TALLAHASSEE–In 1978, the Florida Classic found a lasting home at Tampa Stadium, affectionately known as “The Big Sombrero” and home to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. FAMU athletic director Hansel Tookes Sr. and Bethune-Cookman athletic director Tank Johnson helped establish the event after years of searching for a venue capable of accommodating a rivalry that had outgrown both schools’ home stadiums.
Before settling in Tampa, Florida A&M and then-Bethune-Cookman College had played at several venues, including Florida State’s Doak Campbell Stadium and Welch Memorial Stadium. In 1974, the rivalry took an unconventional turn when the schools met at Daytona International Speedway, the famed home of the Daytona 500.
Tampa hosted the Classic from 1978 through 1996, although disagreements over the game’s location interrupted the series in 1983 and 1984. The rivalry resumed in 1985, but the search for a stronger long-term arrangement eventually led the schools to Orlando.
Florida Classic moved from Tampa to Orlando
The move to the Florida Citrus Bowl, now Camping World Stadium, in 1997 ushered in an era of remarkable growth. The inaugural Orlando matchup attracted 56,351 fans. Attendance climbed to 66,245 in 1998 and 70,125 in 1999. In 2000, a crowd of 70,719 watched FAMU defeat Bethune-Cookman 31–28 in a thriller with the MEAC championship at stake. The Classic reached its attendance peak in 2003, drawing 73,358 spectators…