S.C. State Flag Flies Over State House for First Time

A championship football game just opened doors that have been closed for centuries in South Carolina.

South Carolina State University's Bulldogs claimed victory in the Celebration Bowl on Saturday, defeating Prairie View A&M 40-38 in a nail-biting fourth overtime finish. Ryan Stubblefield connected with Jordan Smith on a two-point conversion that sealed the win and sparked celebrations that would reach far beyond the football field.

The real touchdown came days later in Columbia. Governor Henry McMaster approved raising the S.C. State flag over the State House dome for the first time in state history, marking the first time any historically black college or university has received this honor.

Thousands lined the streets of Orangeburg on Wednesday afternoon as the team paraded from the County Library to Oliver C. Dawson Stadium. Players waved from floats, the marching band played fight songs, and community members celebrated both the athletic achievement and the historic recognition.

State Senator Deon Tedder, an S.C. State alum who championed the flag effort, connected the moment to larger dreams of equality. "Dr. King deeply believed in education as a pathway to freedom, dignity, and opportunity," he said at Monday's flag-raising ceremony. "He understood that institutions like South Carolina State University are not just places of learning; they are engines of hope."

Miss South Carolina State University Olivia Ruff called the flag "a powerful symbol of excellence, resilience and bulldog pride." The university received the flag during Wednesday's victory parade, a tangible reminder that their win changed more than a scoreboard.

The Ripple Effect

The Celebration Bowl serves as the national championship for HBCUs, showcasing athletic excellence at institutions that have historically faced underfunding and underrepresentation. This flag-raising transforms a sports victory into a statement about recognition and respect.

Young students at S.C. State and HBCUs across the country now have a new image to carry: their school's colors flying proudly over a state capitol. Parents can point to that flag and tell children that excellence opens doors, that determination creates firsts, and that change happens when communities refuse to accept "never before."

The flag will eventually come down, but the precedent stays forever.