Football Saturdays in Florida State are always exciting, with fans decked out in Garnet and Gold packing the stands at Doak Campbell Stadium. The atmosphere is electric, with the War Chant echoing throughout the field as the ‘Noles charge onto the field for ACC action. From the first touchdown to the last hard-hitting defensive play, the crowd is on their feet cheering on their team. And it’s not just the game that’s entertaining – the mascots put on quite a show, adding to the festive spirit of the day. For FSU fans, gamedays are more than just football; they are an opportunity to come together and make Tallahassee rock as the Seminoles push for a championship season.
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Perhaps the most exhilarating pregame ceremony in college football takes place at FSU home games when the school’s mascot stirs the passions of Seminole fans as they prepare for their opponent’s massacre. This frenzied moment includes a battle dressed Chief Osceola racing on to the field on an appaloosa horse named Renegade.
The intensity builds to a climax when the chief heaves a flaming lance at midfield just prior to the opening kickoff. Perhaps fittingly this tradition was introduced just before a 1978 game against the Oklahoma State Cowboys.
Former FSU assistant coach and regional sports radio host, Max Howell, describes this exciting moment, “If you’re out there and you don’t get chill bumps, you’re a dead man,” he said. “That tradition is the most unreal that I’ve ever been around. It’s unbelievable.”
Opposing players that visit Doak Campbell Stadium often gain quite an impression from the pregame buildup as well. Former University of Tulsa quarterback Richie Stephenson still vividly remembers being shocked prior to his team’s 1985 kickoff against the Seminoles.
“It’s the closest I’ve ever come to having a heart attack. We’d just won the coin toss and our offensive team was huddled on the field near the sideline. Suddenly the guy across from me eyes get as big as basketballs, Stephenson exclaimed. “I turn around to see what’s going on and this huge horse with a screaming Indian riding it, is running straight at me and is nearly on top of me. The crowd’s roaring and the Indian is holding a flaming spear.” Pausing to laugh, Stephenson added, “I almost dropped too.”
Q. Does the Seminole Indian Tribe approve of FSU using the Seminole’s Nickname
A. The Seminole Tribe of Florida is a federally recognized Indian tribe whose rich history is intricately tied to the state of Florida. It comes as no surprise, then, that the relationship between the tribe and its namesake school—Florida State University (FSU)—is strong.
Not only does FSU proudly don “Seminoles” on their helmets and uniforms but also works hard with the Tribe to create positive spaces through initiatives such as creating a scholarship program for Native American students who wish to attend FSU or supporting various education-related activities throughout Indian Country via their Tomahawk Fund.
Q. Was Chief Osceola a real Indian
A. Yes, Chief Osceola is a real Native American figure. He was a Seminole leader of the early 19th century, who fought to protect his people and their homeland in Florida against US forces attempting to relocate them. As such, he has become an inspiring symbol of resistance and bravery for many different groups of people.
Q. Is the mascot that dresses up like Chief Osceola a real Indian
A. He is represented in the form of a student dressed in traditional Seminole clothing and riding on Renegade, an Appaloosa horse with flaming arrows. The student playing the role of Chief Osceola wears the full regalia that includes traditional clothing, headdress with colorful feathers, moccasins and tribal jewelry. The question of whether or not this student is a real Indian has been debated for many years.
Q. What type of horse is Renegade
A. An Appaloosa
For Florida State fans, Cimarron is quickly becoming a beloved sight at events around campus. This costumed kid and friendly character has proven himself to be the perfect representation of the school, especially in situations where the more rugged Osceola and Renegade simply wouldn’t work. Based on an old FSU mascot of the same name, the updated Cimarron has even more visibility than his predecessor, helping to bring the Seminole spirit to a wider range of events. Whether you’re at a basketball game or a campus event, Cimarron is sure to put a smile on your face and remind you why you’re proud to be a Seminole.
Despite an ever-increasing era of political correctness, Florida State continues to embrace the Seminole Indian heritage of their state. Former FSU president, Dr. Dale Lick has publicly stated that the school attempts to reflect a positive light on the tribe’s “noble, brave and courageous people,” He has also expressed that the school has maintained a great relationship with the tribe by treating Seminole symbols With dignity and correctness.
After playing the first two football games in their inaugural 1947 season without a symbol, the students demanded that one be found. The Statesmen fell second to Seminoles in a student body vote. Other contenders included Rebels, Tarpons, Fighting Warriors and Crackers. Can you imagine Bobby Bowden now leading his fighting “Saltine’s” on the field?
The FSU Seminole war chant has echoed throughout many collegiate stadiums since its refinement in the early 80’s. The intimidating and sometimes deafening cheer was first started by the school’s band, the Marching Chiefs. An added dimension of a chopping motion was developed by the FSU fans and included a repetitious bend at the elbow. This Seminole cheer grew into a national phenomenon.
