SC State HBCU National Championship celebration brings university, community together
Supporters lined the parade route on campus to thank the team for the winning effort.
ORANGEBURG, S.C. – Bulldog fans lined the South Carolina State University campus on Wednesday to congratulate the HBCU National Championship-winning football team in grand fashion.
A celebratory parade began on Russell Street in downtown Orangeburg near the Orangeburg County Library and continued through the SC State campus to Oliver C. Dawson Stadium, where a special recognition program followed.
SC State students, alumni, and faculty and staff members joined the community along Geathers and Buckley Streets before following the Marching 101 Band into the stadium for the ceremony. Supporters across the state also had the opportunity to view the celebration live on WIS/WCSC TV’s Palmetto Sports and Entertainment channel and on the station’s YouTube channel.
The Bulldogs captured the HBCU National Championship at the 10th annual Celebration Bowl on Dec. 13 in Atlanta, Georgia, defeating the Prairie View A&M University Panthers 40-38 in the fourth overtime. SC State was down 21-0 at the half, but the tenacious Bulldogs rallied to pull out the most thrilling victory in Celebration Bowl history.
Football players reflect on parade experience
“It’s really a good feeling. It was a pretty long season and just to be able to be surrounded by a whole family of people around this community is just amazing,” Shaw said.
He said the team’s thrilling comeback was completed with determination and faith, as well as simple inspiration from Head Football Coach Chennis Berry.
“We had God, first and foremost, and the will to fight. It’s 60 minutes in a football game. We came out of the first 30 minutes. We’re down 21,” Shaw said. “Coach really didn’t have too much to say to us. It was just more of, ‘Y’all have 30 minutes for the rest of y’all life. You will never play with each other ever again. What y’all gonna do?’ We came out there and showed them what we wanted to do.”
Wide receiver Johnny Jones recalled the heartwarming display of sportsmanship shown around the world when fellow wide receiver Jordan Smith carried him off the field after he was injured.
“It just really meant a lot to me. It meant the world because it shows the brotherhood that we have for each other and the love that we have. It was just an everyday thing that happened to be seen in front of the world,” Jones said.
Jones was not about to leave the task unfinished after resolving his injury.
“I came back in the fourth quarter. I think it was like four minutes left. I caught a big third-down conversion,” he said. “It means a lot because I’ve always won championships, but I never really felt like I was contributing to the championship, but it was amazing. I’ve just felt love from the community since I got here.”
Jones said the team had to be determined and focused on coming back to win the game.
“We knew we weren’t coming to lose. So, when we went in that locker room at halftime, we were telling ourselves, ‘Hey, this is not us. So, let’s go out there and dig deep and find a way to win,’ and we did that,” he said.
Support from students, alumni along the parade route
“I came just to show support. I’m glad they won. I went down to watch the game. It was real cool. I like the community that was there. It was a lot of different HBCUs. So, it was a good atmosphere,” said Wright, a junior sports communications major. “The championship win will definitely bring more exposure in terms of sports, more eyes looking at the team and getting people from different places.”
Taylor, a senior accounting major, said she was proud of the team for winning the championship.
“I went to the game last year, and I didn’t get to experience them having a parade and winning,” she said. “So, I’m very grateful to be here right now just watching them celebrate winning the championship.”
Dian Alston and Myra Bull, members of the SC State Class of 1981, were among those cheering on the Bulldogs along the route.
“We’re loyal daughters, and we support South Carolina State University. We love everything about South Carolina State, and we love our football team,” Alston said.
Bull said she hopes the national championship win will bring more attention to the university and what it has to offer.
“I hope it does because so many of our Black men have been programmed to think that they cannot go to another level if they attend a HBCU even though historically our football players have done quite well at the next level,” she said.
“I’m hoping now that they see that anything is possible and that you can go as high as you want to go from South Carolina State,” Bull said.
Michael Jarvis, a 1983 SC State graduate and Orangeburg resident, said he and his family are staunch supporters of the university.
“All of the Jarvis family are Bulldogs. I graduated from South Carolina State -- my wife, my mother, my father, my uncles, my aunts. My grandfather retired from here, (and) my mother retired from here. So, we’re Bulldogs,” Jarvis said. “I don’t miss a game. When they put gas in the bus, I got gas in the car. I’m a season ticket holder for football and basketball.”
