TALLAHASSEE, Fla. -- Florida State's new logo leaked April 2 and was met with mixed emotions from fans.
But the school unveiled redesigned uniforms in a downtown ceremony Friday night, just a day before the football team's spring football game. The response was overwhelmingly positive.
Fans cheered on as student-athletes from baseball, softball, basketball and soccer who modeled the new designs. The biggest applause came for the home, away and "tribute" football uniforms and helmets that were modeled by receiver Scooter Haggins and linebackers Reggie Northrup and Ukeme Eligwe.
"Unconquered," Haggins said. "New uniforms, same team.":
The reveal was part of a two-year effort by Florida State to gain consistency with the garnet color and also logo design both on apparel and playing fields and courts. School officials felt that the original Seminole head, the athletic teams' primary logo, did not reproduce well.
So the effort began, starting conversations with student-athletes, coaches, administrators, boosters and the Seminole Tribe of Florida. Florida State officials and Nike worked together on the redesign.
While there are changes, many of them honor the tradition of the Seminole tribe. Patchwork from the Seminole tribe was used on the sleeves of jerseys. And spears are crossed on the back of the helmets (a tribute to the Florida state flag).
"I think once you saw how it all looked with the uniform and everything put together, it's just awesome," Florida State athletics director Stan Wilcox told FOX Sports Florida. "The kids love it, the coaches love it and everybody that we gave previews to loved it. And I think the crowd, when they saw it, they loved it, too.":
Wilcox said Florida State employees have begun the task of switching out the logo on signage throughout campus. Apparel with the old logos will still be sold both at stores and online.
"They all have what is called 'vintage' apparel," Wilcox said. "You'll still be able to get it through that. So I think people that love the new logo will go out and buy the new logo.":
Florida State's new logo has already been painted at midfield at Doak Campbell Stadium for Saturday's spring game. But school officials said the teams will wear the old uniform style for the spring game and debut the new uniforms when the Seminoles open against Oklahoma State in Arlington, Texas, on Aug. 30.
"I really believe that the traditions of Florida State are as deeply rooted and important as any in college football and perhaps even more because of our relationship with the Seminole Tribe and I wouldn't have approved anything that I felt detracted from that," FSU coach Jimbo Fisher said. "The elements that went into the design changes are all based on our unique history and that's an important part of the story. In fact, we went to the Tribe right away and got their opinion and permission before we took the first step."
You can follow Bob Ferrante on Twitter @bobferrante or email him at bobferrante17@gmail.com.
