Parents never know how the seeds they plant in their children sprout; most hope those seeds will help their children achieve their dreams and aspirations and become productive members of society. Kendra Bulluck’s dad could never have imagined that daddy-daughter time would result in the revival of one of the biggest HBCU football classics.
Since she could remember, Bulluck’s dad always talked about the legacy of the Orange Blossom Classic (OBC), a staple game for Florida A&M University (FAMU) and Florida football. “My dad was the biggest reason for [me] getting into sports entertainment, as he is FAMU and the OBC’s biggest fan and always reminded me how important the classic was for the community.” Bulluck’s professional career started in real estate, where she made a name for herself before adding executive director of the Orange Blossom Classic to her resume in 2021. “I didn’t imagine myself being a woman in sports, but I grew up around HBCUs, and now, being a mom of two boys and getting them involved in sports, I wanted to fully immerse myself in the sports world and was blessed with the opportunity of bringing back this staple of HBCU sports.”
The Orange Blossom Classic (OBC) was founded in 1933 by J.R.E. Lee Jr., the son of Florida A&M University’s president, as a postseason invitational football game for HBCUs. During its first era (1933–1978), the OBC frequently featured Florida A&M against top HBCU programs, including Howard, Tuskegee, Alabama A&M, and Maryland-Eastern Shore. The game was sometimes regarded as a “Black National Championship,” with several winners later recognized as national champions by various selectors. The Classic was discontinued after 1978, though the name occasionally applied to regular-season matchups between FAMU and other teams. After a 43-year hiatus, the OBC was revived in 2021 as an early-season game at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida, with FAMU facing Jackson State.
“I want to allow this current generation to experience what I experienced growing up, seeing the community gather around football, pageantry, and HBCU culture,” Bulluck said about what motivates her to bring OBC to new heights. Since its grand reception in 2021, the scholarship component has become the true embodiment of her vision. In 2025 alone, the Classic awarded $66,000 in scholarships to HBCU students, bringing their total investment to nearly $600,000 since the event’s revival in 2021.
“When we award scholarships, we’re not just providing financial support; we’re investing in futures. We’re telling students, ‘We see you. We believe in you,'” she explained to ESSENCE last year. Students like Willayja Williams, a pre-law student at FAMU, can now focus on education without financial stress due to being a recipient of a scholarship. “These aren’t just one-time awards. They are long-term investments in brilliance, in leadership, in Black excellence. And that’s exactly why we do what we do.”
Bulluck was named one of the “EBONY” Power 100 Leaders in Sports in 2022. That same year, she launched the Elevate Now brand and the Elevation Experience to equip women with tools to excel in their careers and entrepreneurial endeavors in sports and entertainment. “I’m always an advocate for women who want to get into this space, and helping them figure out how to navigate it,” she said. “The beautiful thing about sports is that [they] help to bring people together.”
This year the classic will be held on Sunday, Sept. 6, at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens as FAMU battles SC State, with Miami hip-hop icon Trina as the headlining performer for the Tobacco-Free Florida Fan Fest presented by Baptist Health. “Being able to highlight Miami culture and share it with out-of-towners is so amazing, and then to top it off with us all embracing and supporting HBCUs, there’s not much else I could ask for,” Bulluck said about the fan fest experience.
“Every single event during OBC Week is designed with intention,” she explains. “We want our alumni to feel that deep sense of pride and tradition. We also want the next generation to see possibilities in real-time, whether that’s through our career fair, youth cheer clinic, scholarship presentations, or The Elevation Experience Women’s Leadership Conference.”
You can purchase tickets to the game by visiting www.Orangeblossomclassic.com.
