SC State Flag Flies Over State House After Historic Win

South Carolina State University made history twice this month, first on the field and now in the heart of their state's capital.

The Bulldogs clinched the Celebration Bowl championship on Saturday with a nail-biting 40-38 victory over Prairie View A&M in quadruple overtime. Ryan Stubblefield connected with Jordan Smith on a two-point conversion to seal the win in the national championship for historically Black colleges and universities.

But the celebration didn't stop there. Governor Henry McMaster approved raising the SC State flag over the State House dome in Columbia, a first for any HBCU in South Carolina's history.

"It's a powerful symbol of excellence, resilience and bulldog pride," said Miss South Carolina State University Olivia Ruff at Monday's flag-raising ceremony. Her words captured what the moment meant to students, alumni, and supporters who gathered to witness history.

State Senator Deon Tedder, an SC State alum who championed the effort, connected the achievement to deeper meaning. He invoked Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s belief in education as a pathway to freedom and opportunity, noting that institutions like SC State serve as "engines of hope."

The Ripple Effect

The victory parade rolling through Orangeburg on Wednesday afternoon represents more than athletic achievement. It celebrates the power of perseverance and the growing recognition of HBCUs as essential pillars of American education.

Young students watching the parade will see themselves reflected in that flag flying over the State House. They'll understand that their dreams, their schools, and their communities deserve recognition at the highest levels.

The flag will be presented to the university during the parade, a permanent reminder of what happens when talent meets opportunity and a community rallies behind its champions.

This championship season proved that SC State belongs in the spotlight, on the field and beyond.