Florida Classic
Encyclopedia
The Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Florida Classic is the annual college football
game between the Wildcats of Bethune-Cookman University and the Rattlers
of Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University.
The series record is FAMU 18, B-CU 10. In Orlando, that record is FAMU 8, B-CU 4.
The game is televised nationally by ESPNU
as a part of a multi-year contract with the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference
(MEAC).For the last two games the game has been televised by ESPN Classic
.
. Previous games were at the Daytona International Speedway
in Daytona Beach, FL and Doak Campbell Stadium in Tallahassee, FL until the two schools agreed on a permanent site in Tampa, Florida
, in 1978.
The series between the two schools began in 1925, with Florida A&M winning 25-0. B-CC’s first win came a year later, 12-0 in 1926. At one stretch, the Rattlers won 19 straight games including a 68-6 victory in 1959, a 97-0 win in 1960 and a 76-0 win in 1961. Overall, the Rattlers lead the 60-game series, 46-15-1.
Florida A&M won the first Florida Classic game in 1978, 27-17, overcoming a 17-0 halftime deficit. The team went on to win the inaugural NCAA Division I-AA championship. Bethune-Cookman made the series competitive starting in 1973, winning 11 of their 14 series victories during that span, including a 58-52 overtime win in 2004, which was the first-ever three-peat for the ‘Cats in the overall series, which dates back to the 1920s. Florida A&M holds an 18-10 edge in the meetings since the instate rivalry moved from a home-and-home scenario to an annual neutral site game in Tampa Stadium in 1978.
The two schools went through a two-year hiatus in 1983 and 1984, when they could not agree on a playing site, but public pressure from alumni, fans and state officials brought them back to the negotiating table and they resumed the series in 1985. Bethune-Cookman won the rivalry renewal game, 31-27 in 1985.
The 1997-2007 games saw the Florida Classic revived to the point that it overshadowed the drawing power of the Bayou Classic
in New Orleans, between Grambling and Southern University
in terms of attendance. In 1998, 66,245 packed the Florida Citrus Bowl Stadium for the game which determined the 1998 MEAC Championship and postseason invitations. In 1999, the game drew 70,125 fans to Orlando, the sixth-largest football event ever held in the Florida Citrus Bowl Stadium. The 2000 MEAC title game, which drew 70,719, for a 31-28 thriller won by the Rattlers. The 2003 game stands as the largest crowd ever in the series - 73,358.
In 2005, the game made its debut on ESPNU
, the 24-hour college sports network, as a part of a commitment to broadcasting HBCU
games.
Marching bands from both universities compete during the Florida Classic halftime show and at various events during the weekend.
In a 2006 article, Orlando Weekly Magazine said, "at most college football games, halftime is for beer runs and bathroom breaks. At the (Florida Classic), halftime is the reason to go."
Over the years fans have agreed with these types descriptions of the game's halftime show. They also point out that areas under the stadium clear out as fans go to their seats or stand on walkways located at the stadium's end zones because they provide unrestricted views of the football field and the halftime show.
Prior to the MEAC's contract with ESPN to broadcast the game, the two bands enjoyed almost unlimited time to perform their last, longest and undoubtedly best show of the year. In fact, in the 2002 Florida Classic halftime, both bands performed shows that were almost 45 minutes long, nearly tripling the halftime's allotment of only 30 minutes based on NCAA rules.
The rivalry between the two programs is also evident in phrases used by the bands' announcers. Although good friends, Horatio "In Stereo" Walker of Bethune-Cookman's Marching Wildcats and radio jockey Joe Bullard of FAMU's Marching "100," don't express any kind words for the opponent band as they narrate their marching band's respective shows.
The marching bands' appeal is also used to attract fans to other events during the Florida Classic weekend. On Fridays, both bands perform after high school bands during the annual Florida Blue Battle of the Bands at Amway Center. Prior to 2007 while Walt Disney World was still a sponsor, both bands performed annually at a parade at one of the Walt Disney World parks.
