HBCU Sports-BOTYA-2021

The 2021 HBCU marching band season bounced back after being sidelined in 2020 due to the COVID-19 outbreak. And we’ve highlighted the performances we believed were the very best weekly throughout the season.

However, the marching bands from Alabama State, Florida A&M, Jackson State, North Carolina A&T, and Southern University are bands we believe were consistently the best throughout the season based on an internal scoring system determined from our season-long polls.

As a result, the Mighty Marching Hornets, the Marching 100, the Sonic Boom of the South, the Blue and Gold Marching Machine, and the Human Jukebox are our five finalists for HBCU Sports Band of the Year with a chance to win $2,500.

Below is a detailed look at the body of work of each finalist.

Alabama State (Mighty Marching Hornets)
Ranked No. 3 on the list of top five halftime shows from Week 1
Ranked No. 1 on the list of top five halftime shows from Week 4
Ranked No. 2 on the list of top five halftime shows from Week 6
Ranked No. 4 on the list of top five halftime shows from Week 9
Ranked No. 7 and No. 17 on the list of top cover songs of 2021 by HBCU bands
Ranked No. 2 and No. 9 on the list of top 10 HBCU band halftime shows of 2021

Florida A&M (Marching 100)
Ranked No. 1 on the list of top five halftime shows from Week 1
Ranked No. 2 on the list of top five halftime shows from Week 5
Ranked No. 2 on the list of top five halftime shows from Week 9
Ranked No. 1 on the list of top five halftime shows from Week 12
Ranked No. 21 on the list of top cover songs of 2021 by HBCU bands
Ranked No. 4 on the list of top 10 HBCU band halftime shows of 2021

Jackson State (Sonic Boom of the South)
Ranked No. 4 on the list of top five halftime shows from Week 2
Ranked No. 3 on the list of top five halftime shows from Week 4
Ranked No. 5 on the list of top five halftime shows from Week 5
Ranked No. 1 on the list of top five halftime shows from Week 7
Ranked No. 3 on the list of top five halftime shows from Week 8
Ranked No. 2 on the list of top five halftime shows from Week 10
Ranked No. 3 on the list of top five halftime shows from Week 11
Ranked No. 2 on the list of top five halftime shows from Week 12
Ranked No. 4 and No. 14 on the list of top cover songs of 2021 by HBCU bands
Ranked No. 3 on the list of top 10 HBCU band halftime shows of 2021

North Carolina A&T (Blue and Gold Marching Machine)
Ranked No. 2 on the list of top five halftime shows from Week 2
Ranked No. 1 on the list of top five halftime shows from Week 6
Ranked No. 1 on the list of top five halftime shows from Week 9
Ranked No. 6 and No. 12 on the list of top cover songs of 2021 by HBCU bands
Ranked No. 8 on the list of top 10 HBCU band halftime shows of 2021

Southern (Human Jukebox)
Ranked No. 1 on the list of top five halftime shows from Week 2
Ranked No. 2 on the list of top five halftime shows from Week 3
Ranked No. 5 on the list of top five halftime shows from Week 6
Ranked No. 2 on the list of top five halftime shows from Week 8
Ranked No. 5 on the list of top five halftime shows from Week 9
Ranked No. 1 on the list of top five halftime shows from Week 10
Ranked No. 1 on the list of top five halftime shows from Week 11
Ranked No. 4 on the list of top five halftime shows from Week 12
Ranked No. 1, No. 3, and No. 16 on the list of top cover songs of 2021 by HBCU bands
Ranked No. 1 on the list of top 10 HBCU band halftime shows of 2021

It’s time to select a winner. Cast your vote below.

Voting ends Friday, 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.

 



RELATED ARTICLESMORE FROM AUTHOR

58 COMMENTS

  6. I am an ASU (Hornet) Graduate, and proud of it! Alabama State’s Band has ALWAYS been a top MARCHING BAND. Even back in the 70’s, they were strong and fierce. They took much pride in being ‘The Best’ HBCU MARCHING band in the country. The band still has a lot of that same ‘School Pride!’ ASU…..Go Hornets MARCHING BAND!!! We’re Proud of you!!! 🐝

  7. sorry but NCAT should not be listed. Are they even in an all HBCU league?? They don’t see or feel the thunder of a true HBCU band weekly. Sorry but NCAT should not even be listed. The other colleges/universities listed are in an HBCU league SWAC. Get it together….

