Florida State Football Sod Cemetery
For Florida State Football, "sod games" and the Sod Cemetery have been a rich part of the Seminoles college football history, commemorating many of FSU greatest's victories away from home. "Sod games" represent the most difficult battles on the football field. The Sod Cemetery stands as a tribute to those triumphs.
In 1962, as the Seminoles completed their Thursday practice in preparation to face Georgia at Sanford Stadium, Dean Coyle Moore—a long-time professor and member of FSU's athletic board—issued a challenge: "Bring back some sod from between the hedges at Georgia." On Saturday, October 20, the Seminoles scored an 18-0 victory over the favored Bulldogs. Team captain Gene McDowell pulled a small piece of grass from the field, which was presented to Moore at the next football practice. Moore and FSU coach Bill Peterson had the sod buried on the practice field as a symbol of victory. A monument was placed to commemorate the triumph and the tradition of the sod game was born. Since 1988 the Keeper of the Sod Cemetery has been Tallahassee attorney Douglas Mannheimer.
Before leaving for all road games in which Florida State is the underdog, all road games at the University of Florida and all ACC championship and bowl games, Seminole captains gather their teammates to explain the significance of the tradition. Victorious captains return with a piece of the opponent's turf to be buried in the Sod Cemetery inside the gates of the practice field.[1]
Since 2014, on gamedays at FSU, fans gather at the Sod Cemetery 90 minutes before the kickoff for Sod Talk. Legendary former Seminole players return to take the stage and tell the gathered fans about their days at Florida State. SodTalk Legends have included Heisman Trophy Winner Charlie Ward, NFL Man of the Year Warrick Dunn, NFL Hall of Famer Derrick Brooks, Lombardi and Butkus Winner Marvin Jones, NFL Hall of Famer Fred Biletnikoff, WWF Heavyweight World Champion Ron Simmons, College Football Hall of Famer Ron Sellers, Consensus All American and National Championship MVP Peter Warrick and FSU All-American and creator of the Lambeau Leap, Leroy Butler.
Bowl game victories are colored ██ gold. Championship victories are colored ██ garnet.
| Date | Location | Opponent | Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| October 20, 1962 | Sanford Stadium | Georgia | 18-0 |
| November 10, 1962 | Grant Field | Georgia Tech | 14-14 |
| November 24, 1962 | Cliff Hare Stadium | Auburn | 14-14 |
| September 20, 1963 | Miami Orange Bowl | Miami | 24-0 |
| September 19, 1964 | Miami Orange Bowl | Miami | 14-0 |
| September 26, 1964 | Amon G. Carter Stadium | Texas Christian | 10-0 |
| October 17, 1964 | Sanford Stadium | Georgia | 17-14 |
| January 2, 1965 | Gator Bowl Stadium (GATOR BOWL) | Oklahoma | 36-19 |
| September 24, 1966 | Miami Orange Bowl | Miami | 23-20 |
| October 15, 1966 | Jones Stadium | Texas Tech | 42-33 |
| November 5, 1966 | Carolina Stadium | South Carolina | 32-10 |
| September 23, 1967 | Legion Field | Alabama | 37-37 |
| October 7, 1967 | Kyle Field | Texas A&M | 19-18 |
| November 4, 1967 | Memphis Memorial Stadium | Memphis State | 27-7 |
| November 25, 1967 | Florida Field | Florida | 21-16 |
| December 30, 1967 | Gator Bowl Stadium (GATOR BOWL) | Penn State | 17-17 |
| October 26, 1968 | Carolina Stadium | South Carolina | 35-28 |
| November 16, 1968 | Carter Stadium | N.C. State | 48-7 |
