Florida State is turning its Oct. 31 showdown with Clemson into more than just a football game. The Seminoles have branded the night at Doak Campbell Stadium as “Operation Garnet Storm,” a Halloween-heavy, military-appreciation event packed with pregame pageantry, in-game tributes and a few extras aimed at fans arriving in costume.
The university said the night will include Halloween drink specials, candy for fans dressed up, discounted concessions for students and a Trunk or Treat event set for 3 p.m. on Langford Green. Those are only part of the plan, though. FSU is also building the game around a series of military recognition elements, starting with a pregame parachute jump by the USSOCOM Para-Commandos from MacDill Air Force Base in Tampa.
The national anthem will be accompanied by the joint FSU/FAMU ROTC color guard and March-On with enhanced pyrotechnics. Then, when the team takes the field, three players will lead the Seminoles carrying the American flag, the POW-MIA flag and the FSU flag.
“Operation Garnet Storm is a comprehensive campaign to provide our fans with a one-of-a-kind experience in Doak Campbell Stadium,” interim director of athletics Bruce Warwick said in the press release. “We are excited to enhance our many traditions while also creating new memories with elements that are making their Doak Campbell Stadium debut. From the moment they arrive until after the game, fans will have opportunities to engage, interact and enjoy Saturday night in Tallahassee.”
The first half will also be loaded with recognitions, including tributes to veterans, current service members and leadership, along with videos of FSU football players with military ties. Florida State will honor Peter Warrick for his induction into the College Football Hall of Fame during the first quarter. At halftime, the Marching Chiefs will perform alongside a drone show.
Here’s how the night is set to unfold:
Noon - Parking lots open
3 p.m. - Ford Fan Fest on Langford Green and Coca-Cola Tailgate Village at Howser Green open
3 p.m. - Trunk or Treat on Langford Green
4:45 p.m. - Legacy Walk at Heritage Tower/Gate K
5 p.m. - Doak Campbell Stadium gates open, concessions specials and Trick-or-Treat available
Pre-game - USSOCOM Para-Commandos parachute jump, Marching Chiefs performance, Spear Plant
1st half - Military Appreciation t-shirt giveaway for FSU students, military and law enforcement recognitions on the field, Peter Warrick NFF On-Campus Salute
Halftime - Marching Chiefs performance, Garnet Hour begins, drone show, synchronized light show
3rd quarter - Stadium light activations, Allstate Field Goal Kick contest, Trick-or-Treat concludes
Florida State enters the Clemson game with a 3-4 record and a 1-3 mark in ACC play. The Seminoles have already gone through a schedule that has included wins over New Mexico State and Virginia, and losses to SMU, Alabama and Miami in double overtime. After Clemson, the remaining slate includes trips to Boston College and Pittsburgh, plus home games against NC State and Florida.
In Other News...
Florida State Gets Its First Real Roster Test Against LSU
Florida State is getting a chance to find out where it really stands early, with an exhibition matchup against LSU set for the Donald L. Tucker Center. Luke Loucks wanted a tougher test for his new team, and this one should provide plenty of answers against a Tigers group that has turned over its roster but still brings a veteran feel under Will Wade.
The Seminoles will lean on a mix of youth and experience, including freshman center Marcis Ponder, junior guard Kam Taylor and sophomore forward Shon Abaev. LSUs backcourt is the part to watch, with fifth-year guard Donovan Dent in the mix and Skyy Clark recently cleared to play, giving the Tigers another layer of talent as Florida State tries to measure itself before the games start counting. [Read more 🡒]
Florida State Keeps Running Well Despite One Alarming Problem
Florida States season has had enough uneven stretches to keep expectations in check, but the ground game has been one of the few steady sources of optimism. Ashton Daniels and Ousmane Kromah have helped keep the offense moving on the back of a run game that has held up better than most other parts of the roster, a useful fallback for a team still projected to land at 6-6.
The problem is that the support around it has not matched that stability. Florida State has given up 27.9 points per game and 256.3 passing yards a game, with the secondary and second-half defense standing out as the biggest concerns, and that leaves the Seminoles in a frustrating spot: good enough on the ground to stay competitive, but not yet consistent enough everywhere else to look like a true conference contender. [Read more 🡒]
Miami Rivalry Win Still Has FSU Melting Down Over The Finish
The aftermath of Florida States double-overtime loss to Miami still has plenty of people around the program talking, and former Seminoles quarterback Jordan Travis added his voice to the frustration. On his podcast, Travis took aim at the late-game officiating that helped define the 43-35 finish, disputing both the timing of a holding penalty that wiped out a touchdown and the replay decision that stood on an interception.
It was the kind of ending that leaves a rivalry game simmering long after the final whistle, especially when the result turns on calls fans and former players cannot stop replaying. Travis did make sure to praise Florida State quarterback Ashton Daniels for the way he played, but even that acknowledgment sat against the bigger backdrop of a finish Seminole supporters are still trying to make sense of. [Read more 🡒]