HBCU Football: The Orange Blossom Classic returns after 43 years

The “Classic” is a staple of HBCU football, life, and culture. Classics are a fusion of the bowl game experience, family reunion, professional networking, party, and football.

Any fan of HBCU football can find a classic nearly every weekend all season. Be prepared to make a weekend of it when you find one, however. Over three or four days, one can go to a career fair, concert, battle of the bands, and tailgate before the game.

Though there is debate over Classic was first, The Orange Blossom Classic was one of the first and most important from its inception in 1933 until the last in 1978. This fall, this historical event makes its return.

Sponsored by Denny’s, The Orange Blossom Classic takes place Sept. 5, 2021, at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Fla.

Dubbed “The Rematch”, Florida A&M will play Jackson State for the first time since 2018, when the Tigers defeated the Rattlers 18-16 in Tallahassee.

The Classic was established in 1933 by J.R.E Lee Jr., son of Florida A&M president, and ran annually until 1978. Then, it was considered the unofficial de facto Black National Championship game.

The impact of a neutral site

Most classics are played on campus at the host school’s stadium. However, because some of the classics are played between rivals, those schools switch home stadiums yearly. There are some games played on neutral fields, however.

The Orange Blossom Classic is such a game. Florida A&M, the host school, played the Classic either in Miami or Jacksonville. One of the earliest neutral site HBCU games was the famous 1968 game between Morgan State and Grambling State at Yankee Stadium.

That game proved that HBCUs could draw fans at a neutral field. The Circle City Classic (Lucas Oil Stadium, Indianapolis, Indiana), Southern Heritage Classic (Liberty Bowl, Memphis, Tennessee), Florida Classic (Camping World Stadium, Orlando), and the Bayou Classic (Mercedes Super Dome, New Orleans, Louisiana) are among the game played on a neutral field.

The Orange Blossom also follows a tradition of being a game with one host school and a different opponent every season. As a result, like the Circle City Classic, some games feature two different teams most seasons; others, like the Magic City Classic, feature interstate rivals.

Implications of the game

In addition to extending its reach into southern Florida, many hope the game spotlights players from HBCU schools. This draft was the first time in over a decade no players from HBCU schools were not drafted.

The Orange Blossom Classic is one of the few games that will televise live and spotlight some of the talented players from HBCUs and the SWAC.

The game also features two of the more prolific bands in all HBCU football, Jackson State’s “Sonic Boom of the South” and FAMU’s “Marching 100”.

The game will have all of the pomp of a bowl game with a weekend of activities for anyone who spends the weekend in South Florida.