| November 29, 1968 | Gator Bowl Stadium | Houston | 40-20 |
| September 26, 1969 | Miami Orange Bowl | Miami | 19-14 |
| November 8, 1969 | Lane Stadium | Virginia Tech | 10-10 |
| October 24, 1970 | Carolina Stadium | South Carolina | 21-13 |
| October 30, 1970 | Miami Orange Bowl | Miami | 27-3 |
| October 9, 1976 | Alumni Stadium | Boston College | 28-9 |
| November 13, 1976 | Fouts Field | N. Texas State | 21-20 |
| October 1, 1977 | Lewis Field | Oklahoma State | 25-17 |
| December 3, 1977 | Florida Field | Florida | 34-9 |
| December 23, 1977 | Orlando Stadium (TANGERINE BOWL) | Texas Tech | 40-17 |
| September 9, 1978 | Archbold Stadium | Syracuse | 28-0 |
| September 15, 1979 | Tampa Stadium | Arizona State | 31-3 |
| October 27, 1979 | Tiger Stadium | LSU | 24-19 |
| November 23, 1979 | Florida Field | Florida | 27-16 |
| September 6, 1980 | Tiger Stadium | LSU | 16-0 |
| October 4, 1980 | Memorial Stadium | Nebraska | 18-14 |
| October 3, 1981 | Ohio Stadium | Ohio State | 36-27 |
| October 10, 1981 | Notre Dame Stadium | Notre Dame | 19-13 |
| October 2, 1982 | Ohio Stadium | Ohio State | 34-17 |
| October 30, 1982 | Miami Orange Bowl | Miami | 24-7 |
| December 30, 1982 | Gator Bowl Stadium (GATOR BOWL) | West Virginia | 31-12 |
| September 10, 1983 | Tiger Stadium | LSU | 40-35 |
| October 29, 1983 | Sun Devil Stadium | Arizona State | 29-26 |
| December 30, 1983 | Atlanta-Fulton County Stadium (PEACH BOWL) | North Carolina | 28-3 |
| September 22, 1984 | Miami Orange Bowl | Miami | 38-3 |
| November 3, 1984 | Sun Devil Stadium | Arizona State | 42-44 |
| December 22, 1984 | Florida Citrus Bowl Stadium (CITRUS BOWL) | Georgia | 17-17 |
| September 7, 1985 | Memorial Stadium | Nebraska | 17-13 |
| December 30, 1985 | Gator Bowl Stadium (GATOR BOWL) | Oklahoma State | 34-23 |
| December 31, 1986 | Legion Field (ALL-AMERICAN BOWL) | Indiana | 27-13 |
| September 26, 1987 | Spartan Stadium | Michigan State | 31-3 |
| November 7, 1987 | Jordan-Hare Stadium | Auburn | 34-6 |
| November 28, 1987 | Florida Field | Florida | 28-14 |
| January 1, 1988 | Sun Devil Stadium (FIESTA BOWL) | Nebraska | 31-28 |
| September 17, 1988 | Clemson Memorial Stadium | Clemson | 24-21 |
| January 2, 1989 | Louisiana Superdome (SUGAR BOWL) | Auburn | 13-7 |
| December 2, 1989 | Ben Hill Griffin Stadium | Florida | 24-17 |
| January 1, 1990 | Sun Devil Stadium (FIESTA BOWL) | Nebraska | 41-17 |
| December 28, 1990 | Joe Robbie Stadium (BLOCKBUSTER BOWL) | Penn State | 24-17 |
| September 28, 1991 | Michigan Stadium | Michigan | 51-31 |
| January 1, 1992 | Cotton Bowl Stadium (COTTON BOWL) | Texas A&M | 10-2 |
| September 12, 1992 | Clemson Memorial Stadium | Clemson | 24-20 |
| Date | Location | Opponent | Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| October 17, 1992 | Bobby Dodd Stadium | Georgia Tech | 29-24 |
| January 1, 1993 | Miami Orange Bowl (ORANGE BOWL) | Nebraska | 27-14 |
| November 27, 1993 | Ben Hill Griffin Stadium | Florida | 33-21 |
| January 1, 1994 | Miami Orange Bowl (NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP) | Nebraska | 18-16 |
| November 12, 1994 | Orlando Citrus Bowl Stadium | Notre Dame | 23-16 |
| January 2, 1995 | Louisiana Superdome (SUGAR BOWL) | Florida | 23-17 |
| January 1, 1996 | Miami Orange Bowl (ORANGE BOWL) | Notre Dame | 31-26 |
| November 8, 1997 | Kenan Memorial Stadium | North Carolina | 20-3 |
| January 1, 1998 | Louisiana Superdome (SUGAR BOWL) | Ohio State | 31-14 |
