The Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) has denied Florida A&M University’s appeal that would take longtime band announcer Joe Bullard off suspension in time to get behind the mic at the FAMU homecoming football game.
Following an inappropriate remark that drew international attention and led the division to suspend Bullard for two football games – which includes the Oct. 18 homecoming game between FAMU and Alcorn State at the Bragg Memorial Stadium – FAMU appealed the ruling.
But the conference’s decision means Bullard will be on the sidelines for what would have been a 50th anniversary milestone year homecoming show.
“The appeal was denied,” a FAMU spokesperson said in an Oct. 14 text message to the Tallahassee Democrat. “Mr. Bullard will not be announcing the halftime show this weekend.”
Efforts to get comment from SWAC officials were unsuccessful as the conference office does not disclose information or status of appeals regarding its membership, according to SWAC’s Associate Commissioner Andrew Roberts.
The rejected appeal and continued punishment comes after Bullard called the Alabama State Honey Beez – a well-known plus-sized dance team that performs with the Mighty Marching Hornets – “the new face of Ozempic” after their halftime football game performance at the FAMU stadium Sept. 27. While he has been known to throw shade at opposing HBCU (historically Black college and university) bands, he apologized in a Sept. 29 letter, saying that he realized his comment “crossed the line.”
In addition to SWAC’s disciplinary action – which included a public reprimand for FAMU as well as a $10,000 fine for Bullard’s remark – the university held Bullard accountable by suspending him from announcing at the Oct. 11 game against North Carolina Central, prohibiting him from attending band practice until after Oct. 11 and requiring him to attend mandatory a Respectful Workplace and Anti-Harassment Training through FAMU’s Office of Compliance and Ethics.
“If this type of off-colored commentary happens again, it will lead to additional disciplinary action up to and including termination,” FAMU President Marva Johnson said in an Oct. 1 letter to Bullard.
Besides being FAMU’s band announcer, Bullard also serves as a part-time consultant in the School of Journalism & Graphic Communication, where he assists with student success initiatives and fundraising while also producing radio IDs on WANM-FM 90.5, FAMU’s radio station. His J-School position is not being impacted by the university’s disciplinary steps.
Bullard’s role of being the voice FAMU’s “incomparable” Marching 100 dates back to 1975, and the current football season marks his 50th anniversary as the band’s announcer.
Slater Thorpe took the mic in Bullard’s absence last Saturday, but it is unclear if he will also be announcing the homecoming game.
Who is Slater Thorpe?
A 2002 FAMU alumnus and former Marching 100 drum major, Thorpe is an MC and announcer who works in live event marketing. Over the years, his role has included being the announcer on the iconic singer-songwriter Beyoncé’s 2019 “Homecoming: The Live Album,” which was recorded live during her headlining performances at the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival in Indio, California in 2018.
Thorpe is also the owner and tour manager of SL8STONE — a company that manages corporate promotional tours — where he has worked with companies such as Verizon, Coke, Diet Coke and Gold Peak Tea.
As the announcer who filled in for Bullard during FAMU’s Oct. 11 game, Thorpe described the role as one of the highest honors he could have received. He said he was tapped by FAMU Band Director Shelby Chipman and FAMU Coordinator for Music Teacher Education Nicholas Thomas to take on the role temporarily but that Bullard himself also asked him to stand in his absence.
“If Joe Bullard is asking you to stand in when he’s not available, it’s always the highest honor,” Thorpe, who is currently based in Atlanta, Georgia, told the Tallahassee Democrat during an Oct. 14 phone call. Attempts to get comment from Bullard were unsuccessful.
“As long as I’ve known Joe, he has really been an inspirer of people,” Thorpe added, describing Bullard as his personal friend and mentor. “I do think his apology was warranted, I think it was sincere and I think we have to stand on his entire reputation because it speaks for itself.”
Although Thorpe does not know if he will be called to fill in as the band announcer again during the homecoming game’s halftime show this weekend, he still plans on coming back to the “Highest of Seven Hills” to partake in homecoming festivities sometime this week.
“My motivation in this was to make sure there’s continuity with the Marching 100 because an announcer is pivotal to our show style,” Thorpe said. “I also wanted to cover down for my friend and my mentor in his time of need as well.“
Tarah Jean is the higher education reporter for the Tallahassee Democrat, a member of the USA TODAY Network – Florida. She can be reached at tjean@tallahassee.com. Follow her on X: @tarahjean_.
This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: SWAC denies FAMU appeal for Joe Bullard’s suspension to be lifted before homecoming game
Reporting by Tarah Jean, Tallahassee Democrat / Tallahassee Democrat
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
