Posted by NoleCC

By Bill Kristoph

On Saturday, October 21, Florida State University will unveil two items that honor the Seminole Tribe. The first, a statue of a Seminole family on the legacy walk, is a welcome addition to the Doak Campbell Stadium area. That idea is approved by almost anyone associated with the Seminole Tribe or FSU. The second addition, however, has 50% approval rating at best. For the first time, the Seminoles will wear an all black uniform when they take on the Boston College Eagles. The uniform, designed by Nike and approved by FSU, features the word “Seminoles” down one pant leg and “Unconquered” down the other. In addition, an effort by the local merchandising companies, students and fans to make the game a “blackout” has been met with disdain by plenty of fans.

Some of the arguments:

“But it’s a 3:30 kickoff. You can’t do a blackout during the day.”

“I’m not supporting Nike, since they’re messing with tradition.”

“If they really wanted this to be special they should donate the proceeds to the Seminole Tribe.”

“Our colors are Garnet and Gold, not black.”

“We’re not Oregon, we don’t mess with our traditional uniforms.”

“I’m wearing white to protest this and to protest the coaches.”

From Coach Bobby Bowden, “I’d rather they wear garnet or gold.”

You’ve got to be kidding me. This is an opportunity to show the players and recruits that our fanbase isn’t the whining, sniveling, spoiled, Gator-like people that they’ve been acting like for last couple of weeks. A blackout looks just as good at 3:30 as it does at 7:30 (see the South Carolina blackout from a few years ago). It’s the unity behind the color, stupid. I’d understand if it was the first weekend of September and a day game, but the high for Saturday is 79 and the gametime temperature is around 75. As for not supporting Nike, then don’t buy a Nike shirt. Buy one of the other tee shirts and support a local vendor while you’re at it. The licensing fees go back to FSU, which helps the university and athletic programs. While it’s true that FSU’s primary colors are garnet and gold, black is a trim color. Nike didn’t go and design a uniform that has nothing to do with FSU. Plus, black is one of the primary colors in the Seminole Tribe’s flag. And to those who argue tradition, even Michigan has added gold piping to the uniforms over the years, USC brightened up the colors when Pete Carroll arrived and Notre Dame wears green jerseys once in a blue moon. As long as the black uniforms aren’t more than once per year, what is the big deal?

And to any Seminole fan that wears white, intentionally protesting the coaches, players, school, black jerseys or whatever, you don’t get it. People that do that type of thing, in front of a national audience are idiots. I’m all for writing T.K. or Coach Bowden or whoever else might listen to criticism, but change won’t come because you wore white to a game and didn’t support the players. By wearing black, everyone can show that Seminole fans are behind the players. Someone should clue Coach Bowden into that fact. If anyone needs support right now, it’s him.

P.S. – ScalpEm.com has decided to support the team by also sporting a black theme through the B.C. Game. The site will return to normal next week. If you are having problems browsing the site, either clear your browser cache or refesh the site a couple of times.