History of Florida State Football Sod Cemetery in Timeline

The Florida State Football Sod Cemetery is a monument that commemorates the Seminoles' most significant away-game victories, known as "sod games," beginning in 1962. Each victory is memorialized with a bronze plaque and a piece of sod taken from the opposing team's field, symbolizing the Seminoles' triumph. The cemetery serves as a physical representation of the team's proud history and tradition of winning on the road.

1905: Florida State was a women's college

From 1905 until 1947, Florida State had been a women's college, and Moore wanted to instill a scrappy mentality in the program.

1947: Moore Helped Field First Football Team

In 1947, Dean Coyle Moore helped field Florida State's first football team alongside President Doak Campbell. Moore, seen as a mentor, aimed to instill a scrappy mentality in the program, which had been a women's college from 1905 until 1947.

October 20, 1962: Seminoles' Victory Over Georgia Bulldogs

On October 20, 1962, during the Cuban Missile Crisis, the Seminoles beat the Georgia Bulldogs 18–0. Team captains Gene McDowell and Red Dawson brought back a piece of sod in a Coca-Cola cup, honoring Dean Coyle Moore's request.

1962: Tradition dates back to 1962

In 1962, the Florida State Football Sod Cemetery tradition began, memorializing the team's greatest victories away from home. Each "sod game" is commemorated with a bronze plaque and a piece of sod from the stadium where the Seminoles won.

1962: Roots in 1962 Match Against Georgia Bulldogs

In 1962, the Florida State Sod Cemetery tradition started with a match against the Georgia Bulldogs. Sociology professor Dean Coyle Moore inspired the team to "win, and bring back some sod," leading to the first sod game tradition.

1963: Bobby Bowden joined FSU as an Assistant Coach.

In 1963, Bobby Bowden joined Florida State Football as an assistant coach. He later became the head coach from 1976 to 2009 and significantly contributed to the legacy of the Sod Cemetery during his tenure.

1976: Coach Bowden's tenure

From 1976 to 2009, Coach Bobby Bowden and his teams won 63 Sod Victories.

1976: Bobby Bowden became head coach.

In 1976, Bobby Bowden became the head coach of Florida State, contributing to the legacy of the Sod Cemetery. Under his leadership, the Seminoles contributed many patches of sod to the cemetery.

1982: Bowl Games as Sod Games

In the early 1980s, specifically starting with the Gator Bowl in 1982, all bowl games began to be treated as sod games for Florida State, marking a notable expansion of the tradition's parameters.

1988: Mannheimer Entrusted with Sod Cemetery Stewardship

In 1988, Dean Coyle Moore entrusted Tallahassee attorney Douglas Mannheimer with the stewardship of the Sod Cemetery tradition, requesting that his son, Andrew, eventually inherit the role.

1988: Sugar Bowl victory on AstroTurf

In 1988, after winning the Sugar Bowl against Auburn, Florida State faced challenges collecting sod from the AstroTurf. Odell Haggins cut a piece of the Superdome turf, resulting in a $500 bill. In subsequent Sugar Bowl games, officials provided pre-cut samples to prevent further incidents.

1993: National Championship Win

In 1993, following the national championship win, receiver Matt Frier scooped up a piece of the field at the Orange Bowl, symbolizing a communal achievement and Coach Bowden's inaugural national title. This moment was captured on the cover of Sports Illustrated.

2006: Emerald Bowl Victory

In 2006, Florida State won the Emerald Bowl against UCLA by a score of 44-27, although this victory was later vacated in 2010 due to an academic fraud scandal.

2007: Academic Fraud Scandal

In 2007, there was an academic fraud scandal during the 2006 and 2007 seasons, leading to the vacation of several victories, including a sod game from 2006: the 44-27 Emerald Bowl victory over UCLA, by the NCAA in 2010.

2009: Coach Bowden's tenure

From 1976 to 2009, Coach Bobby Bowden and his teams won 63 Sod Victories.

2009: Bobby Bowden's Last Season

In 2009, Bobby Bowden's last season as the head coach of Florida State concluded. He had significantly contributed to the legacy of the Sod Cemetery during his tenure.

2010: NCAA Ruling vacates victories

In 2010, due to an academic fraud scandal during the 2006 and 2007 seasons, Florida State had to vacate victories across multiple sports as a result of an NCAA ruling. This included the 2006 Emerald Bowl victory over UCLA.

2013: Florida State's last win at Clemson prior to 2023.

In 2013, prior to the September 23, 2023 rivalry matchup between Florida State and Clemson, Florida State last won at Clemson.

2013: Sod Cemetery Relocation in 2013

In 2013, the Florida State Sod Cemetery was relocated to a new site 200 feet north of Doak Campbell Stadium, near the Al Dunlap Seminole Practice Fields, due to the construction of new practice fields. The move enhanced its visibility to fans and visitors.

2014: Sod Talk

From 2014 until the pandemic season of 2020, fans gathered at the Sod Cemetery 90 minutes before kickoff for Sod Talk, where former Seminole players told gathered fans about their days at Florida State.

2015: Beginning of Clemson's uninterrupted winning streak against Florida State

In 2015, Clemson began an uninterrupted winning streak against Florida State that continued until the September 23, 2023 rivalry matchup. Clemson also seized the ACC Champions title in all but one season from 2015 to 2022.

2020: Sod Talk moved to videos

Since the 2020 season, the live Gameday Sod Talks have been replaced by videos, produced by the university's Seminole Productions. Notable participants in these presentations have included Bobby Bowden, Ron Sellers, Charlie Ward, Warrick Dunn, Kez McCorvey, Matt Frier, Peter Boulware, Corey Simon and Lemarcus Joyner.

2021: Plaque added to the cemetery

In 2021, a bronze plaque was added to the Sod Cemetery to recognize Coach Bobby Bowden's 63 Sod Victories between 1976 and 2009.

2022: Clemson's ACC Champions Title

In 2022, Clemson continued their streak of ACC Champions titles, having won the title in all but one season from 2015 to 2022.

September 23, 2023: Rivalry Matchup Between Florida State and Clemson

On September 23, 2023, Florida State faced Clemson in a rivalry matchup. Despite being a slight favorite, Florida State hadn't won at Clemson since 2013. Clemson also reduced Florida State's ticket allotment and enlisted a former walk-on kicker to secure victory.

September 28, 2023: Head Coach's Discretion on Sod Games

On September 28, 2023, Warchant TV discussed the rule that the head coach has the final say on whether a game is a sod game, even if it doesn't strictly meet the criteria. This allows for recognizing significant wins even when Florida State is a slight favorite.