Texas Southern University suspended its renowned Ocean of Soul marching band as officials investigate alleged hazing.

The incident was reported on Wednesday to school authorities, prompting a campus police investigation, a news release issued late Thursday said.

"While it is not known at this time how many students were involved in this incident, it is believed to involve one section of the band," the statement said, adding that school officials will "take appropriate action."

The suspension canceled Thursday's scheduled band performance at TSU's football game against Sam Houston State University at BBVA Compass Stadium. One band member who preferred not to be identified said members did not learn about the suspension until Thursday's pregame rehearsal on campus. At least a handful of Ocean of Soul members attended the game out of uniform.

When approached at BBVA Compass Stadium late Thursday, TSU President John Rudley declined to comment. Higher education officials nationwide have been on heightened alert for band misconduct after last year's hazing-related death of Robert Champion, a drum major of the famed Marching 100 at Florida A&M University.

TSU has made attempts to educate its students about the dangers of hazing.

"The university presented multiple training and informational sessions to band members and other student organizations," the release said.

Under Texas law, hazing and failing to report hazing are crimes. An institution can be sanctioned if its officials condone, encourage, commit or assist hazing. Those convicted are guilty of a misdemeanor; the charge becomes a felony if the hazing results in death.

TSU alumni were supportive of Rudley's decision to shut down the band while officials investigate the hazing charge.

"At this point, we know very little about exactly what has happened," said former TSU drum major Ricky Georgetown, now pastor of First United Methodist Church in Brazoria.

He declined to comment on whether there was a culture of hazing during his band tenure from 1987 to 1991.

"These kind of actions do not represent what the Ocean of Soul is about and, more importantly, what Texas Southern University is about," he said.

Julia Askew, president of the national alumni association, said the many calls, emails and texts she received were roundly in favor of the suspension.

"We are standing by the university and our president's decision 100 percent," she said.

Putting the Ocean on ice comes as another blow to TSU, under a cloud as its football program deals with an NCAA compliance probe, and a dampens excitement about the football team's inaugural season on new home turf - the sparkling BBVA Compass Stadium. TSU homecoming, when the Ocean of Soul becomes the star of the annual parade and darling of the festivities, is five weeks away.

Darryl Williams, a Prairie View A&M University band member in the late 1980s and early 1990s, said it's unfortunate the TSU band has to suffer for what has been described as the misdeeds of a few.

"At the same time, I can understand the administration … wanting to halt everything," said Williams, a University of Houston graduate student who is formerly the band director at Yates and Westbury high schools. He assists the Prairie View Marching Storm woodwinds section.

What was once considered "initiation" has fallen out favor because of Champion's death and other violent interpretations of band rituals.

"They have to put the brakes on everyone and it's teaching everyone a lesson that this type of behavior is unacceptable," he said.

The Chronicle's Ronnie Turner contributed to this report.