      • Saggie pride… Yep on the list with all other SWAC bands..you know what it is why is the list filled with SWAC bands ??? Say it to yourself..but y’all opted for Big South. Ya big mouth. You are the only one hopping like a bop you are to reply. No one else replied to other comments…but you. Why?? mmm clearly because YOU are concerned that the SWAC has the best HBCU bands period. Look at the list lol. If you got that much pride why you need to reply.?? Be prideful and sit down. You don’t want the other SWAC bands coming for you or ya saggies. Be wise and hush.

        • Baby, we have seen you’ll SWAC bands countless times at Honda Celebration bowl, battle of the bands etc etc. And have sent you back on your merry little way! Not to mention, other than band. What else can you compete with? Yeah, try winning Football titles outside the SWAC. Still laughing at SCSU whooping that butt at the 2021 Celebration Bowl 😅😅😅😅😅

        • Poor thing. You’re Big Mad and bothered. SWAC has nothing on lock. A&T will always be relevant no matter what conference we’re in. So run along now, hush and take a nap. Aggie damn Pride. BTW we are the largest HBCU. You better recognize.

    • A&T is not only an HBCU but the largest HBCU in the United States. We were founded in 1891 as the “Agricultural & Mechanical College for the Colored Race! In 1960, four A&T freshmen started the “Sit In” movement that ended segregated eating facilities. And A&T graduates more African American Engineers and Accountants than any other US University! So is that HBCU enough for you? What conference our athletic teams plays in has no impact on being an HBCU.

    • What does being in a certain league/ or conference have to do with anything? A HBCU is a HBCU, regardless of what conference that school may be affiliated with. You need to get out of that one dimensional mind of thinking and wake up. What a foolish, close minded and uneducated statement you made….#SHAMEONYOU

      FAMU Marching 100 yesterday
      FAMU Marching 100 today
      FAMU Marching 100 tomorrow
      FAMU Marching 100 FOREVER

  8. A S U. Marching Hornets are always great.
    The A S U Hornets create an atmosphere
    that encourages the audiences to look,
    listen, appreciate and participate the
    performances.

  11. A&T ain’t got no business in here at al. Thin is a vote for my band only. Half of these people don’t know anything about a band except did they play my favorite song. The Marching 💯🐍 is definitely ABOVE all the rest. Known world wide. “ALWAYS IMITATED BUT NEVER DUPLICATED”. Like Joe said, “The difference is CLEAR!🎶🐍💯🦾

    • Don’t be mad Twan! Aggies don’t care who’s on the list. Why are people so bothered? hmmmm inquiring minds want to know.

      • Exactly! Why are people in these comments so bothered by A&T’s presence on this list?? WE ARE HERE!!!! Like it or not! Let’s go BGMM!!! Aggie Dam Pride!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

      • Maybe because this poll isn’t scientifically conducted. If the owner of hbcusports looked at the population of the schools and demographics of school location this poll seems bias. The best way to handle this is to have a battle of the band’s with those on the list but it looks like a poll designed to split the votes of one league and is bias based on sample size. This poll creator should take the $2500 and educate themselves on poll creations that was scientifically sound.

          • As I look through the comments, can you help me understand why you are degrading others and coming out of character over a poll that states in fine print it is not a scientific poll. May God bless you and show you the errors of your ways. This has caused people to follow their hidden agenda, cause division among the black communities. The sad thing is one can be supportive and have pride but it very unbecoming as you are the only person who decided to reply to other respectful comments about the school you are prideful about. Many are entitled to ask or wonder or even make their own comments or have opinions. But for all you know you could be calling someone’s grandmother/father stupid. You never know what some one is going through. Have pride and support NCAT, as I am for all HBCU and think it is a beautiful thing of the founders to think we need something for our people. I highly doubt they thought we need something for our people that will divide, degrade and disrespect. No need to reply, just rhetorical… have a blessed day. Good luck to all the bands and blessings to all the staff and band members as it takes discipline, dedication and a ton of effort to play great and to put on a very entertaining halftime show.