College football
College football refers to American football played by teams of student athletes fielded by American universities, colleges, and military academies, or Canadian football played by teams of student athletes fielded by Canadian universities...
game between the Wildcats of Bethune-Cookman University and the Rattlers
Florida A&M Rattlers
The Florida A&M Rattlers represent Florida A&M University in college athletics. Florida A&M is a member of the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference and participates in NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision . FAMU offers men's sports in baseball, basketball, football, golf, swimming , tennis...
of Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University.
The series record is FAMU 18, B-CU 10. In Orlando, that record is FAMU 8, B-CU 4.
The game is televised nationally by ESPNU
ESPNU
ESPNU is a television channel that specializes in college sports, and is produced by, affiliated with and owned by parent network ESPN. ESPNU originates out of ESPN Regional Television's ESPNU (often referred to as The U) is a television channel that specializes in college sports, and is produced...
as a part of a multi-year contract with the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference
Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference
The Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference is a collegiate athletic conference of historically black colleges and universities in the Southeastern United States...
(MEAC).For the last two games the game has been televised by ESPN Classic
ESPN Classic
ESPN Classic is a sports channel that features reruns of famous sporting events, sports documentaries, and sports themed movies. Such programs includes biographies of famous sports figures or a rerun of a famous World Series or Super Bowl, often with added commentary on the event...
.
Location
The Game is held at the Florida Citrus Bowl Stadium in OrlandoOrlando, Florida
Orlando is a city in the central region of the U.S. state of Florida. It is the county seat of Orange County, and the center of the Greater Orlando metropolitan area. According to the 2010 US Census, the city had a population of 238,300, making Orlando the 79th largest city in the United States...
. Previous games were at the Daytona International Speedway
Daytona International Speedway
Daytona International Speedway is a race track in Daytona Beach, Florida, United States. Since opening in 1959, it has been the home of the Daytona 500, one of the most prestigious races in NASCAR. In addition to NASCAR, the track also hosts races of ARCA, AMA Superbike, Grand-Am and Motocross...
in Daytona Beach, FL and Doak Campbell Stadium in Tallahassee, FL until the two schools agreed on a permanent site in Tampa, Florida
Tampa, Florida
Tampa is a city in the U.S. state of Florida. It serves as the county seat for Hillsborough County. Tampa is located on the west coast of Florida. The population of Tampa in 2010 was 335,709....
, in 1978.
Annual attendance
The Florida Classic has now drawn in excess of 1.4 million fans since 1978. Since 1997, a total of 689,592 fans have watched the Florida Classic in the Florida Citrus Bowl Stadium, an average of 68,708 per year. By comparison, the total attendance for the 17 years prior to Orlando was 765,529, an average of only 45,031. Between Orlando and Tampa, the Classic has drawn 1,383,905 fans. The record for attendance at the game is 73,358, set in Orlando in 2003. The announced attendance in 2008 was 60,712History
| School | BCU | FAMU Florida A&M University Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University, commonly known as Florida A&M or FAMU, is a historically black university located in Tallahassee, Florida, United States, the state capital, and is one of eleven member institutions of the State University System of Florida... |
|---|---|---|
| Ownership | Bethune-Cookman University | State University System of Florida State University System of Florida The State University System of Florida is a system of eleven public universities in the U.S. state of Florida. As of 2011, over 320,000 students were enrolled in Florida's state universities... |
| Location | Daytona Beach, FL Daytona Beach, Florida Daytona Beach is a city in Volusia County, Florida, USA. According to 2008 U.S. Census Bureau estimates, the city has a population of 64,211. Daytona Beach is a principal city of the Deltona – Daytona Beach – Ormond Beach, Florida Metropolitan Statistical Area, which the census bureau estimated had... |
