Bethune-Cookman Withdraws From ESPN Competition

Dr. Donovan V. Wells, who’s the director of Bands for Bethune-Cookman College’s Marching Wildcats, has just lately voiced his displeasure with the construction of the ESPN Pink Lobster “Band of the Yr” competitors and has withdrawn from competing.

The band director posted an announcement on the Marching Wildcats Fb account in regards to the rating system and the way the position of the marching bands is decided, citing higher methods to rank the HBCU bands.

“As Director of Bands, I’ve by no means been a supporter of this competitors idea,” Wells acknowledged within the put up. “There are higher, extra significant methods to showcase and rejoice the HBCU marching band artwork kind with out inserting us in direct competitors in opposition to each other. Marching band isn’t a sport — it’s a tutorial entity.”

Wells feels that different organizations, of their rankings and standings of bands, usually attain out to band administrators and embrace them when making their determinations concerning marching bands. Their inclusion may be very essential to the method by which HBCUs obtain correct rankings.

He additionally acknowledged that he has tried a number of occasions to have the Marching Wildcats excluded from the competitors, however has been largely ignored. He feels that the varsity is “being compelled into participation.”

“Regardless of my repeated requests to exclude the Marching Wildcats, for the reason that occasion’s inception, my requests have been ignored. As a substitute, it feels as if we’re being compelled into participation. I can’t, in good conscience and as an educator, settle for this rule of thought for the younger men and women I characterize on this band program.”

This isn’t the primary time that an HBCU band director has taken to social media to voice concern in regards to the “Band of the Yr” competitors.

HBCU Sports activities reported that Jackson State College’s band director made an identical criticism after it withdrew its band from the competitors. They’ve additionally acknowledged that they tried to be excluded from the competitors however had been ignored as properly.

“We totally respect the choice of different applications to take part, in addition to the keenness of followers who comply with the competitors,” Dr. Roderick Little wrote. “At Jackson State, our college students work tirelessly and are evaluated by a unique set of requirements—these that target private progress, musical excellence, and cultural impression. We take immense satisfaction within the integrity, resilience, and life achievements of our members, each on and off the sector.”