        • I understand what you’re saying, but I also see what you’re doing. Yes the poll is nonscientific but to that point no one from any school should take any stock in the results one way or another. But they all do. If you had ant real understanding in science, and a real concern for that science you would note the poll for what it is and skip the comments totally and simply move on to something more significance like all the well documented achievements, both academic and athletic, made by HBCU’s(not just A&T) throughout history. And, if you actually paid attention to all the ‘negative’ comments made by Aggies, you would see that the were all in response to comments, like yours, directed toward us. But then historically, in america it has always been considered criminal when a black person fights back after being attack. And if you notice, your response goes back to an initial attack on A&T. So where do you REALLY stand?

    • And that BORING, SLOPPY looking FAMU should not be on anybodies list but the nursing home of HBCU marching bands! You’ll are irrelevant and are bottom feeders of the SWAC!!! Just like you were when you left the MEAC! Now get lost. AGGIE PRIDE!!!!

  14. This poll is a FLUKE! There was no place to vote until Today and every year it is fixed so that North Carolina A & T or a team from MEAC wins! Not AUTHENTIC! That’s why Black folks will not support these websites because it is always a gimmick!

    I have been trying to vote since this was posted and today is the first time I saw the poll.

    • I agree I started voting for ASU when it first started and they was leading by more than 5000 votes and the next morning NCS was in the lead. I started voting today and the total wouldn’t change I agree it’s a set up for who they want to win.

  18. A lot of y’all are real mad in these comments just because you didn’t see the voting. It’s been open since January 14th. Maybe if your school did better marketing they would’ve did better. Aggie Pride! 💙💛

    • AND A&T Doesn’t even win every year so it’s a rigged. We haven’t won since like 2018. And don’t try to be funny about us changing conferences. We are still an HBCU and the largest public one at that

    • Exactly!!! The BGMM marketing is phenomenal. The voting numbers and support our university/school pride have is unparalleled!!! AGGIE PRIDE!!!!!!!

  21. I’ve been voting since day 1. Aggie support is like none other. BGMM marketing is top tier. Our University is top tier so what did y’all expect? BTW we don’t always win. We know how to lose gracefully. We know how to win gracefully too. Either way y’all stay bothered. It’s not healthy for you to be so mad.

  22. Lol people so salty for no reason!! Because Aggies come and show out like no other HBCU in the land! We the greatest and been the greatest band whether no matter what conference we’re in! This poll is for all Historically Black Colleges & Universities! Nothing said you are no longer an HBCU just because of your conference lol.

    Aggie Pride!! 💙💛

  24. I love bands period. I’m a band head for sure . I really don’t care which conference they’re in. However, I will always support my Aggies!

  26. The level of saltiness and shade in here is epic! I admire and support all HBCUs, but my heart is with my alma mater North Carolina A&T State University and the baddest band in the land- the Blue and Gold Marching Machine. 💙💛💙💛

    Know this…no matter what conference we may move to athletics wise, A&T will ALWAYS be a HBCU with a proud legacy of black excellence. Our students, alumni and supporters never miss an opportunity to display that good old Aggie Pride. So no, this poll isn’t rigged- we just showed up and showed out like we do at GHOE!

  27. The bands were ranked every week and its not even close. There is no need for a vote, top honors should go to the band that received the most number 1 rankings which is Southern. That would be the fair thing to do but go on fool yourselves. The rankings are listed above for all of you to see!

  28. Congratulations to all the bands! However, the guidelines say “Of the list of consistently ranked bands” in THEIR opinion.Vote for the 2021 HBCU Band of the year. Reading is fundamental. The fans have spoken. No one is taking anything from any of the bands listed. They are all great bands. The Aggie Pride is unmatched. 💙💛#ncat

    • Some were more consistently ranked then others. I agree reading is fundamental so in your reading you should have been able to draw that conclusion. The guidelines are a joke!

  31. Can I buy a vowel? I guess everybody on mute now. 💙💛Congratulations BGMM!!!! #AggiePride you don’t want to go to warrrrrr with an Agggiiieeeee. Don’t start no stuff won’t be no stuff!!!!

LEAVE A REPLY

Please enter your comment!
Please enter your name here