A beautiful thing about college football is the memories it brings to those who follow it closely. This seems to particularly be the case in the South. There is a connection to your favorite football team that is strengthened by the traditions that have been created.
Some are on the field, some of my favorites have been discontinued, and some are off the field. Every FSU fan should take note of them. Understanding these traditions helps fans learn about the program and they are just cool in general
Here are my favorite FSU traditions.
Sod Cemetery
The story goes that Dean Coyle Moore asked for some of that good grass from between the hedges before FSU left to go play Georgia in 1962. FSU went on to defeat UGA 18-0 and brought back the request of Moore at the next practice. The team buried it and the tradition was formed.
For every away game FSU plays as the underdog, all UF away games, ACC Championship and bowl games FSU captains will take a chunk of the turf – grass or artificial – if the Noles win.
As you walk by the practice fields you see a gated-off piece of land that has all the sod game victories. Sodtalks are really cool presentations that happen before most home games. Typically, it’s a former Doak Boy giving it.
Spirit Spear
Fans love to make noise. More importantly, you need a guide to help you know that you’ve reached an appropriate level of noise. In 1984, FSU used it to let fans know when they were loud enough.
FSU brought it back for the Spring Game and I hope it continues.
I’m sure many old fans will get nostalgic and it is something young fans can get into. That and the bobble head race, we used to place beats on the sideline about which one would win.
RELATED: 5 reasons why FSU will be better in 2018 than 2017.
The Whoop
Nothing was more bad ass and war daddy-esq than when FSU would meet at the 50 yard line and jump up and down with helmets raised high in the air on the Seminole head, or an opponent’s, logo. It was our way of letting opponents know, “Yeah, we are here and it’s nothing you can do about it!”
It was a mental tactic that Saint Bobby allowed and seemingly got lost as the years went by. Many fights happened by snowflake-psyched opponents. FSU did this before games and after victories. It was altered after the 2003 post game fight at UF, one I may or may not have participated in, but it was a tradition that just fit.
I hope Willie Taggart brings this one back. Respectfully of course.
The Walk Off to “The Good, The Bad and The Ugly”
Before going into individual warm ups during pre-game action, FSU would line up on the 50-yard-line with backs turned to the opposition, arm straight up in the air, iconic helmet raised to the heavens and begin a slow, deliberate stride to the theme of the old western film. This was when the stadium was actually sort of packed before the game.
The stadium would go wild and then Coach B would blow the whistle after about a 20 yard walk – then it was on. The marching chiefs did a very good job adding to the mystique.
The Warchant, Seminole Uprising and “In The Air Tonight”
These three songs will forever be embedded in my brain as music to get ready to battle to. I’m sure many FSU fans feel the same way.
When you’re done with your playing days and you meet guys who have played against you or FSU and ask them the most annoying thing about FSU, they’ll all probably tell you, “I hate that damn Warchant! They play it all the time.”
It’s never a bad time to play the Warchant. It’s an amazing hype song. I especially like the Marching Chief who does the cadence with the whistle. He and the drumline solo makes you want to hit something.
“Seminole Uprising” is like a remix to the Warchant. It’s a slow progression into the Warchant.
“In The Air Tonight” is a song FSU kind of adopted. I have zero clue why, or what Phil Collins was actually singing about, but apparently he was waiting for that showdown his entire life.
That song was played on repeat in the locker room and just seemed perfect to help you focus on the task at hand. In short, you wanted to attack the field with “reckless abandon and total disregard for personal safety,” a Bowden quote that I have probably heard about one thousand times during my time as a fullback.
Many traditions have come and gone and these are the ones that stand out to me as a former player and fan. They all make a mix of pride and energy rise up in me. Damn, I can’t wait until football season to see FSU #DoSomething.
RELATED: 5 reasons FSU may struggle in Willie Taggart’s first season.
Article Originally Appeared on Gridiron Now: http://gridironnow.com/my-favorite-florida-state-football-traditions/
