Orange Blossom Classic

Last updated
Orange Blossom Classic
Orange Blossom Classic logo.png
Stadium Hard Rock Stadium
Location Miami Gardens, Florida
Previous stadiumsSeveral, including the Miami Orange Bowl and Tinker Field
Previous locations Miami, Jacksonville, Orlando, Tallahassee, Tampa
Operated1933–1978; 2021–present
Sponsors
Denny's (2021–present)
2024 matchup
North Carolina Central vs. Alabama State
(North Carolina Central 31–24)
2025 matchup
TBD vs. TBD

The Orange Blossom Classic is an American annual college football game first held from 1933 to 1978 and again since 2021. Starting back up in 2021 the game has been played on Labor Day weekend.

Contents

History

In its first incarnation, the Classic featured two historically black colleges and universities (HBCU)—Florida A&M and another program. The game sometimes served as a de facto championship game, [1] depending on the record of the participating teams. The game was played late in the season, with Florida A&M inviting another top black team as its opponent. [1] The game could be seen as a mythical "Black National Championship" game. [2] For example, the December 5, 1942, Afro American newspaper refers to the 1942 game as a national title game, as does at least one source for the 1945 game. [3] From 1952 to 1962, 10 of the 11 teams that won the Classic were named national champions. However, there were also numerous seasons in which neither Florida A&M nor its Classic opponent were selected as national champions.

The Classic was discontinued after its 1978 playing. The name was sometimes applied to subsequent regular-season meetings between Florida A&M and the FIU Panthers. [1]

In its second incarnation, the Classic returned in 2021. That season, Florida A&M played Jackson State in a season opening game at Hard Rock Stadium in September. [4] The game has continued as an annual early-season contest between those two programs. The 2022 matchup had the second most viewed HBCU football game with close to 958,000 viewers, trailing only the Celebration Bowl. In 2024 Florida A&M will no longer play in the game and the will find another team to play Jackson State. [5] In 2024 the game had a weather delay for a hour and twenty minute delay because of lightning in the area.

Game results

1933–1978

[6]