Tallahassee, FL Tallahassee, Florida Tallahassee is the capital of the U.S. state of Florida. It is the county seat and only incorporated municipality in Leon County, and is the 128th largest city in the United States. Tallahassee became the capital of Florida, then the Florida Territory, in 1824. In 2010, the population recorded by... |
| Conference | Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference The Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference is a collegiate athletic conference of historically black colleges and universities in the Southeastern United States... |
Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference The Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference is a collegiate athletic conference of historically black colleges and universities in the Southeastern United States... |
| Students | 3,594 | 13,200 |
| School Colors | ||
| Nickname | Wildcats | Rattlers |
| Mascot(s) | Dr. Wyle D. Cat | Venom |
| Football Stadium | Municipal Stadium Municipal Stadium (Daytona Beach) Municipal Stadium, a 10,000-seat multi-purpose stadium in Daytona Beach, Florida, is home to the Bethune-Cookman University Wildcat football team. The stadium is also known as Larry Kelly Field, a name honoring former Daytona Beach Mayor Lawrence J. Kelly... |
Bragg Memorial Stadium Bragg Memorial Stadium Bragg Memorial Stadium is a 25,500-seat football stadium in Tallahassee, Florida. It opened in 1957 and was renovated in 1982. It is home to the Florida A&M Rattlers football team.Built in 1957, Bragg Memorial Stadium is home to Florida A&M Football... |
Florida A&M won the first Florida Classic game in 1978, 27-17, overcoming a 17-0 halftime deficit. The team went on to win the inaugural NCAA Division I-AA championship. Bethune-Cookman made the series competitive starting in 1973, winning 11 of their 14 series victories during that span, including a 58-52 overtime win in 2004, which was the first-ever three-peat for the ‘Cats in the overall series, which dates back to the 1920s. Florida A&M holds an 18-10 edge in the meetings since the instate rivalry moved from a home-and-home scenario to an annual neutral site game in Tampa Stadium in 1978.
The two schools went through a two-year hiatus in 1983 and 1984, when they could not agree on a playing site, but public pressure from alumni, fans and state officials brought them back to the negotiating table and they resumed the series in 1985. Bethune-Cookman won the rivalry renewal game, 31-27 in 1985.
The 1997-2007 games saw the Florida Classic revived to the point that it overshadowed the drawing power of the Bayou Classic
Bayou Classic
The State Farm Bayou Classic is the annual college football game between the Grambling State University Tigers and the Southern University Jaguars, first held under that name in 1974 at Tulane Stadium in New Orleans, Louisiana, although the series itself actually began in 1936...
in New Orleans, between Grambling and Southern University
Southern University
Southern University and A&M College is a historically black college located in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. The Baton Rouge campus is located on Scott’s Bluff overlooking the Mississippi River in the northern section...
in terms of attendance. In 1998, 66,245 packed the Florida Citrus Bowl Stadium for the game which determined the 1998 MEAC Championship and postseason invitations. In 1999, the game drew 70,125 fans to Orlando, the sixth-largest football event ever held in the Florida Citrus Bowl Stadium. The 2000 MEAC title game, which drew 70,719, for a 31-28 thriller won by the Rattlers. The 2003 game stands as the largest crowd ever in the series - 73,358.
In 2005, the game made its debut on ESPNU
ESPNU
ESPNU is a television channel that specializes in college sports, and is produced by, affiliated with and owned by parent network ESPN. ESPNU originates out of ESPN Regional Television's ESPNU (often referred to as The U) is a television channel that specializes in college sports, and is produced...
, the 24-hour college sports network, as a part of a commitment to broadcasting HBCU
Historically Black Colleges and Universities
Historically black colleges and universities are institutions of higher education in the United States that were established before 1964 with the intention of serving the black community....
games.
