Go Noles! A Fan’s Guide to FSU Seminoles Football Game Day

FSU fans are on the warpath in Tallahassee on a Florida State University Seminoles football game day. At Doak S. Campbell Stadium, fans honor “The House That Bobby Built” by maintaining the same high level of spirit and in-game excellence set by FSU’s two-time national championship-winning coach who inspired its nickname, Bobby Bowden. After securing your FSU Seminoles tickets and Doak Campbell Stadium tickets, get ready for a Noles football game day with useful tips on tailgating, traditions and more below.

FSU Tailgating Tips

On game day, a Florida State pregame could be happening anywhere in Tallahassee, but sure-fire places to find fellow fans include College Town, the entertainment district on the edge of the FSU campus, or the neighboring Railroad Square Art District, which offers over 70 shops and restaurants open for early day exploring.

On campus, the most popular gathering place for Florida State Seminoles tailgating is Ford Fan Fest at Langford Green. The free, all-ages event features food vendors, live music and FSU Kids Club activities. Fan Fest kicks off hours ahead of kickoff and closes an hour prior. Meanwhile, the Garnet & Gold Tailgate in Union Plaza runs from three hours to one hour before game time and is alcohol and tobacco-free.

Parking on campus is available on a first come, first-served basis at the Tucker Civic Center and Railroad Avenue and St. Augustine Garage. Parking spots nearest to The Doak are reserved for members of the FSU Boosters starting at $330. Spaces farther from the stadium start at $20. On FSU football game day, parking lots generally open five hours prior to kickoff.

Experience premium tailgating at FSU in the Coca-Cola Tailgate Zone just outside of The Doak. Tickets must be purchased via REVELxp to access the Coca-Cola Tailgate Zone, which runs from four hours to 30 minutes prior to kickoff.

Aside from having a pregame plan well ahead of the FSU game day, essentials for Seminoles tailgating include your ticket and parking pass, photo ID, credit or debit cards and cash (if you plan on joining another tailgate). To sample some of Tally’s favorite flavors, browse for some country-smoked sausage, barbecue, grits or a slice of Florida’s official state food, key lime pie. Cover drinks as well with regional beers from Proof Brewing Company or Oyster City Brewing Company. Most importantly, get decked out for The Doak in all garnet and gold.

Pre-Game Traditions

Despite the numerous in-game traditions for FSU football, there is still plenty to do in Tallahassee beforehand. Guests in town the night before a home game can attend the Friday Night Block Party from 5:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. in the College Town neighborhood. Adjacent to Doak S. Campbell Stadium, the official tailgate event for FSU football turns College Town into a widespread Florida State pregame with live music, food vendors, and open businesses, bars and restaurants in every direction. Past performers at the Friday Night Block Party include Thomas Rhett, Sam Hunt, Old Dominion, Chase Rice and Jon Pardi.

On select Fridays, the city of Tallahassee also hosts the Downtown GetDown on Adams Street and College Avenue. After debuting in the 1990s, the free event series became a Tally tradition for over 20 years with local food and drink offerings, live music, dance performances, crafts, kids games and more. The GetDown typically gets down from 6:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m.

Both events conveniently begin after the on-campus tradition of lighting the spear of the Unconquered Statue on Langford Green. Just before sunset, usually around 5:30 p.m., fans gather as members of the Seminoles Boosters and guests of honor ignite the tip of Chief Osceola’s spear, which burns until sunrise the day after the game.

When FSU football game day arrives, fans should make a note on their schedule to attend the Legacy Walk about two hours and 15 minutes before kickoff. The Legacy Walk allows fans to cheer and connect with the Seminoles football players as the team marches from the FSU Heritage Tower fountains into The Doak. Immediately afterward, the Marching Chiefs band holds a pregame skull session performance on the Band Practice Field.

Gates at Doak S. Campbell Stadium open two hours before kickoff. Be sure to budget enough time to get to your seat with at least ten minutes to spare in order to catch Chief Osceola’s pregame ride with Renegade onto Bobby Bowden Field.

Inside Doak S. Campbell Stadium

Enter “The House that Bobby Built” to experience the powerful legacy kept alive by fans at Doak S. Campbell Stadium. Before you’re ready to fight, fight, fight for FSU, be sure to brush up on the biggest in-game traditions as well as the entry rules and bag policy at the FSU Seminoles football stadium.

Osceola and Renegade

First appearing in 1978, Osceola and Renegade have become two of the most enduring symbols of Florida State football. Created with consultation from the Seminole Tribe of Florida, Osceola is named after the 19th century Native American leader, and through his position as a symbol of FSU rather than a mascot, Osceola actively honors the state’s heritage. During the pregame performance of the FSU War Chant, Osceola rides a spotted Appaloosa horse named Renegade to midfield of Doak S. Campbell Stadium and plants a flaming spear directly in the center.

War Chant

While spiking a flaming spear makes for a powerful image, the pregame ritual wouldn’t have the same impact without its stadium-wide soundtrack: the Seminole War Chant. Debuted in 1984 by the Marching Chiefs, the cheer is characterized by deep, pounding drums and a choir of fans singing “Oh” through an extended, intimidating melody. Later, the song is also performed when the Noles make a good defensive play.

Marching Chiefs 

No matter what, the Florida State University Marching Chiefs are going to show up with numbers. Averaging over 400 members every year since the ’80s, the Marching Chiefs hold the title for the world’s largest collegiate marching band. With such a stacked lineup, the band has become known for their expansive formations and “Wall of Sound” presence.

Roamin’ The Stadium

Have your eyes and ears open during the second half of a Seminoles home game as members of the Marching Chiefs’ “Roamin’ Bones” trombone section begin to “roam” the stadium. While the ensemble is on the move, they perform selections from the Bone Book of trombone-specific songs.

Sod Cemetery

Following an underdog win over the Georgia Bulldogs in 1962, FSU players removed a piece of sod from the field at Sanford Stadium and buried it on the FSU practice field. In one act of rival property damage, two new traditions were born: Sod Games and the Sod Cemetery. Nowadays, Sod Games include any game where the Noles are an underdog as well as bowl games and conference championship games. If the Noles win on the road, a piece of sod is removed from the host field, then buried and enshrined with a plaque in the Sod Cemetery inside the team’s practice field space.

Cimarron

As far as horses go, the defining symbol of FSU football traditions may belong to Renegade, but for all mascot duties, enter Cimarron. In partnership with FSU Cheerleading and spirit groups, the spotted horse mascot showcases the style and moves to keep fans engaged in every way a live horse can’t.

Garnet and Gold Guys

Every year, two FSU students from the Florida State Baptist Christian Ministry take the tradition of wearing garnet and gold to a new level. Covering themselves in glitter to each match one of the Seminoles team colors, the dedicated and bedazzled duo have become a fan favorite for photo opps at The Doak.

Post-Game Activities

After the game, keep the party going by heading to College Town for postgame hotspots like Madison Social, Bowden’s, Township or the rooftop bar view at Recess. Within walking distance, grab a classic Tally bite to eat at Coosh’s, Tin Lizzy’s or Vale Food Co. Slightly farther from Doak S. Campbell Stadium, guests can visit staple bars like The Palace Saloon and Bullwinkle’s Saloon or dine at local favorites like The Edison or Gaines Street Pies and its adjacent Warhorse Whiskey Bar.

FSU Seminoles Game Day Schedule

Catch every moment of a Seminoles game day by checking out Florida State’s regular season football schedule.