Orange Blossom Classic to honor Teddy Bridgewater, historian Dorothy Jenkins Fields

Dorothy Jenkins Fields recalls the excitement around the Orange Blossom Classic when it first got to Miami as if it were scribbled on the back of her hand: She remembers the radio disc jockey giving the details of the event to “really get people interested,” how her uncle held meetings for presidents of the Black Greek-lettered organizations when they were in town for the classic, and the dressmakers and tailors Black folk would visit to get their fits ready for the game.

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“The classic was a time to dress and to support the community,” she said.

Now she, and four others, including former Miami Northwestern Senior High School coach Teddy Bridgewater, are being honored by the Orange Blossom Classic during Labor Day weekend.

The festival Fields grew up with ceased in 1978, but was brought back in 2021 by entrepreneur Kendra Bulluck. Now in its sixth year, the Orange Blossom Classic is set over four days during Labor Day weekend and celebrates HBCUs and HBCU culture. The event culminates in a matchup set to take place between Florida A&M and South Carolina State University at 3 p.m. Sunday at Hard Rock Stadium, with a Battle of the Bands Halftime Show between the schools’ marching bands.

This year’s event also includes a fireside chat luncheon with actress and singer Crystal Renee Hayslett at Jungle Island and a fan fest ahead of the game, which includes performances from Trick Daddy and Trina. Bullock, who is executive director of the Orange Blossom Classic, confirmed J.T. Money will also perform and said there will be a guest appearance by Uncle Luke.

Miami business owner William L. Berry, Sr., who also has ties to South Carolina, and Bakari Sellers, attorney and former South Carolina state representative, will also be honored in connection with this year’s theme: the audacity of excellence.

“You have to be really bold and you have to be really audacious in order to do some of the things that many of our own groups have done,” Bulluck said.

Fields a graduate of Spelman College who founded the Black Archives in Miami to help preserve the city’s Black history, will be honored for her work. “She not only helps preserve Miami’s history but she helps preserve American history and Black history,” Bulluck said.

“I am just so thrilled and honored that they are recognizing my work as it connects to what they’re doing,” Fields said, pointing to their history of preserving Black culture including spotlighting Black Greek-lettered organizations, or the Divine Nine.

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Bulluck said Bridgewater was being honored for his community involvement with his alma mater Miami Northwestern and career as an NFL quarterback. Earlier this year, the Florida Legislature passed the Teddy Bridgewater Act allowing Florida K-12 middle and high schools coaches to use up to $15,000 of their personal funds to support student-atheletes with food, transportation and recovery services with written parental consent and reporting to the FHSAA.

The bill stems from Bridgewater’s suspension last summer after he was found to have used his own money to pay for Northwestern players’ food, transportation and athletic recovery expenses in violation of Florida High School Athletic Association rules. Bridgewater’s team declined an interview request from the Miami Herald.

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“We thought that he was fitting for the sports award just based on the career that he’s had in the NFL, and then coming back, of course, and giving back to his community,” Bulluck said.

The Orange Blossom Classic’s history dates back to 1932 during a time when HBCUs were prohibited from performing in the Orange Bowl, Bulluck said. She’s hoping attendees are reminded of HBCU history and celebrate those who once played or marched in the original classic.

“There are many of them who are still around today that I talked to, and they say that they’re glad that it’s (around) because it was something that was really special for them,” Bulluck said.

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IF YOU GO:

What: Orange Blossom Classic

When: Sunday, September 6 at 3 p.m.

Where: Hard Rock Stadium, 30047 Don Shula Drive, Miami Gardens, FL 33056

Cost: Tickets start at $25 with OBC code

Info: https://www.orangeblossomclassic.com/