HBCU marching culture took center stage Friday night at Mercedes-Benz Stadium as Southern University and Miles College emerged as champions at the Red Lobster Band of the Year competition in downtown Atlanta.
Southern claimed the Division I crown for the first time in the three-year history of the event, while Miles continued its remarkable rise by becoming the first program to win back-to-back Division II Band of the Year titles. The matchup featured defending champion Florida A&M’s Marching 100 against the Human Jukebox, setting the stage for a highly anticipated showdown in one of the nation’s premier venues.
For Southern University, the victory capped an emotional season that began and ended in Atlanta. The Human Jukebox opened the year in the city during the MEAC/SWAC Challenge in August and closed it with a powerful performance that resonated far beyond competition results. The season carried deep meaning following the loss of band member Caleb Wilson, whose death earlier this year was ruled by police to be connected to a fraternity hazing ritual. Throughout the fall, the band performed in his memory, a theme that remained front and center on Friday night…