Jarvis said the championship win is just another success story for the university.
“It’s good for the university. We have the right president now. We’re under good leadership. We’re moving in the right direction. The school is in a good place,” he said.
Evia Thomas, a 1962 SC State graduate, was among a group of other alumni who turned out for the parade in support of the football team.
“Oh my, we support in every way. Wherever they are, that’s where we are. That’s that Bulldog tenacity. I think the championship win brings a highlight to South Carolina and, most significantly, to SC State,” Thomas said. “It will help with recruitment, donations and sponsors and let others see that it doesn’t matter where you come from, it’s where you’re doing. SC State has produced many national figures, including generals, NFL players and educators.”
Orangeburg resident Sam Kennerly said he would not have missed the parade because he has supported the football team all year long.
“I went to every game. I was at the Celebration Bowl. I had good seats and enjoyed the game. The first part of the game was kind of shaky, but after that, they kind of settled down and came back and played like true Bulldogs. I’m so proud of that,” he said.
SC State President Alexander Conyers was pleased with the parade turnout.
“We didn’t want to do this on a weekend because these student-athletes have worked every weekend since April. We wanted to give some time back to them, and I’m thrilled that the community has supported them in the middle of the day,” Conyers said. “This is the perfect opportunity to showcase the partnership between the university and the community, and I’m grateful to the mayor and Orangeburg City Council, Orangeburg County Council and the entire Orangeburg community."
Coach, university recognized for win
“This moment did not happen by accident. If you want championship results, you must
first create a championship environment,” he said.
Grant said team members would each receive a phone with one year of free service thanks to Celebration Bowl sponsor Cricket Wireless.
The 10th annual Celebration Bowl garnered the largest televised audience in the bowl game’s history on Dec. 13.
State Rep. Hamilton Grant and State Sen. Deon Tedder, both SC State alumni, were also on hand to present the university with the flag that was flown atop the State House on Monday, Martin Luther King Jr. Day, in celebration of their championship win.
The university made history with the inaugural appearance of an HBCU banner above the Capitol.
Hamilton and he and Tedder were proud to be back on the university’s campus where they attended as students to present not just the flag to Conyers and Berry, but a certificate of recognition from Gov. Henry McMaster and a state challenge coin.
“It’s a full circle moment for us,” Hamilton said.
Tedder said, “We’re proud Bulldogs. We’re going to represent in any room we’re in.”
The university also received resolutions recognizing the football team’s winning season and ultimate championship win from Orangeburg city and county councils. As part of the City Council’s resolution, Orangeburg Mayor Michael C. Butler said Dec. 16, 2025, was designated as Chennis Berry Day in the City of Orangeburg.
Butler said the team’s win “showed the nation what Bulldog pride looks like” and inspired the entire local community.
Orangeburg County Councilwoman Delores Frazier, an SC State alumna, said the County Council resolution reflected the team’s “extraordinary achievements” and unwavering determination.
The program also included a video message from U.S. House Minority Whip Jim Clyburn, a loyal SC State alum. Clyburn delivered a message on the U.S. House floor recognizing his alma mater’s championship win.
John Rickenbacker, a constituent liaison for Clyburn’s office, said the remarks officially became a part of the Congressional Record, a copy of which was presented to SC State Trustee Chairman Douglas Gantt, Berry, Conyers and SC State interim athletic director Oliver “Buddy” Pough.
Pough and Gantt also made remarks during the program, along with SC State National Alumni President Yolanda Williams and STATE Club President Art Williams.
“All things are possible if you believe. We believe and will continue to support,” Art Williams said.
Yolanda Williams said, “This is what winning looks like. That same character lives within our campus and in our community.”
The head coach's thanks to the team and the "12th man"
The head coach's thanks to the team and the "12th man"
“We’re grateful for you. You get big coach hyped up, as well,” Berry said. “What an amazing season we had. We didn’t flinch. We held the rope. Because we held the rope, we’re national champions.”
Berry honored the team and his staff by bringing players and coaches in front of the stage by position squads for brief remarks.
Wednesday’s activities concluded with a fireworks display.
The team will be presented with their championship rings during an upcoming Garnet & Blue Extravaganza set for April 18 at Oliver C. Dawson Stadium.
More National Championship celebration images
