SWAC's punishment overly harsh: Bullard's comments were clumsy not malicious

In the world of HBCU marching bands, rivalry and ribbing are as traditional as the drum majors and dance lines that animate halftime shows. But when FAMU band  announcer Joe Bullard made a joke at the expense of Alabama State University’s Honey Beez dance team during Saturday’s game, it ignited a firestorm that critics say has been wildly overblown — and met with a response far out of proportion to the offense.

Now, the Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) has handed down a severe punishment: a two-game suspension for Bullard and a $10,000 fine for the university — all over a remark many see as classic, if ill-advised, band banter.

During Saturday’s contest at Bragg Memorial Stadium, Bullard referred to the Honey Beez as “the new face of Ozempic,” a comment widely interpreted as "fat shaming" the plus-sized  dance line. Video clips of the remark spread quickly online, drawing sharp criticism and prompting statements from both universities.

But what followed was less about intent and more an overblown reaction that ignored context, precedent, and the spirit of HBCU band culture.

Bullard, a longtime voice of the Marching 100, apologized on Facebook a day after the incident, writing: “My comments were meant as lighthearted banter, but I now recognize that they came across in a way that was hurtful and disrespectful. For that, I extend my deepest and most heartfelt apologies.”

FAMU President Marva Johnson, JD, also issued a swift apology, calling the remarks “inappropriate and offensive” and pledging to take “corrective action.”

For many, that should have been the end of it. But Alabama State President Quinton Ross — who had already accepted Johnson’s apology — blindsided FAMU hours later by publicly posting a formal letter of complaint on social media and personally phoning the SWAC commissioner. Soon after, the ASU band director issued another letter.

By Sunday, the conference announced it was launching an investigation — a move that struck many as unusually aggressive, especially given that the comment came from a band announcer, not a coach or athlete, and fell outside typical “unsportsmanlike conduct” protocols.

SWAC suspension too harsh
“When you’re in a kangaroo court, you shouldn’t be surprised if the treatment is unfair,” said one veteran SWAC fan on social media. “This wasn’t about justice — it was about making a point.”

That point, however, may say more about the SWAC’s inconsistent enforcement than Bullard’s poor judgment.

The Honey Beez, after all, are not a typical dance team. Founded in 2004, they were explicitly created to challenge stereotypes and celebrate fuller-figured dancers — with a minimum weight requirement of 250 pounds. Their presence has long been a statement. To many, joking about their size isn’t just tasteless — it misses the point of their mission.

Bullard's comments were clumsy not malicious
But in the world of HBCU bands, where verbal jousting and theatrical taunts are part of the pageantry, Bullard’s comment struck some as less malicious than clumsy.

“Was it wrong? Sure. Was it mean-spirited? Not even close,” said Marcus James, a former drum major at Jackson State.  This is the kind of stuff you hear in the stands every week. The SWAC is acting like he cursed on air or incited a riot.”

The conference cited its “Principles and Standards of Sportsmanship” in levying the fine and suspension. Yet critics note that the same conference has remained silent on far more serious incidents — including physical altercations and eligibility violations — that have occurred without such swift or severe reprisals.

FAMU has five days to appeal the decision. And given the disproportionate penalty and the swift, seemingly coordinated response from Alabama State, many within FAMU alums believe an appeal is warranted.  

“FAMU did everything right,” said Jordan Smith, a former student government leader. “They apologized, they took responsibility — and then they got slapped with a fine and a suspension anyway. It feels like the goal wasn’t reconciliation. It was punishment.”

Whether the appeal is successful or not, one thing is clear: in the high-stakes, high-passion world of HBCU bands, even a few ill-chosen words can lead to a costly lesson — and continue to call the conference’s credibility handling or mishandling situations in question.