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FSU Football: Osceola, Renegade ranked among football’s most iconic symbols

By Jason Parker

PASADENA, CA - JANUARY 06: Florida State Seminoles mascots Renegade and Osceola perform prior to the 2014 Vizio BCS National Championship Game against the Auburn Tigers at the Rose Bowl on January 6, 2014 in Pasadena, California. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
PASADENA, CA - JANUARY 06: Florida State Seminoles mascots Renegade and Osceola perform prior to the 2014 Vizio BCS National Championship Game against the Auburn Tigers at the Rose Bowl on January 6, 2014 in Pasadena, California. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images) /
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FSU football fans across the country know what time it is when one of the sport’s greatest traditions takes place each and every time inside Doak Campbell.

For just over four decades, two things were constant with the FSU football program: the team was going to end each season with a winning record on the field and the crowd inside of Doak Campbell Stadium was going to get fired up each time Chief Osceola put that flaming spear into the middle of the field while riding Renegade.

While the whole winning season streak ended after last season, the pregame tradition has remained the same – to the point where the FSU student selected and trained for years to be the one honored to spend a season riding the beautiful Appaloosa horse has traveled to away games, bowl games and more.

It’s also a tradition that has been met with protest by several Native American groups who have protested the imagery of the Seminoles being used as a mascot for FSU football and all sports – in spite of the tribe’s Florida members being among the most vocal supporters of the usage and granting approval of the outfit worn by Osceola.

Florida State Seminoles Football
Florida State Seminoles Football /

Florida State Seminoles Football

Politics aside, it’s one of the images that has defined college football over the past 40+ seasons – and according to CBSSports.com, it’s one of the 15 most iconic symbols of the sport as college football celebrates 150 seasons when the action kicks off in 2019.

"Once there, he spikes a fiery spear into the turf at Doak Campbell Stadium as the crowd erupts prior to the Seminoles taking the field. The tradition was started in 1978, and students who portray Osceola must work for two years prior to taking the field with Renegade."

From Tallahassee to Jacksonville and South Florida to South Bend, FSU football has made history with numerous big wins and titles for the Seminoles program – and with almost each one, the iconic symbol honoring both the team and the tribe’s legacy has been by the side of players and coaches for the Seminoles.

No matter what teams wins or loses each week, Chief Osceola and Renegade are going to be a constant for the FSU football program.

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