YearSiteWinnerLoserRef.Attendance
1933 Jacksonville, Florida Florida A&M 9 Howard 6 [7]
1934Jacksonville, Florida Florida A&M 13 Virginia State 12 [8]
1935Jacksonville, Florida Kentucky State ‡ 19 Florida A&M 9 [9] [10]
1936Jacksonville, Florida Prairie View A&M 6 Florida A&M 0 [11]
1937 Orlando, Florida Florida A&M 25 Hampton 20 [12] 3,000
1938Orlando, Florida Florida A&M ‡ 9 Kentucky State 7 [13]
1939Orlando, Florida Florida A&M 42 Wiley 0 [14]
1940Orlando, Florida Wilberforce 0–0 Florida A&M [15]
1941Orlando, Florida Florida A&M 15 Tuskegee 7 [16] 8,200
1942Jacksonville, Florida Florida A&M ‡ 12 Texas College 6 [17]
1943Jacksonville, Florida Hampton 39 Florida A&M 0
1944Jacksonville, Florida Virginia State 19 Florida A&M 6
1945Jacksonville, Florida Wiley ‡ 32 Florida A&M 68,000
1946 Tampa, Florida #20 Lincoln (PA) 20#8 Florida A&M 09,000
1947 Miami, Florida #3 Florida A&M 7 #4 Hampton 019,000
1948Miami, Florida#10 Virginia Union 10 #5 Florida A&M 616,000
1949Miami, Florida#6 North Carolina A&T 20 #5 Florida A&M 14
1950Miami, Florida#12 Wilberforce State 13#1 Florida A&M ‡619,317
1951Miami, Florida#2 Florida A&M 67 #7 North Carolina College 623,446
1952Miami, Florida#1 Florida A&M ‡ 29 #2 Virginia State 735,064
1953Miami, Florida#1 Prairie View A&M ‡ 33 #2 Florida A&M ‡2741,313
1954Miami, Florida#2 Florida A&M ‡ 67 #6 Maryland State [lower-alpha 1] 1941,179
1955Miami, Florida#1 Grambling ‡ 28 #3 Florida A&M 2140,319
1956Miami, Florida#1 Tennessee A&I ‡ 41 #2 Florida A&M 3941,808
1957Miami, Florida#1 Florida A&M ‡ 27#4 Maryland State [lower-alpha 1] 2137,000
1958Miami, Florida#1 Prairie View A&M ‡ 26 #3 Florida A&M 839,426
1959Miami, Florida#1 Florida A&M ‡ 28#4 Prairie View A&M 743,645
1960Miami, Florida#2 Florida A&M 40 Langston 2642,080
1961Miami, Florida#1 Florida A&M ‡ 14 #2 Jackson State 847,791
1962Miami, Florida#2 Jackson State ‡ 22 #1 Florida A&M ‡643,461
1963Miami, Florida#4 Florida A&M 30 #3 Morgan State 7
1964Miami, Florida#2 Florida A&M 42#3 Grambling 15
1965Miami, Florida#2 Morgan State 36#3 Florida A&M 7
1966Miami, Florida Florida A&M 43 Alabama A&M 26
1967Miami, Florida#2 Grambling ‡ 28#4 Florida A&M 25
1968Miami, Florida#3 Alcorn A&M ‡ 36#7 Florida A&M 937,398
1969 Tallahassee, Florida #3 Florida A&M 23#5 Grambling 1936,784
1970Miami, Florida Jacksonville State 21 Florida A&M 731,184
1971Miami, Florida Florida A&M 27 Kentucky State 926,161
1972Miami, Florida Florida A&M 41 Maryland Eastern Shore [lower-alpha 1] 2121,606
1973Miami, Florida Florida A&M 23#11 South Carolina State 1218,996
1974Miami, Florida#20 Florida A&M 17#6 Howard 1320,166
1975Miami, Florida#2 Florida A&M 40 #8 Kentucky State 1327,875
1976Miami, Florida#20 Florida A&M 26#16 Central State 2118,000
1977Miami, Florida#1 Florida A&M ‡ 37#8 Delaware State 1529,493
1978Miami, Florida#1 Florida A&M ‡ 31#2 Grambling State 735,499

‡ Denotes a team selected as Black college football national champions for the season in question (in some seasons, different teams were named champions by different selectors).

Rankings from The Pittsburgh Courier (1946-1958, 1961-1969), Associated Negro Press (1959-1960), and Jet (1973-1978)

2021–present

YearSiteWinnerLoserRef.Attendance
2021 Miami Gardens, Florida Jackson State 7 Florida A&M 6 [18] 31,000
2022 Jackson State 59 Florida A&M 3 [19] 39,907
2023 Florida A&M ‡28 Jackson State 10 [20] 24,967
2024 North Carolina Central 31 Alabama State 2410,256

Appearances by school

No.SchoolRecord
48 Florida A&M 27–21–1
6 Grambling State 3–3
5 Jackson State 3–2
4 Kentucky State 1–3
4 Prairie View A&M 3–1
3 Central State 1–1–1
3 Hampton 1–2
3 Maryland Eastern Shore [lower-alpha 1] 0–3
3 Virginia State 1–2
2 Howard 0–2
2 Morgan State 1-1
2 Wiley 1–1
1 Alabama A&M 0–1
1 Alcorn State 1–0
1 Delaware State 0–1
1 Jacksonville State 1–0
1 Langston 0–1
1 North Carolina A&T 1–0
1 North Carolina Central 0–1
1 South Carolina State 0–1
1 Tennessee State 1–0
1 Texas College 0–1
1 Tuskegee 0–1
1 Virginia Union 1–0
1 Alabama State 0–1

Source: [21]

See also

Notes

  1. 1 2 3 4 The University of Maryland Eastern Shore was known as Maryland State College until 1970.

