
NC A&T No Doubt #1
Norfolk State University, “Legion Marching Band” “Behold The Green And Gold”
BEHOLD!!!! This is Sparta!!! Norfolk State Spartan Legion bringing something different and entertaining to the field. Need to travel more though. One helluva band led by great band directors and students
We already know who’s #1…..smh….but ok NSU…what extent some won’t go to. Good thing some of us don’t need validation from HBCUSPORTS…..#WHATEVERWORKS4U #FLAWEDPOLLOFCOURSE
#BEHOLD
Behold the Green and the a Gold ??
NSU OF COURSE “BEHOLD THE GREEN AND GOLD
Behold the Green and Gold, the NSU Spartan Legion!
Blue &Gold Marching Machine from Aggieland.
BEHOLD…THE GREEN AND GOLD!!!????
Norfolk State University !!! Behold The Green And Gold!!!!!
#Behold??????
Behold the Green & Gold
NORFOLK STATE UNIVERSITY SPARTAN LEGION MARCHING BAND !!!!!!!! VOTE THE SPARTAN LEGION THE BADDEST BAND IN THE LAND.
BEHOLD that magnificent Green and Gold!!! ?????????
NSU Spartan Legion is #1 by far.
On behalf of my vote I vote Grambling State University World Famed Tiger Marching Band
Jackson State University – Sonic Boom of the South!
[…] band, named one of seven finalists for the award on Jan. 13, was the top vote-getter in an online poll the website conducted from Tuesday, Jan. 14 through Tuesday night (Jan. […]