THE PATCH MEANT THAT YOU MADE IT

This “FSU” letterman patch wasn’t given. It was earned. Whether you were on the gridiron, in the marching band or on the cheer squad, this patch meant you were part of the elite few who had made their mark. FSU’s first modern football team hit the field in 1947, and by the 1950s, the letterman jacket had become a symbol of honor and identity. “It wasn’t just about playing,” said 1950s linebacker Ted Ditchfield, “it was about representing Florida State everywhere you went.”