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The 1952 Florida A&M Rattlers football team was an American football team that represented Florida A&M University as a member of the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SIAC) during the 1952 college football season. In their eighth season under head coach Jake Gaither, the Rattlers compiled an 8–2 record, including a victory over Virginia State in the Orange Blossom Classic. The team played its home games at Bragg Stadium in Tallahassee, Florida.

The 1950 Florida A&M Rattlers football team was an American football team that represented Florida A&M University as a member of the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SIAC) during the 1950 college football season. In their sixth season under head coach Jake Gaither, the Rattlers compiled an 8–1–1 record. The team's sole loss was to Wilberforce State in the Orange Blossom Classic. The team played its home games at Bragg Stadium in Tallahassee, Florida.

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The 1947 Florida A&M Rattlers football team was an American football team that represented Florida A&M College as a member of the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SIAC) during the 1947 college football season. In their third season under head coach Jake Gaither, the Rattlers compiled a 9–1 record, including a victory over Hampton in the Orange Blossom Classic. The Rattlers played their home games at Sampson-Bragg Field in Tallahassee, Florida.

The 1956 Florida A&M Rattlers football team was an American football team that represented Florida A&M University as a member of the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SIAC) during the 1956 college football season. In their 12th season under head coach Jake Gaither, the Rattlers compiled an 8–1 record, won the SIAC championship, and outscored opponents by a total of 406 to 98. The team played its home games at Bragg Stadium in Tallahassee, Florida.

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The 1953 Prairie View A&M Panthers football team was an American football team that represented Prairie View A&M University in the Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) during the 1953 college football season. In their fifth season under head coach Billy Nicks, the Panthers compiled a perfect 12–0 record, won the SWAC championship, and outscored opponents by a total of 387 to 88. In two postseason games, they defeated Florida A&M in the Orange Blossom Classic and Texas Southern in the Prairie View Bowl. The Panthers were recognized as the 1953 black college national champion.

The 1958 Prairie View A&M Panthers football team was an American football team that represented Prairie View A&M University in the Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) during the 1958 college football season. In their tenth season under head coach Billy Nicks, the Panthers compiled a 10–0–1 record, won the SWAC championship, and outscored opponents by a total of 369 to 101. In two post-season games, they defeated Florida A&M in the Orange Blossom Classic and Langston in the Prairie View Bowl. The Panthers were recognized as the 1958 black college national champion.

The 1945 Wiley Wildcats football team was an American football team that represented Wiley College in the Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) during the 1945 college football season. In their 23rd season under head coach Fred T. Long, the Wildcats compiled a 10–0 record, defeated Florida A&M in the Orange Blossom Classic, won the SWAC championship, shut out seven of ten opponents, and outscored all opponents by a total of 356 to 19. The Wiley team was also recognized as the 1945 black college national champion.

The 1962 Jackson State Tigers football team was an American football team that represented Jackson State College for Negroes—now known as Jackson State University as a member of the Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) during the 1962 NCAA College Division football season. In their 11th season under head coach John Merritt, the Eagles compiled an overall record of 10–1 record with a mark of 6–1 against conference opponents, won the SWAC title, defeated Florida A&M in the Orange Blossom Classic, and outscored all opponents by a total of 411 to 101.

The 1949 Florida A&M Rattlers football team was an American football team that represented Florida A&M University as a member of the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SIAC) during the 1949 college football season. In their fifth season under head coach Jake Gaither, the Rattlers compiled a 7–2 record, won the SIAC championship, and outscored opponents by a total of 315 to 98.

The 1946 Florida A&M Rattlers football team was an American football team that represented Florida A&M College as a member of the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SIAC) during the 1946 college football season. In their second season under head coach Jake Gaither, the Rattlers compiled a 6–3–1 record, and won the SIAC championship, and appeared in two post-season games, losing to Lincoln (PA) in the Orange Blossom Classic and tying Wiley in the Angel Bowl.