Once the Seminole nickname was established it wasn’t long before a pair of students dressed as Indians joined the cheerleaders in supporting the school. This eventually evolved into the establishment of Chief Osceola and Renegade’s mascot reign at the university.
Perhaps the most exhilarating pregame ceremony in college football takes place at FSU home games when the school’s mascot stirs the passions of Seminole fans as they prepare for their opponent’s massacre. This frenzied moment includes a battle dressed Chief Osceola racing on to the field on an appaloosa horse named Renegade.
The intensity builds to a climax when the chief heaves a flaming lance at mid field just prior to the opening kickoff. Perhaps fittingly this tradition was introduced just before a 1978 game against the Oklahoma State Cowboys.
Former FSU assistant coach and College Football Conference Call radio host, Max Howell, describes this exciting moment, “If you’re out there and you don’t get chill bumps, you’re a dead man,” he said. “That tradition is the most unreal that I’ve ever been around. It’s unbelievable.”
Opposing players that visit Doak Campbell Stadium often gain quite an impression from the pregame buildup as well. Former University of Tulsa quarterback Richie Stephenson still vividly remembers being shocked prior to his team’s 1985 kickoff against the Seminoles. “It’s the closest I’ve ever come to having a heart attack. We’d just won the coin toss and our offensive team was huddled on the field near the sideline. Suddenly the guy across from me
eyes get as big as basketballs, Stephenson exclaimed.
“I turn around to see what’s going on and this huge horse with a screaming Indian riding it, is running straight at me and is nearly on top of me. The crowd’s roaring and the Indian is holding a flaming spear.” Pausing to laugh, Stephenson added, “I almost dropped to my knees. I thought I was dead.”
Atlanta Braves fans transformed it into the tomahawk chop during the 1991 playoffs and World Series.
The first championship teams at Florida State donned purple and gold uniforms. If you’re considering having the color of your television adjusted, have no fear. Those glory years were back in 1905 when the school was known as Florida State College. One year later the school became a woman’s college and adopted crimson as the official color. Eventually the crimson was combined with the purple from past days to form the garnet that FSU now combines with gold. The garnet and gold uniforms first premiered in a 1947 game against Stetson.
FSU’s gold helmets with garnet and white spears on both sides distinguish the Seminole uniforms which were named the “best in college football” in a 1991 Sporting News fan poll. The school has had the same basic design since Bobby Bowden arrived in 1976.
The FSU Seminole war chant has echoed throughout many collegiate stadiums since its refinement in the early 80’s. The intimidating and sometimes deafening cheer was first started by the school’s band, the Marching Chiefs. An added dimension of a chopping motion was developed by the FSU fans and included a repetitious bend at the elbow. This Seminole cheer grew into a national phenomenon when Atlanta Braves fans transformed it into the tomahawk chop during the 1991 playoffs and World Series.
Long before Bobby Bowden’s teams became “King’s of the Road” with many convincing road wins, a tradition related to road success was born. Following a 1962, 18-0 upset over Georgia in the Bulldog’s Sanford stadium,
the FSU football team captains returned to Tallahassee with a piece of turf from the field. The turf was presented to Dean Cole E. Moore who founded the “Sod game” tradition.
Former Seminole assistant coach Max Howell said that the Sod games were always the big ones.”FSU built their program by playing on the road and they’d designate the big ones as sod games,” he said. “If they won the game they’d dig up grass from the middle of the field and bury it in Sod Cemetery by the practice field. If it was an artificial turf game they would find grass somewhere, even if it was under the stadium stands or outside the dressing room,” he added.
Initially all wins on the road that had the Seminoles in the underdog role were considered as sod games. With the rise of the FSU program to a near dynasty level, the Tribe now only counts Bowl games and contests that they’ve been pick to lose as worthy of adding another monument to Sod Cemetery.
To mark each Sod game victory, a tombstone with the date and the score of the game is added to the burial grounds. While many schools are represented in the cemetery, three schools have quite a presence. Through the 1998 season, seven victories over both Miami and Florida are marked, while six wins over Nebraska are memorialized.
Before Burt Reynolds launched his movie career and starred as a signal-calling prisoner in the movie, The Longest Yard, the famous actor played for the Seminoles. Reynolds gained 134 yards his freshman season during a year that was highlighted by a 54-yard touchdown scamper against Auburn.
A knee injury suffered in an auto accident detoured Reynolds rushing career, but he did play cornerback before leaving for Hollywood. Robert Urich is well known for this television movie roles that have included “Vegas,” “Spencer for Hire” and most recently the “Lazarus Man.” Before packing for Southern California, Urich played on FSU’s offensive line in 1964 and ‘ 65.
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