It was the first time the MEAC/SWAC Challenge was played in front of a sold-out crowd with 23,333 fans in attendance. And it was the first time the bands were featured on a black college pregame show surrounded by hundreds of curious, tailgating fans shortly before making their entrance into the stadium.
It was also the first time the Jackson State University Tigers and the Bethune-Cookman University Wildcats had shared a field during a matchup in 30 years, which means the battle in the stands would be just as intense as the one on the field. The Sonic Boom of the South and the Marching Wildcats have both seen No. 1 spots in the
ESPN/The Undefeated HBCU Band Rankings, so leaders and band members knew this would be the perfect way to kick off the season.
“I’ve seen Jackson State over the last 30 years, and I’ve been impressed with them every time I’ve seen them,” said Donovan Wells, director of bands at Bethune-Cookman. “They have a unique style that’s different from ours, and it should be. We have a style that’s different from theirs, and it should be. But it’s both entertaining. I was pleased with both bands today, and I think the crowd was too. You got your money’s worth today. Football and band, everybody got their money’s worth.”
Dowell Taylor, an assistant professor of music at Jackson State, echoed those sentiments about Bethune-Cookman’s band program earlier in the week, sharing mutual respect for the program that Wells is leading at B-C.
“We have a lot of respect for Bethune-Cookman’s program,” Taylor said. “They’ve been consistently producing a fine program. They’re one of the best marching aggregates around the country, and we’re really excited just to share our different styles to the nation. We have nothing but respect for Bethune-Cookman.”
And for the bands to remain two of the best, the work for the pregame show, entertainment during the game and halftime, all the way to the bands duking it out during the 5th Quarter, started weeks before the big game.
ATLANTA — This year’s MEAC/SWAC Challenge featured several firsts in the game’s 15-year existence. It was the first time the MEAC/SWAC Challenge was played in f…
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