The Tallahassee Democrat yesterday featured a profile on the Florida A&M Marching 100, profiling the university’s new culture of accountability while balancing the absence of its most marketable brand.

The impact that the Marching 100 has had on FAMU athletics goes far beyond energizing a crowd at football and basketball games. The band has been one of the biggest incentives for those with the task of marketing FAMU sports — not to mention the university at large — to potential corporate backers and especially in the negotiations of football games for huge financial guarantees.

In essence, the Marching 100 has been the FAMU brand and has made it easy for the university to seal football deals worth millions each season. Without the band, FAMU’s athletic department loses one of its biggest negotiation chips, while the administration does damage control and at the same time searches for ways to eliminate hazing. (Tallahassee Democrat)

The band is currently suspended from performing, but remains bound to certain contracts for football stipulating its appearance.