NIKE TRIBUTE UNIFORM

A new statue of a Seminole family and special football uniforms will highlight Florida State University's salute to the Seminole Tribe of Florida during the weekend of the FSU vs. Boston College football game on Saturday, Oct. 21. FSU president T.K. Wetherell will unveil the statue, "Seminole Family in Bronze," at an afternoon ceremony on Friday, October 20, in front of University Center Building A. The next day, FSU’s football team will take the field against Boston College wearing a specially designed Nike uniform in honor of the Seminole tribe.

" We are so proud to have this beautiful statue on our campus," said Wetherell. "It clearly conveys the tradition and the great spirit of the Seminole Tribe of Florida -- a spirit that stands as a model of courage for every member of the Florida State community."

The life-sized, cast-bronze sculpture, called Seminole Family was designed and created by the artist team of Bradley Cooley and Bradley Cooley Jr. of Lamont, Florida. It depicts a typical family during the Seminole Wars of the 1830s. Under constant threat from the U.S. military, the family is concerned and watchful. As they make their way along their path, the father, carrying a rifle, guards his wife, young son, and infant child. The statue will be placed on the east side of the University Center and stadium.

The special tribute uniform will be all black with garnet numbers and gold trimming, and feature the word 'Unconquered' on one pants leg and 'Seminoles' on the other. Members of the Seminole Tribe of Florida are known as "the unconquered people" because of their long history of overcoming great adversity.

Dating back to the early 1800s, they endured three wars with the U.S. government, resisted numerous efforts to relocate them to federal reservations in the West, and ultimately made their home in one of the world's most inhospitable environments, the Florida Everglades. That they have not only survived, but thrived - all while maintaining their fierce independence and rich culture - is a tribute to their courage and perseverance. Their indomitable spirit is one that FSU proudly seeks to emulate in all of its endeavors. FSU's athletics department and Nike designers have been working since May on the tribute uniform. The Seminole Tribe of Florida's flag uses the colors red, yellow, white and black.

"This weekend represents a special opportunity for us to honor the Seminole Tribe as well as express our unwavering appreciation for the privilege they have granted us to call ourselves Seminoles," said Dave Hart, director of athletics at FSU. "We are very appreciative of Nike's enthusiastic participation in this special weekend through their creation of the uniform. Our hope is that this tribute will assist us in our efforts to further spread the knowledge of the unconquered spirit of the Seminole Tribe," Hart added.

"I think the players will be excited about the uniforms," said Head Coach Bobby Bowden. "Players tend to like it when you do something different, and they really do look nice. I like the fact that it pays direct tribute to the Seminole people. We intend to keep this a very special uniform and will not wear it more than once a season and maybe not at all in some years."