Athletics of Florida State University
Florida State University’s athletic teams, known as the Seminoles, take their name from the Seminole people. The moniker was chosen by students in 1947 and is officially endorsed by the Seminole Tribe of Florida. Due to this collaboration and approval, the NCAA granted FSU permission to use the name.
FSU competes in NCAA Division I athletics (Football Bowl Subdivision for football) and is a member of the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC). The university has a strong tradition in both men’s and women’s sports.
Athletic Programs
The men’s teams include baseball, basketball, cross country, football, golf, swimming, tennis, and track & field, while the women’s teams compete in basketball, cross country, golf, soccer, softball, swimming, tennis, track & field, and volleyball. Additionally, FSU sponsors intercollegiate club sports such as bowling, crew, rugby, soccer, and lacrosse.
Athletic Facilities
FSU’s main athletic venues include Doak Campbell Stadium for football, Dick Howser Stadium for baseball, and the Donald L. Tucker Center for basketball. The Mike Long Track serves as the home of the national champion men’s outdoor track and field team. The Speicher Tennis Center, named after Lt. Cmdr. Michael Scott Speicher, hosts the FSU tennis teams. The Seminole Soccer Complex is the home of women’s soccer, while the Seminole Softball Complex, with its field named after JoAnne Graf, houses the softball program.
Seminole Baseball
FSU baseball is among the most successful collegiate programs in the country, with 20 College World Series appearances and three national championship final appearances. The Seminoles rank third in total College World Series appearances.
Seminole Football
Florida State’s football program has played in 49 bowl games, secured three national championships, and claimed 16 ACC titles along with six division crowns. The program has produced 218 All-Americans, 47 NFL first-round draft picks, and three Heisman Trophy winners.
The Seminoles have had three undefeated seasons and achieved a record-setting 14 consecutive years finishing in the top five of the AP Poll (1987–2000). Their home stadium, Bobby Bowden Field at Doak Campbell Stadium, has a seating capacity of 79,560.
FSU fielded its first official varsity football team in 1902, competing as “The Eleven” until 1904. That year, they became the first recognized state champions of Florida after victories over Florida Agricultural College and Stetson University.
Under legendary coach Bobby Bowden, FSU became one of the most dominant programs in college football, winning national championships in 1993 and 1999. The team played in five national championship games between 1993 and 2001 and boasted the best winning percentage in college football during the 1990s. Bowden retired as the winningest coach in Division I football history. In 2013, the Seminoles won another national title under head coach Jimbo Fisher. The current head coach is Mike Norvell.
Seminole Track & Field
The FSU men’s track & field program won four consecutive ACC championships and secured three straight NCAA national titles. In 2006, Head Coach Bob Braman and Associate Head Coach Harlis Meaders guided FSU to multiple individual championships, including Walter Dix (200m), Raqeef Curry (triple jump), and Garrett Johnson (shot put).
FSU claimed another NCAA title in 2007, with Walter Dix making history as the first athlete to win both the 100m and 200m championships in the same year.