A life post-FAMU. Two new teams to face off the Orange Blossom Classic
Two new teams will face off at the 2024 Orange Blossom Classic.
The Alabama State University Hornets will battle the North Carolina Central University Eagles on September 1 at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens. This will be the first OBC matchup without Florida A&M since the classic began in 1933.
“Both teams are very competitive and have a strong following as it relates to their fanbase so we feel really good that these teams will draw well,” said Kendra Bulluck, the executive director of the OBC.
Just one season removed from being crowned Black College Football champions, the NCCU Eagles finished atop the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) in 2023 with a record of 9-3. The institution will play in its second OBC after losing to FAMU 67-6 in 1951.
“The Orange Blossom Classic has a deep history with HBCUs from the MEAC and SWAC and with Coach [Trei] Oliver’s connections to both conferences, North Carolina Central University is proud to now take part in that tradition for an event that will bring both national exposure and scholarship fundraising to both our campus and HBCUs,” NCCU athletic director Louis “Skip” Perkins said in a statement.
Located in Montgomery, AL, the ASU Hornets finished the 2023 season 7-4, good enough for third in the Eastern division of the Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC). The Hornets are coached by Eddie Robinson Jr., a NFL veteran and ASU alum.
“This game enhances our overall student-athlete experience and gives our young men the opportunity of a lifetime, including national exposure and playing in a professional venue,” ASU athletic director Jason Cable said in a statement.
ASU and NCCU’s participation stems from July 2023 when FAMU rejected a three-year, $1.475 million contract. That meant the Rattlers’ Sept. 2023 matchup against Jackson State, which they had played three consecutive times since the classic’s resurrection in 2021, would be its last OBC for the time being. The withdrawal ultimately came down to the institution wanting more home games for its “Investing in Champions” season-ticket package.
“The Orange Blossom Classic is a phenomenal event. I’ve actually attended twice as a spectator,” FAMU athletic director Tiffani-Dawn Sykes told Sports Illustrated’s HBCU Legends. “Due to some scheduling philosophy, we couldn’t work it out for this year. But I look forward to continuing conversations. Our fans love it, our student-athletes love it, and I love the Orange Blossom Classic.”
Bulluck shared a similar sentiment about the future of FAMU in the OBC.
“We would anticipate FAMU would be returning in the very near future,” Bulluck said.
Even with Deion Sanders’ short stint at JSU, FAMU was always the biggest draw for the OBC due to their large alumni base. And while it remains to be seen if the ASU-NCCU matchup will draw similar crowds, Bulluck remains optimistic because the additional elements that surround the game – the Battle of the Bands, the OBC parade, etc. – will not change.
“We still believe that we’re putting together a game that will draw those individuals who love HBCU football, and specifically, HBCU culture,” Bulluck said.
An earlier version of this story misidentified Alabama State Coach Eddie Robinson Jr. as the son of legendary Grambling State Coach Eddie Robinson Sr. The two are not related.
This story was originally published January 23, 2024 at 2:01 PM.