References

  1. 1 2 3 Super Bowl Catches Up to Orange Blossom Classic, The New York Times , February 3, 2007, retrieved February 7, 2009.
  2. ↑ Tremene Triplett, Fans, coaches, athletes reminisce about the historic Orange Blossom Classic, South Florida Times, March 14, 2008, retrieved February 7, 2009.
  3. ↑ "UW Athletics Black History: football assistant coach Les Ritcherson". media-newswire.com. February 17, 2011.
  4. ↑ "HBCU Football: The Orange Blossom Classic returns after 43 years". Saturday Blitz. 18 May 2021. Retrieved 22 August 2021.
  5. ↑ "Florida A&M leave Orange Blossom Classic". yahoo. 4 September 2023.
  6. ↑ http://fs.ncaa.org/Docs/stats/football_records/2022/Bowls.pdf [ bare URL PDF ]
  7. ↑ "Florida A. & M. Upsets Howard, 9-6, In Thriller". Pittsburgh Courier . December 9, 1933. pp. 2–5. Retrieved August 20, 2023– via newspapers.com.
  8. ↑ "Rattlers Nose Out Trojans, 13 To 12". Pittsburgh Courier . December 15, 1934. pp. 2–5. Retrieved August 20, 2023– via newspapers.com.
  9. ↑ "Negro Football". Miami Herald . December 8, 1935. p. 1-C. Retrieved August 20, 2023– via newspapers.com.
  10. ↑ "Rattlers Hold KY. In Hectic 2nd Half". Pittsburgh Courier . December 14, 1935. pp. 2–4. Retrieved August 20, 2023– via newspapers.com.
  11. ↑ "5,000 See Prairie View Beat Florida, 6-0, In Orange Blossom Game". St. Louis Argus . December 11, 1936. p. 6. Retrieved August 20, 2023– via newspapers.com.
  12. ↑ "Hampton Loses To A.&M. 25-20". The Sunday Sentinel-Star. December 5, 1937. p. 7 – via newspapers.com.
  13. ↑ "Florida Rattlers Beat Kentucky, 9-7, For National Title". The Tallahassee Daily Democrat. December 4, 1938. p. 8 – via Newspapers.com.
  14. ↑ Moorne, Halody (December 16, 1939). "Florida's Orange Blossom Classic Is Joke Of Season". The Black Dispatch . Oklahoma City. p. 8. Retrieved August 20, 2023– via newspapers.com.
  15. ↑ Jones, Melancholy (December 14, 1940). "Terrific Defenses Feature 0-0 Tie At Orlando; 7,000 See 8th Classic". The Phoenix Index. p. 6. Retrieved August 20, 2023– via newspapers.com.
  16. ↑ "Tuskegee Loses To Florida A. And M., Orange Blossom Tilt". The Birmingham News . Birmingham, Alabama. AP. December 7, 1941. p. Sports 8. Retrieved August 20, 2023– via newspapers.com.
  17. ↑ "Florida Takes Over Negro College Title". Star-News . Wilmington, North Carolina. AP. December 13, 1942. p. 8. Retrieved August 20, 2023– via newspapers.com.
  18. ↑ Jackson, Wilton (September 6, 2021). "Deion Sanders's Defense Seals Victory for Jackson State in Orange Blossom Classic vs. Florida A&M". Sports Illustrated . Retrieved August 20, 2023.
  19. ↑ Becton, Stan (September 4, 2022). "How Jackson State dominated Florida A&M 59-3 to win 2022 Orange Blossom Classic". NCAA.com. Retrieved August 20, 2023.
  20. ↑ Kelley, Kevin (January 6, 2023). "Jackson State, Florida A&M to play in 2023 Orange Blossom Classic". fbschedules.com. Retrieved August 20, 2023.
  21. ↑ Official 2007 NCAA Division I Football Records Book, National Collegiate Athletic Association, p. 367–368.
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