| November 20, 1999 | Ben Hill Griffin Stadium | Florida | 30-23 |
| January 4, 2000 | Louisiana Superdome (NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP) | Virginia Tech | 46-29 |
| January 1, 2002 | Alltel Stadium (GATOR BOWL) | Virginia Tech | 30-17 |
| November 29, 2003 | Ben Hill Griffin Stadium | Florida | 38-34 |
| January 1, 2005 | Alltel Stadium (GATOR BOWL) | West Virginia | 30-18 |
| September 17, 2005 | Alumni Stadium | Boston College | 28-17 |
| December 3, 2005 | Alltel Stadium (ACC CHAMPIONSHIP) | Virginia Tech | 27-22 |
| September 4, 2006 | Miami Orange Bowl | Miami | 13-10 |
| December 27, 2006 | AT&T Park (EMERALD BOWL) | UCLA | 44-27 |
| November 3, 2007 | Alumni Stadium | Boston College | 27-17 |
| October 4, 2008 | Dolphin Stadium | Miami | 41-39 |
| November 22, 2008 | Byrd Stadium | Maryland | 37-3 |
| December 27, 2008 | Citrus Bowl Stadium (CHAMPS SPORTS BOWL) | Wisconsin | 42-13 |
| September 19, 2009 | LaVell Edwards Stadium | Brigham Young | 54-28 |
| October 22, 2009 | Kenan Memorial Stadium | North Carolina | 30-27 |
| November 14, 2009 | BB&T Field | Wake Forest | 41-28 |
| January 1, 2010 | Jacksonville Municipal Stadium (GATOR BOWL) | West Virginia | 33-21 |
| October 9, 2010 | Sun Life Stadium | Miami | 45-17 |
| December 31, 2010 | Georgia Dome (CHICK-FIL-A BOWL) | South Carolina | 26-17 |
| November 26, 2011 | Ben Hill Griffin Stadium | Florida | 21-7 |
| December 29, 2011 | Citrus Bowl Stadium (CHAMPS SPORTS BOWL) | Notre Dame | 18-14 |
| December 1, 2012 | Bank of America Stadium (ACC CHAMPIONSHIP) | Georgia Tech | 21-15 |
| January 1, 2013 | Sun Life Stadium (ORANGE BOWL) | Northern Illinois | 31-10 |
| October 19, 2013 | Clemson Memorial Stadium | Clemson | 51-14 |
| November 30, 2013 | Ben Hill Griffin Stadium | Florida | 37-7 |
| December 7, 2013 | Bank of America Stadium (ACC CHAMPIONSHIP) | Duke | 45-7 |
| January 6, 2014 | Rose Bowl Stadium (NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP) | Auburn | 34-31 |
| December 6, 2014 | Bank of America Stadium (ACC CHAMPIONSHIP) | Georgia Tech | 37-35 |
| November 28, 2015 | Ben Hill Griffin Stadium | Florida | 27-2 |
| October 8, 2016 | Hard Rock Stadium | Miami | 20-19 |
| December 30, 2016 | Hard Rock Stadium (ORANGE BOWL) | Michigan | 33-32 |
| November 25, 2017 | Ben Hill Griffin Stadium | Florida | 38-22 |
| December 27, 2017 | Independence Stadium (INDEPENDENCE BOWL) | Southern Mississippi | 42-13 |
| November 9, 2019 | Alumni Stadium | Boston College | 38-31 |
Interments per Opponent
| Opponent | Interments |
|---|---|
| Alabama | 1 |
| Arizona State | 3 |
| Auburn | 4 |
| Boston College | 4 |
| Brigham Young | 1 |
| Clemson | 3 |
| Duke | 1 |
| Florida | 13 |
| Georgia | 3 |
| Georgia Tech | 4 |
| Houston | 1 |
| Indiana | 1 |
| LSU | 3 |
| Maryland | 1 |
| Memphis State | 1 |
| Miami | 11 |
| Michigan | 2 |
| Michigan State | 1 |
| N. Texas State | 1 |
| N.C. State | 1 |
| Nebraska | 6 |
| North Carolina | 3 |
| Northern Illinois | 1 |
| Notre Dame | 4 |
| Ohio State | 3 |
| Oklahoma | 1 |
| Oklahoma State | 2 |
| Penn State | 2 |
| South Carolina | 4 |
| Southern Mississippi | 1 |
| Syracuse | 1 |
| TCU | 1 |
| Texas A&M | 2 |
| Texas Tech | 2 |
| UCLA | 1 |
| Virginia Tech | 4 |
| Wake Forest | 1 |
| West Virginia | 3 |
| Wisconsin | 1 |
See also
References
- ^ "Sod Cemetery: An FSU Tradition". The Odyssey. Archived from the original on 5 November 2013. Retrieved 31 October 2013.