HBCU Fans are not pleased with the latest news that has surfaced with the upcoming release of EA Sports's well-anticipated football game College Football 25. Amongst many announcements about the game that were revealed last week that coincided with the release of the official gameplay trailer, it was announced that the popular song “Neck” would be one of the many songs featured in the new game.

“Neck” is a marching band staple, popular amongst HBCU bands. Per a 2019 article on HBCU Gameday by Gerald Huggins, the origins of how “Neck” became a popular bandfare in the HBCU community is often debated. The song “Neck” is inspired by Cameo's 1984 release. The band arrangement draws influence from Da Franchise Boys' “Talkin' Out da Side of Ya Neck!” from 2008. There has always been fervent debate over whether Norfolk State's Spartan Legion or Texas Southern's Ocean of Soul first performed the song. Recently, HBCU bands across the nation have been playing the musical arrangement.

The attribution of “Neck” to LSU rubbed many HBCU football and band fans the wrong way. While LSU's band, known as “The Golden Band From Tigerland”, has played the song before, they are not known as the first school to play the song. Also, LSU's marching band has been banned from playing the song since 2017 due to an inappropriate chant that students made up to the song.

According to The Reveille, LSU's student newspaper, when the LSU band initially performed the song at a 2010 football game, the student section started incorporating inappropriate lyrics. As a result, the LSU Athletic Department prohibited the song from being played in the stadium. The band reintroduced the song in 2013 but it was only performed it sporadically since then. The song was once again banned, and the band has been unable to play it since 2017.

HBCU fans took to social media to express their displeasure in LSU being assigned credit for “Neck”.

“Baby, “Talking out the side of your NECK” by CAMEO is an HBCU staple, since the 90’s. It sure as hell isn’t ‘LSU’s,'” posted @MDBSings.

“Only thing LSU would know about Neck is the HBCU they stole it from,” posted @AceRedBand1t.

Article Continues Below
More HBCU News
Fisk University head gymnastics coach Corrinne Tarver is departing the program, per a statement by the institution.
Fisk University gymnastics program set to end next yearRandall Barnes ·
K.J. Lattimore, son of R&B stars Kenny Lattimore and Chanté Moore, is a recent graduate of Lincoln University of Pennsylvania.
Kenny Latimore & Chanté Moore’s son graduates from an HBCUKiya Wimbush-Robinson ·
Texas Southern athletic director Dr. Kevin Granger inks new five-year contract extension that keeps him with the Tigers through 2029.
HBCU administrator responds to sexual assault allegationsKiya Wimbush-Robinson ·
Norfolk State and Duke women's basketball have agreed to a home-and-home series that is set to kick off next season.
Norfolk State, Duke agree to home-and-home hoops seriesRandall Barnes ·
The NAIA has extended it's media partnership with Urban Edge Network, announcing a multi-year deal on Friday.
NAIA extends partnership with Urban Edge Network in multi-year dealRandall Barnes ·
Howard University is making a huge NIL move before the football season as the Mecca Society nets a huge partnership
Howard University makes huge NIL move before football seasonRandall Barnes ·

“This is not LSU’s. HBCU bands have been playing this song for decades (since 1984),” posted @loquacious08.

“Neck” is HBCU band culture. If it was LSU, Why they just now started playing the song? This was a R&B song by cameo that’s been out since 1984,” posted @CoachWoot_06.

“Neck IS NOT LSU's!!! That is absolutely 1,000,000% an HBCU thing that they started playing. Signed a Grambling alum! P.S. Cool song and would like to hear it in the game, just give it the proper recognition,” posted @OceanSpray77.

Managing Editor of Sports Illustrated's HBCU Legends Kyle T. Mosely posted, “When Southern faced LSU at Tigers Stadium in Death Valley proves how much more powerful and dynamic the Human Jukebox's version is and will ever be compared to the Bengal Tigers' rendition.”

Mosely's post mentions the Human Jukebox from Southern University playing “Neck” during the 2022 season game against LSU. The Tiger fans enthusiastically joined in, dancing and singing to the tune.