She’s Got Game: Kendra Bulluck-Major Talks Owning the Orange Blossom Classic, One Of HBCU Football’s Most Iconic Traditions [Exclusive] - Page 2
MadameNoire: The Orange Blossom Classic was originally founded in 1933 and ended in 1978 The very first game was FAMU vs. Howard, a rematch we’ll will see this fall. What inspired you to revive it?
Kendra Bulluck-Major: Honestly, it was a personal calling. My dad was a huge Florida A&M fan, and he always talked about the Orange Blossom Classic when I was growing up. I didn’t want the story to end there. So, I started doing the research, making the calls, and figuring out how we could do it in a way that honors the past while creating something meaningful for the future. That’s how the new OBC was born.
You’ve turned the Orange Blossom Classic into a national stage for HBCU excellence. What’s next for you and the OBC?
The goal is expansion. We want to maintain strong partnerships and build year-round programming. Right now, we pack a lot into the week of the game—The Battle of the Bands, a career fair, a sports and entertainment symposium—but I want to take those efforts into the rest of the year. We’re exploring wealth management sessions for student-athletes and more conversations around NIL (Name, Image, Likeness). The idea is to offer value beyond the game, making the OBC a resource and a presence all year long.
What’s been the biggest lesson you’ve learned since relaunching the OBC?
That this is bigger than me. There were moments I questioned if I could really pull it off. But once I saw the impact on students, alumni, families, and the Miami community—it reminded me that legacy work is never about one person. It’s about creating space for others to rise. I’ve learned that with purpose comes pressure, but also perseverance.
You’ve managed to bring in major corporate sponsors, national media attention. How did you make that happen?
Relationships and reputation. I worked in event production and entertainment for years before this, so I brought those connections with me. But even more than that, it’s about authenticity. When people see you’re passionate and serious, they want to get behind you. We’re telling an important story—about HBCUs, about Black excellence, about tradition—and brands want to be a part of that when it’s done with integrity.
What’s your long-term vision for the Classic?
I want the Orange Blossom Classic to be on the same level as the Bayou Classic or the Magic City Classic—events that are institutions in their own right. I also want to grow it beyond the game. We already host a careers in sports and entertainment symposium, a high school battle of the bands, and other community activations. But I want it to become a year-round platform. We’re also working on mentorship for HBCU students and athletes.
What’s been your proudest moment so far?
Seeing those stands filled in 2021—the first year back after more than 40 years—was surreal. But my proudest moment might actually be seeing the smiles on the faces of student-athletes when they realize how big this is. When they walk out on that field and feel that love, that pride—it’s like, Yes, this is why we do it.
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