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Super Bowl XLIV

(Originally published on 05.15.2012)

Amid continuing pressure to keep the Florida A&M University’s marching band off the field, top school officials suspended the Marching 100 until 2013. Eleven band members have been charged with felony hazing after drum major Robert Champion was beaten to death during a hazing ritual last November.

In other developments, the band’s long-time director, Julian White, announced his retirement last week after months of pressure from officials to step down. It’s also possible over 100 band members weren’t even FAMU students at the time of Champion’s death, which brings the band’s fate into further question.

Champion’s parents would like to see the Marching 100 dismantled completely, and has notified FAMU of plans to sue the university in the wrongful death of their son.