Alarming : Florida State Seminoles’ star player have just been handed a four-game suspension for going against……Read more

Football is the only American sport to be conceived through the university system and grow into a major athletic endeavor, witnessed by billions around the world. It was originally created by and for college students. In its infancy, college football had humble beginnings: small crowds, limited play styles (the first legal forward pass happened 37 years after the first official collegiate game – 1869, Rutgers v. Princeton), low scores, and primitive safety precautions.

The pageantry, traditions, and playstyles of the game itself slowly evolved into what it is today: Cheerleaders, spread formations, eagles flying around stadiums, symbolic men on horseback planting flaming spears into the turf, and of course, the marching bands.

At Florida State University, the band boasts its “world-renowned” status at the beginning of every home game as the Marching Chiefs take the field for their pregame set. They have always provided an exceptional entrance to the start of home contests in Tallahassee. The War Chant – beloved by FSU fans and loathed by its foes – might be the most recognizable piece of music (accompanied by fan interaction) in the ACC and perhaps the country.

Like the game of football itself, the War Chant was created by and for its own students. In the mid-1980s, the student body at FSU created the tomahawk chop motion and vocal accompaniment, and the band eventually orchestrated a musical number that allowed fans to stay on beat. It ended up creating one of the most intimidating, recognizable traditions in college football history.

However, according to an alumni member of the Marching Chiefs who wishes to remain anonymous, the band has been instructed to not play the War Chant on third downs while the Seminoles are on defense during home games. Instead, a DJ plays a sort of dubstep/house music style song in an attempt to fire up players while leaving the crowd puzzled.

Why, might you ask?

The alumni Chief told NoleGameday that it was the FSU athletics department that asked the Chiefs not to play the War Chant on third downs and that it be replaced with the DJ song – which was requested by the football team. The Marching Chiefs have honored this request since it was brought to their attention during the 2023 season.

Our source added that at the ACC Championship Game against Louisville, the Marching Chiefs were able to let loose with the War Chant on defensive third-down sequences in the neutral site atmosphere. This ability to play the number provided a “huge difference” in the game.

The alumni Chief also stated, “Now, it’s more or less stadium music with a lack of stadium hype … and I absolutely noticed a lack of playing (on Monday night) compared to last year.”

Furthermore, there appears to be frustration among the ranks as the band finds itself struggling to compete with not only its own team to play music but also the stadium’s in-game sponsorships and promotions.

Fast food fry shuffles and convenience store advertisements consistently fill up the three-minute TV timeout breaks, limiting the band’s ability to play longer pieces such as “Seminole Uprising.” Non-TV timeout stoppages and breaks in between plays can also showcase a conflict as music from the stadium drowns out the Chiefs as they often end up playing at the same time.

“If the team wants the third down song, do it for them,” the alumni Chief said. “Let the team have its song on third down, but there needs to be more opportunities for [the] Chiefs outside of that.”

NoleGameday requested a comment from Florida State Athletics Director Michael Alford. He provided a response.