Florida State University Athletics
Photo by: Bill Lax/FSU Photo Lab
Unconquered Statue Unveiled 20 Years Ago
10/10/2023 7:35:00 AM | General
In 2003, ABC Sports was in Tallahassee to broadcast yet another Top 5 football showdown between Florida State and Miami.Â
FSU appeared on ABC nearly every other game those days and the visiting television producers who were tasked with filming "beauty shots" of the home campus that ran during the broadcast had just about run out of fresh scenes
.
So, the FSU vs. Miami camera crew perked up when the answer was "yes" to their "anything new" question.
A brisk walk through the south end of Doak Campbell Stadium put the group in front of a parachute billowing in the breeze and the flimsy material allowed a hint of what was underneath.
After explaining that they would have to imagine the flame that would burn at the top the next night, the crew was given a peek under the makeshift curtain.
"Hot damn" was the first expression from the ear-to-ear grinning videographer.
20 years ago today, the unveiling was held for the 'Unconquered' statue that has become one of the iconic symbols of not only Florida State Athletics but the spirit of the entire University.
At sunset the night before every home game, the spear atop the statue is ignited by an honoree(s) in a ceremony that includes a history of the unique significance of FSU's association with the Seminole Tribe of Florida, and the flame burns until sunrise on the morning after the game.Â
Last Friday, Mike and Maria Norvell were given the honor and lit the spear in front of a large gathering of FSU fans along with some curious Virginia Tech supporters.
Dedicated on October 10, 2003, the bronze statue was designed to capture the indomitable spirit of the Seminole people and those who have adopted that spirit as a symbol for their university.
The impressive structure, including its granite-covered pedestal base, stands approximately 31 feet high and rises above the Williams Family Plaza at the north end of Langford Green just outside Doak Campbell Stadium.
While casual observers may identify the image with FSU's living symbols, Renegade and Osceola, the statue embraces and represents a much broader concept.
The monument was the idea of longtime Seminole Booster and FSU alum Steve Reilly who started the ball rolling on the project. Reilly, who is an attorney for the State of Florida Office of The Public Counsel, spent hundreds of volunteer hours over the ten years before the actual unveiling spearheading the project.
"Bill Durham's creation of Renegade and Osceola, which adds such an impact to our home football games, was the inspiration behind this statue," Reilly said. "However, the 'Unconquered' statue more broadly celebrates the human spirit that will not be defeated. This statue does not depict any particular person or event. Rather, it symbolically portrays the unconquered spirit of the Seminole people of the nineteenth century and the timeless legacy of that spirit that continues to burn bright into the future."
A football trip to Notre Dame in 1993 provided Reilly's inspiration for the project. He watched as the Fighting Irish band gave a concert on the steps of Bond Hall, and then led the assembled fans, Pied-Piper-like, across the campus to the stadium.
The pageantry struck a chord in Reilly.
As the idea developed, Reilly imagined a statue, patterned after the statue of Andrew Jackson in New Orleans' Jackson Square. In early 1994 he took his concept to new FSU President Sandy D'Alemberte, who shared the vision and threw his support to the project.
In June 1995, a committee was formed with Reilly as its chairman. One of his first tasks was to find money.
"President D'Alemberte told me: "You can't proceed with this project on a wish and a promise. You must have the money in the bank,'" Reilly said. "Fortunately, it was never an issue. I made one presentation to one person, George Langford. He shared the vision and endowed the project for up to $1 million."
With the statue as his committee's focus, Reilly remained involved with the planning and development of Langford Green, now a cherished piece of green space.
After evaluating over 50 potential artists, Fritz White's impressive array of work on similar subjects made the Loveland, Colorado residents' talent stand above all others and he was commissioned for the project.
20 years later, Seminole fans have yet another event to put on their Friday home game routine, TV networks have a built-in drama shot like no other and we all have a symbol worthy of Florida State University.
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FSU appeared on ABC nearly every other game those days and the visiting television producers who were tasked with filming "beauty shots" of the home campus that ran during the broadcast had just about run out of fresh scenes
.
So, the FSU vs. Miami camera crew perked up when the answer was "yes" to their "anything new" question.
A brisk walk through the south end of Doak Campbell Stadium put the group in front of a parachute billowing in the breeze and the flimsy material allowed a hint of what was underneath.
After explaining that they would have to imagine the flame that would burn at the top the next night, the crew was given a peek under the makeshift curtain.
"Hot damn" was the first expression from the ear-to-ear grinning videographer.
20 years ago today, the unveiling was held for the 'Unconquered' statue that has become one of the iconic symbols of not only Florida State Athletics but the spirit of the entire University.
At sunset the night before every home game, the spear atop the statue is ignited by an honoree(s) in a ceremony that includes a history of the unique significance of FSU's association with the Seminole Tribe of Florida, and the flame burns until sunrise on the morning after the game.Â
Last Friday, Mike and Maria Norvell were given the honor and lit the spear in front of a large gathering of FSU fans along with some curious Virginia Tech supporters.
Dedicated on October 10, 2003, the bronze statue was designed to capture the indomitable spirit of the Seminole people and those who have adopted that spirit as a symbol for their university.
The impressive structure, including its granite-covered pedestal base, stands approximately 31 feet high and rises above the Williams Family Plaza at the north end of Langford Green just outside Doak Campbell Stadium.
While casual observers may identify the image with FSU's living symbols, Renegade and Osceola, the statue embraces and represents a much broader concept.
The monument was the idea of longtime Seminole Booster and FSU alum Steve Reilly who started the ball rolling on the project. Reilly, who is an attorney for the State of Florida Office of The Public Counsel, spent hundreds of volunteer hours over the ten years before the actual unveiling spearheading the project.
"Bill Durham's creation of Renegade and Osceola, which adds such an impact to our home football games, was the inspiration behind this statue," Reilly said. "However, the 'Unconquered' statue more broadly celebrates the human spirit that will not be defeated. This statue does not depict any particular person or event. Rather, it symbolically portrays the unconquered spirit of the Seminole people of the nineteenth century and the timeless legacy of that spirit that continues to burn bright into the future."
A football trip to Notre Dame in 1993 provided Reilly's inspiration for the project. He watched as the Fighting Irish band gave a concert on the steps of Bond Hall, and then led the assembled fans, Pied-Piper-like, across the campus to the stadium.
The pageantry struck a chord in Reilly.
As the idea developed, Reilly imagined a statue, patterned after the statue of Andrew Jackson in New Orleans' Jackson Square. In early 1994 he took his concept to new FSU President Sandy D'Alemberte, who shared the vision and threw his support to the project.
In June 1995, a committee was formed with Reilly as its chairman. One of his first tasks was to find money.
"President D'Alemberte told me: "You can't proceed with this project on a wish and a promise. You must have the money in the bank,'" Reilly said. "Fortunately, it was never an issue. I made one presentation to one person, George Langford. He shared the vision and endowed the project for up to $1 million."
With the statue as his committee's focus, Reilly remained involved with the planning and development of Langford Green, now a cherished piece of green space.
After evaluating over 50 potential artists, Fritz White's impressive array of work on similar subjects made the Loveland, Colorado residents' talent stand above all others and he was commissioned for the project.
20 years later, Seminole fans have yet another event to put on their Friday home game routine, TV networks have a built-in drama shot like no other and we all have a symbol worthy of Florida State University.
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