The 2024 Orange Blossom Classic, a recently restored HBCU classic, was a good football game.
North Carolina Central and Alabama State played a football game down to the wire. It had the drama of two HBCU contenders playing in an NFL stadium amid bad weather.
Sunday’s game at Hard Rock Cafe Stadium in Miami Stadium had a listed attendance of 10,256 fans.
That number was a far cry from the last three editions of the HBCU classic, which was reborn in 2021. Those three matchups featured Florida A&M taking on new SWAC rival Jackson State. The 2022 matchup, a 59-3 blowout in favor of Jackson State, had an attendance of 39,907. The 2023 OBC saw 24,967 fans as FAMU ended the three-game losing streak to Jackson State.
In fact, Sunday’s number was the lowest reported by the OBC since 1946 when 9,000 fans saw Lincoln (PA) beat FAMU in Tampa, FL.
The Orange Blossom Classic, established in 1933, became a symbol of Black college football excellence. Originally hosted by Florida A&M University, the game was held continuously from 1947 to 1978 at Miami’s Orange Bowl Stadium. Under legendary coach Alonzo “Jake” Gaither, it served as a de facto Black college national championship, drawing crowds of up to 50,000 during its peak.
The game was shelved following the 1978 season until it was revived by Kendra Bullock-Major, who partnered with Dennys as the game’s title sponsor.
With the three-year deal between FAMU and Jackson State expiring and the series set to move back to a home-and-home format, the Orange Blossom Classic was forced to find new schools to keep the game alive. North Carolina Central and Alabama State, two HBCU football programs on the rise but with less historical fan bases, were booked for the 2024 game.
“We’re moving forward. The Orange Blossom Classic is here to stay, and we’re excited about what the future holds”….” Bullock-Major told HBCU Legends back in 2023. “There will be schools they’re going to be pleased with. Schools that we know travel well and have a good following. I believe we’ll be good.”
have not been announced. Back in 2023, Bullock said she’s not opposed to having FAMU back in the game at some point.
“There’s always a possibility. I don’t think the door is closed. I think it all comes down to their administration and their initiatives and goals.”