The HBCU marching band matchup against FAMU is both business and personal for Dr. J. William Nicholas of South Carolina State.
One year after taking over as Director of Bands at SC State, Nicholas will get the chance to matchup against FAMU’s Marching 100. Nicholas is a FAMU alumnus and former member of the Marching 100.
“On September 6, it’ll be strictly business,” Nicholas said in a South Carolina State interview. “We have a job to do. I represent South Carolina State and we intend for the Marching 101 to show up and be the best band in the room.”
That will be a high bar, as FAMU’s Marching 100 is regarded as one of the best in the land. It is coming off back-to-back appearances in the Red Lobster Band of the Year — including a win in 2024. South Carolina State, meanwhile, has been regarded as a solid program but quite elite.
Nicholas’ task is to get it there.
Coming up the HBCU ranks
Nicholas was hired at SC State in Sept. 2025 after serving as director of bands at Tuskegee University. He conducted the Tuskegee Winds and led the Marching Crimson Pipers. He also taught courses in conducting and general music, and oversaw all aspects of the band program. Nicholas joined Tuskegee in 2022 after completing his Doctor of Musical Arts degree in Wind Conducting at the University of South Carolina.
Before his appointment at Tuskegee, Nicholas served as director of bands at Jones High School in Orlando, Florida, from 2014 to 2019. Under his leadership, the band program grew from 60 to more than 110 students and earned consistent superior ratings at district and state levels. It garnered national attention in 2018 when the school’s wind ensemble performed at Carnegie Hall. That followed a $100,000 donation announced on the “Ellen” show. Nicholas was honored with the Florida Music Education Association’s Tom Bishop Award for his transformative impact at Jones.
South Carolina State building
Last season was a whirlwind as Nicholas and South Carolina State. It hit the road heavily, performing at multiple homecomings and the Celebration Bowl. This season the Marching 101 has emerged slightly bigger.
“A little bigger band this year as we continue to grow to our ultimate goal of the program size. But we have to measure that and grow gradually,” Nicholas said. “But we’re excited about being just a little bit bigger this year and looking towards a great product this year and in the stands.”
South Carolina State enters the season ranked ninth in the Red Lobster Band of the Year preseason poll. It was rated fifth in percussion.
This week it will head down to Miami to Face one of the most highly regarded bands in the HBCU space. FAMU was ranked sixth overall in the same preseason poll. Nicholas welcomes the challenge and he knows where he stands. But even he had to admit there will likely be extra emotions for him.
“There is a part of me that is nostalgic and looking at that with fond memories of my time at FAMU. So I’m grateful to the staff at FAMU, of course all my mentors that poured into me and helped shape this journey. But I’m a Bulldog, and we’ve got work to do.”