2022 Panthers Game Day Guide | Carolina Panthers - Panthers.com

Pastor Ric Blazi has served in ministry for 30 years, including the past nine years as the Adult Discipleship Pastor of Hickory Grove Baptist Church in Charlotte, North Carolina. Originally from Warner Robins, Georgia, he played college football and has remained passionate about athletics and mentoring young people. He has been involved with Fellowship of Christian Athletes and currently coaches high school football at Hickory Grove Christian School.

Pastor Ric and his wife, Genie, have four children. Throughout his three decades in ministry, he has been committed to serving his church, community, and the next generation through faith, leadership, and mentorship.

Maelyn Jarmon is a singer-songwriter who first captured national attention as the Season 16 winner and 2026 All-Star champion of NBC's The Voice. She went on to reach #1 on Billboard's Emerging Artists chart and became one of only 15 artists in history to chart three songs simultaneously in Billboard's Top 10. Maelyn is currently working on her debut release with Moon Records and has two new singles available on all streaming platforms.

Alicia Griffin is a dedicated teacher and proud native of Concord, North Carolina. She now lives in Greensboro with her husband and their two Deaf children. Passionate about education and advocacy, Alicia teaches Deaf students in her county, where she is committed to creating inclusive and supportive learning environments. Outside of the classroom, she enjoys spending time with her family and cheering on her favorite team—Go Panthers!

Drafted in the second round (59th overall) of the 2007 NFL Draft from Southern California by Carolina, Ryan Kalil played in 148 games with 145 starts from 2007-2018 for the Panthers. A six-time team captain, his five Pro Bowls rank as the most by an offensive lineman and his 145 starts are the second most by an offensive lineman in team history. Also, Kalil earned AP All-Pro honors three times.He was named to first career Pro Bowl in 2009 after helping create running lanes for Jonathan Stewart and DeAngelo Williams to become the first set of teammates in NFL history to each rush for more than 1,100 yards in the same season. With Kalil anchoring the offensive line, the Panthers produced three highest single season rushing totals in team history with 2,498 yards in 2009, 2,437 yards in 2008 and 2,408 yards in 2011.

We are the official Honor Guard for the Concord Fire Department. We are a dedicated group committed to representing the traditions of the fire service. We perform ceremonial duties at official functions, including funerals, parades and community events, while upholding the legacy and values of the fire service.

Prior to the formation of the marching band, Miss Carolyn Glover had organized ensembles every year, beginning in 1933 at the North Carolina College at Durham. In the first 50 years of operation, North Carolina College had only four directors: Mr. Wesley Howard, Dr. Joseph Mitchell, Mr. Hershel McGinnis and Mr. Richard Jones. Under Jones, the college band enjoyed great success. Aside from their halftime performances at all of the college's football games and other campus events, the band made many outside appearances, including the1960 North Carolina Governor's Inauguration and the much-talked-about performance on October 29, 1961, before more than 56,000 fans during the halftime of the New York Giants-Dallas Cowboys game at Yankee Stadium.

Currently, Professor Jovan Alexander Wilson is at the helm of the machine (2022–present) and was officially named director of bands in 2023. In 2022, the band saw its second visit to the Celebration Bowl and record-breaking numbers for attendance at the Spring 2023 Band Blast High School Day Event, with 400+ high school students attending. In 2023, the band made their way around the United States, with their first-ever appearance at the Rose Bowl Stadium, performing at halftime and entertaining the crowd, and to Indianapolis to win the Circle City Battle of the Bands against Mississippi Valley State University. In 2024, the program was featured as a top 15 Marching band by ESPN, and in 2025, the band performed at the MEAC/SWAC Challenge in Atlanta. The NCCU Sound Machine Marching Band is currently home to 215 students, one of the largest ensembles housed at NCCU.