50 YEARS OF NOLES FOOTBALL

This commemorative patch marks the 50th anniversary of FSU’s football program, established in 1947. Featuring the number “50” in gold stitching, the patch was worn by players during the 1997 season to celebrate five decades of Seminole football. By 1997, under head coach Bobby Bowden’s leadership, FSU had become a fixture in the national title conversation. The 1997 team finished 11-1, ranked No. 3 nationally and defeated Ohio State in the Sugar Bowl. The 50th anniversary patch became a visible symbol of the program’s excellence and resilience, a nod to the past and a rallying point for continued success. In reference to the 1997 Seminoles, a Tomahawk Nation article noted that “We needed to prove that ’93 was no fluke and that we could (and would) win our second NC. Anything less would be a disappointment for Seminole nation.”