Ohio State alum calls out school for ‘shameful’ way it treated HBCU band

A longtime Ohio State University alum and passionate Buckeyes football fan is sticking up for the Grambling State marching band.

In an opinion piece submitted to the Columbus Dispatch, author Penny Miller expressed her “deep disappointment” over how the World Famed Tiger Marching Band was treated during the school’s visit to Ohio Stadium last Saturday.

Miller, who described herself as the mother of a former band member, didn’t mince words about how Ohio State was unfair.

“Every time it was their (Grambling’s) turn to play spirit music during the game, instead of spectators being able to appreciate their contribution to the day, excessively loud music was blasted over the sound system, drowning out the music that the Grambling band was making,” she wrote in a message addressed to Ohio State’s president, athletic director and band director.

She said fans in attendance “did not get to experience the back and forth between the Grambling band and the Ohio State band,” calling the decision to play “loud, awful music when it was Grambling’s turn to play throughout the entire game” unacceptable.

Highlighting the dedication of both bands, she said, “Those who participate as members of both bands put in lots of time, hard work and effort to be outstanding musicians. You are great on your merit and deserve to be appropriately heard.”

In closing, Miller called for respect and hospitality, stating, “Ohio State University was shameful in the way we treated the Grambling band.”

Her comments serve as a reminder that HBCUs—whether they have a football team or marching bands—must deal with challenges at PWIs.