Historic Football Classic Returns to South Florida After 41-Year Hiatus
The resurgence of the historic Orange Blossom Classic (OBC) that kicks off Sunday, September 5th at the Hard Rock Stadium with a gridiron showdown between Florida A&M University (FAMU) and Jackson State University (JSU).
This weekend has already gotten off to a bang with pre-parties taking place across Miami celebrating the return of the Classic. After it’s 41-year hiatus, the local organizing committee plans to usher in a new energy and a fresh experience during this Labor Day weekend. Organizers call it a display of Black Excellence with a showcase of alumni, students, families and fans, while empowering the youth through official events and community initiatives designed to enhance the exposure of Historically Black Colleges & Universities within the enriched community of Miami Gardens.
“The homecoming of the Orange Blossom Classic aligns with the transformation of Miami Gardens into so much more than a city – we are a community. It’s not just football. It’s the revival of an untamed legacy,” said Miami-Dade Vice Chairman Oliver Gilbert, who’s an alum of FAMU was mayor of Miami Gardens when the OBC was relaunched.
Founded in 1933 by J.R.E. Lee Jr., the son of FAMU’s president, OBC was the must-see game of the postseason that helped establish the foundation of HBCU football classics. The inaugural OBC was played in front of 2,000 fans at a “blacks-only” ballpark in Jacksonville, Fla., in which FAMU beat Howard 9-0.
The history of the OBC runs deep within the state of Florida, previously hosted in the cities of Jacksonville, Tampa, Tallahassee, and Miami from 1933 -1978.
The OBC promises to unite alumni, students, fans, and those with an affinity to the HBCU experience in a fun, memorable, family-reunion filled atmosphere; and with a goal to raise scholarship funds for the participating schools for years to come.
Check out Eight Must Attend Events Happening this weekend During the Historic Return of the Orange Blossom Classic in Miami Gardens.
For more information about the Orange Blossom Classic visit, www.orangeblossomclassic.com.
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