The Jackson State University Sonic Boom of the South band has announced it will not participate in the ESPN Red Lobster Band of the Year competition.
It was a decision outlined by band director Dr. Roderick Little in a public message on social media.
“We fully respect the decision of other programs to participate, as well as the enthusiasm of fans who follow the competition,” Little wrote. “At Jackson State, our students work tirelessly and are evaluated by a different set of standards—those that focus on personal growth, musical excellence, and cultural impact. We take immense pride in the integrity, resilience, and life achievements of our members, both on and off the field.”
In his letter, Dr. Little reaffirmed Jackson State’s respect for Band of the Year organizers and the broader HBCU band community, noting that Sonic Boom’s own measures of success are internally defined rather than reliant on external rankings or contests.
Please. pic.twitter.com/QPmNvFfbSd
— Sonic Boom of the South (@SonicBoomOTS) September 22, 2025
John T. Grant, executive director of ESPN Events’ Red Lobster Band of the Year, told HBCU GameDay that the group acknowledged Jackson State’s decision not to participate moving forward.
“We acknowledge the position taken by Jackson State University’s Sonic Boom of The South. Each band will be adjudicated through the season as we have for the last two seasons. Our process provides that any band in the season-ending top five may decline to participate in the final competition—if selected,” Grant told the website.
“The objective of the Band of the Year is to provide evaluation and insight to help each band improve their overall on-field performance,” he added.
