Thursday, January 10, 2019

Coppin State Women’s Basketball Looks To Build Winning Streak During Two-Game Homestand


CSU Track & Field Returns to Action for First Time in 2019 at HBCU Battle on Friday Evening


SWAC Women's Basketball Notebook: January 10-14


Incarnate Word, Prairie View A&M schedule 2021-22 football series



North Carolina A&T Aggies Ranked 11/12th in Final FCS Polls



FCS playoff attendance down over 16 percent


MVSU Football: Brainerd's McElfresh ready to shine in SunShine State


Dallas sportscaster Dale Hansen slams white privilege in the NFL (Video)


PREVIEW: Texas Southern Lady Tigers visit Prairie View on Saturday


SATURDAY: Prairie View A&M Hosts Rival Texas Southern


Radford Highlanders at Hampton Lady Pirates @5 pm ET THURSDAY on ESPN+


THURSDAY On ESPN+@7 pm ET: Charleston Southern at Hampton Pirates


Alabama State Men's Basketball begins two-game road trip at UAPB Saturday


Alabama State Women's Basketball hits the road for a pair of SWAC matches beginning Saturday


Alabama State TFXC returns to the track this weekend in Indiana


Alabama State Bowling heads to Arkansas for MidWinter Invitational


Norfolk State to display retired jerseys


Virginia Union’s Okoye settling into new country


Christion Abercrombie Continues to get Stronger with Every Step!

Hampton University Marching Force Band to Participate in 2020 New Year's Day Parade in Rome, Italy

HAMPTON, Virginia -- The Hampton University Marching Band, otherwise known as “The Marching Force,” has received the esteemed privilege of participating in the 2020 Rome New Year’s Day Parade on January 1, 2020, in Rome, Italy.

“'The Marching Force' is an elite group of talented, young musicians who are also academically accomplished. This opportunity shows that our band is being recognized internationally. They continue to uphold THE Standard of Excellence as being one of the best marching bands in the nation,” said Hampton University President, Dr. William R. Harvey.

On the first day of January each year, thousands of people gather in St. Peter’s Square in Rome, Italy, to celebrate and receive the Pope’s New Year’s Day blessing. The Rome New Year’s Parade celebrates life, cultural diversity and international goodwill. It takes place in conjunction with the World Day of Peace, where the parade proceeds along the Grand Via Della Conciliazone and culminates in St. Peter’s Square. The Marching Force will get the chance to perform in the parade and at St. Peter’s Square before and after the Pope’s blessing.



A trip this massive is not cheap. The band will need to spend the next year fundraising for the costs to send all the band members, plus chaperones, to Italy for this momentous opportunity. The Marching Force will also need to purchase new uniforms and instruments. Hampton University alumni or anyone who would like to support the band can donate on their website. There are also employer-matching options if that donor qualifies.

While in Italy, the band will also get the opportunity to visit and perform in other local communities where they will be joyously welcomed by the local residents.

Hampton University will be the first HBCU band in history to participate in this parade. The Marching Force (Drumline) recently performed (2019) in the Rose Bowl Parade in Pasadena, California

“This wonderful opportunity will put Hampton University on an international spotlight and bring some attention to what we’re doing with the band at Hampton. Over the last year, we have been focusing on recruiting talented musicians, dancers, color guard and majorettes. Our mission is not just to build better band students, but to shape and mold students so that they are academically proficient and have high moral character,” said Dr. Thomas Jones, band director. “This trip validates what we’re doing. The strength of the program is growing. Traveling is a great incentive for new and current students and we are really looking forward to this exciting journey.”

To donate directly to the band, or for more information, go to http://www.humarchingforce.com/.

SAU Women's Basketball Begins Three-Game, Five-Day Homestand Thursday (Jan. 10)


UAPB Lady Lions Defeats LeMoyne- Owen College, 52-43


VSU Men’s Basketball Claims 6th Place in the Recent D2SIDA Atlantic Region Poll


VSU Women’s Basketball Claims 8th Place in the Recent D2SIDA Atlantic Region Poll


Benedict Lady Tigers Ranked 10th in South Region