Game results
Bethune-Cookman victories shaded in ██ maroon. Florida A&M victories are shaded in ██ orange.| Year | Winning team | Losing team | Attendance | Location | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2011 | BCU | 26 | FAMU | 16 | 60,213 | Orlando |
| 2010 | FAMU | 38 | BCU | 27 | 60,712 | Orlando |
| 2009 | FAMU | 42 | BCU | 6 | 59,418 | Orlando |
| 2008 | FAMU | 58 | BCU | 35 | 60,712 | Orlando |
| 2007 | BCU | 34 | FAMU | 7 | 65,367 | Orlando |
| 2006 | FAMU | 35 | BCU | 28 | 71,216 | Orlando |
| 2005 | FAMU | 26 | BCU | 23 (OT) | 70,112 | Orlando |
| 2004 | BCU | 58 | FAMU | 50 (OT) | 71,153 | Orlando |
| 2003 | BCU | 39 | FAMU | 35 | 73,358 | Orlando |
| 2002 | BCU | 37 | FAMU | 10 | 70,201 | Orlando |
| 2001 | FAMU | 31 | BCU | 21 | 70,112 | Orlando |
| 2000 | FAMU | 31 | BCU | 28 | 70,719 | Orlando |
| 1999 | FAMU | 63 | BCU | 14 | 70,125 | Orlando |
| 1998 | FAMU | 50 | BCU | 14 | 56,351 | Orlando |
| 1997 | FAMU | 52 | BCU | 35 | 56,351 | Orlando |
| 1996 | FAMU | 41 | BCU | 17 | 31,208 | Tampa |
| 1995 | FAMU | 43 | BCU | 0 | 37,006 | Tampa |
| 1994 | BCU | 27 | FAMU | 24 | 36,813 | Tampa |
| 1993 | FAMU | 27 | BCU | 22 | 31,264 | Tampa |
| 1992 | BCU | 35 | FAMU | 21 | 40,714 | Tampa |
| 1991 | FAMU | 46 | BCU | 28 | 40,259 | Tampa |
| 1990 | FAMU | 42 | BCU | 20 | 42,776 | Tampa |
| 1989 | FAMU | 30 | BCU | 7 | 43,703 | Tampa |
| 1988 | BCU | 25 | FAMU | 0 | 50,259 | Tampa |
| 1987 | FAMU | 21 | BCU | 10 | 41,521 | Tampa |
| 1986 | FAMU | 16 | BCU | 6 | 38,204 | Tampa |
| 1985 | BCU | 31 | FAMU | 27 | 41,358 | Tampa |
| 1982 | FAMU | 29 | BCU | 14 | 39,160 | Tampa |
| 1981 | FAMU | 20 | BCU | 0 | 45,964 | Tampa |
| 1980 | BCU | 16 | FAMU | 14 | 43,281 | Tampa |
| 1979 | BCU | 25 | FAMU | 20 | 40,253 | Tampa |
| 1978 | FAMU | 27 | BCU | 17 | 42,061 | Tampa |
Halftime Show and Battle of the Bands
In a 2006 article, Orlando Weekly Magazine said, "at most college football games, halftime is for beer runs and bathroom breaks. At the (Florida Classic), halftime is the reason to go."
Over the years fans have agreed with these types descriptions of the game's halftime show. They also point out that areas under the stadium clear out as fans go to their seats or stand on walkways located at the stadium's end zones because they provide unrestricted views of the football field and the halftime show.
Prior to the MEAC's contract with ESPN to broadcast the game, the two bands enjoyed almost unlimited time to perform their last, longest and undoubtedly best show of the year. In fact, in the 2002 Florida Classic halftime, both bands performed shows that were almost 45 minutes long, nearly tripling the halftime's allotment of only 30 minutes based on NCAA rules.
The rivalry between the two programs is also evident in phrases used by the bands' announcers. Although good friends, Horatio "In Stereo" Walker of Bethune-Cookman's Marching Wildcats and radio jockey Joe Bullard of FAMU's Marching "100," don't express any kind words for the opponent band as they narrate their marching band's respective shows.
The marching bands' appeal is also used to attract fans to other events during the Florida Classic weekend. On Fridays, both bands perform after high school bands during the annual Florida Blue Battle of the Bands at Amway Center. Prior to 2007 while Walt Disney World was still a sponsor, both bands performed annually at a parade at one of the Walt Disney World parks.