College football weekends feature enduring, predictable rituals that amplify energy and emotion at stadiums. Traditions range from century-old marching bands and pulsating techno hits to rampaging animals, covered wagons, antique cars and storied rocks. Many customs are performed at every home game so fans can anticipate them each season rather than only during rare rivalry matchups. Some entrances are highly theatrical, such as Florida State's Osceola leading Renegade to midfield to plant a flaming spear, a practice begun in 1978 with Seminole Tribe approval and maintained by the Durham family; Osceola wears authentic Seminole regalia.
There are century-old marching bands and pulsating techno hits. There are rampaging animals, covered wagons, antique cars and even storied rocks. There are quaint customs and there are controversies -- it wouldn't be college football without controversy, right? With another season upon us, we've gathered a collection of our college football reporters' favorite game-day traditions. We were looking for moments fans could count on and look forward to experiencing
Since September 1978, Osceola has led his horse, Renegade, onto the field before kickoff of every Florida State home game and planted a spear at midfield in what has become one of the best-known college football entrances. Bill Durham, an FSU graduate, came up with the idea and got approval from the Seminole Tribe of Florida for the practice to begin.
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