Kendra Bulluck-Majors: Bringing the Orange Blossom Classic Back Where It Belongs

Source: Orange Blossom Classic

By Llerraj Esuod

A Rivalry Steeped in Color and Sound

The Marching 100’s brass pierces the air as Rattler orange and green mingle with Bison blue in the stands of Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens. The Orange Blossom Classic (OBC), first played in 1933 when Florida A&M University (FAMU) and Howard University faced off, returns for another chapter in its history.

Kendra Bulluck-Majors grew up hearing her father describe the Classic as a championship, with packed grandstands, the Marching 100 shaking the stadium, and yearlong bragging rights.

“My dad was a huge fan of the Classic,” Bulluck-Majors said. “Just hearing him talk about it made me ask myself, what would it take to bring it back?”

The family connection runs deep. Her younger sister and her son are proud FAMU Rattlers, giving her more reason to restore the event that had long been a centerpiece in their household’s football talk.

Reviving a Legacy

In 2021, more than four decades after the last game in 1978, Bulluck-Majors answered her question by reviving the OBC. It is now a nationally televised Labor Day weekend tradition, with FAMU facing Howard University on Sunday and Bethune-Cookman University (BCU) taking on Florida International University (FIU) on Friday night in 2025.

From Vision to Reality

Bulluck-Majors’ revival reestablishes a cultural institution that strengthens camaraderie, tradition, and community pride. It is also a reminder of who is leading the charge. In sports, she notes, Black women are often more underrepresented than in other industries.

“That’s one reason I created the Elevation Experience,” she said. “It’s about growing representation for women in sports, entertainment, and entrepreneurship.”

Since the relaunch, career fairs, fan festivals, panels, and scholarships have shared the spotlight. More than $400,000 in funding has been awarded to students. ESPN’s coverage reaches millions of homes and drives tourism revenue for Miami Gardens.

Three Coaches, One State

This year’s lineup is rare. All three head coaches are Florida natives who have led Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) and Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) programs.

• James Colzie III (FAMU): The Rattlers’ head coach, aiming to strike the Howard Bison where it hurts most.  

• Larry Scott (Howard): A Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference veteran who sees the OBC as an early-season proving ground.  

• Willie Simmons (FIU): The former FAMU coach who snapped the Rattlers’ 50-year championship drought, now leading FIU.

“These men have coached and played at the highest levels and understand the responsibility that comes with leading young athletes,” Bulluck-Majors said.

Friday Night Test: Bethune-Cookman vs. FIU

Friday’s opener is a measuring stick. Bethune-Cookman enters against an FBS opponent, aiming to impress against a larger program. Simmons begins his FIU tenure amid high expectations.

“This is bigger than a box score,” Simmons said. “It’s about setting the tone for our season and proving South Florida football is one family, no matter the jersey.”

Sunday Statement: FAMU vs. Howard

Sunday is the statement game. In 2023, FAMU edged Howard 30–26 in the Celebration Bowl, ending a half-century wait. The Bison haven’t forgotten.

“This feels like coming home,” Colzie said. “It’s our chance to honor the legends and show what this generation can do.”

Howard head coach Larry Scott shares the sentiment. “Two elite programs, one spotlight,” Scott said. “Matchups like this test discipline and preparation.”

It’s a clash where the final score won’t tell the whole story. Recruiting clout, national perception, and the inside track in the Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC)–Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) race are all at stake.

Players to Watch

FAMU leans on Ashton Grable and T.J. Huggins, both on the 2025 HBCU Player of the Year Watch List. Howard counters with Kenny Gallop Jr., the reigning MEAC Defensive Player of the Year, who has 319 tackles and 16 tackles for loss.

“Matchups like this are why you play,” Gallop said. “It’s a chance to represent your school and your city.”

History and Meaning

Born in the era of segregation, the OBC became one of the few national stages available to Black athletes, drawing tens of thousands of fans each year and spotlighting the talent of HBCUs, until it paused after the 1978 game. In its early years, games were played at Jacksonville’s Durkee Field, a historic venue for Black college football, before the Classic found its home in Miami.

“It’s more than a game,” said historian Dr. Kimberly D. Brown, a graduate of FAMU and Howard. “It’s two institutions with deep roots in Black intellectual, cultural, and political history. It’s a living expression of the African American legacy, curating joy, leisure, and competition despite opposition to higher education and equality. Even today, with legislation in Florida and D.C. aimed at dismantling Civil Rights gains, these institutions continue to produce leaders who usher in better days — and will do so again.”

Restoring it meant proving skeptics wrong. Many doubted it would work without the “Prime Effect” of Deion Sanders’ Jackson State. Bulluck-Majors proved them wrong.

“Having FAMU commit to a long-term deal has created a new level of enthusiasm,” she said. “Every year, we work to give people a reason to come back.”

Impact Beyond the Field

The OBC influences recruiting, shapes the season’s trajectory, and puts HBCU talent on a national stage. It also generates economic benefits for South Florida, including hotel bookings, restaurant traffic, and vendor sales.

Bulluck-Majors emphasized, “We are the only African-American event in South Florida that is nationally broadcast. That kind of exposure matters.”

Looking Ahead

Every whistle, band performance, and scholarship is for Bulluck-Majors a living tribute to her father’s love for Black culture.

“This is part of our story,” she said. “It’s something our community can celebrate and be proud of.”

Simmons closed with a reminder: “Invest in people first, and the wins will take care of themselves. When you win, you take everyone with you.”