Marching Chiefs The " World - Renowned " Marching Chiefs is the official marching band of the Florida State University . The band has served in this capacity since the 1940s and continues to perform at all home football games as well as several away games each year . There are 470 members , or Chiefs , as members are sometimes known , in the band who hail from almost every academic department within the university . History . The first appearance of a formal band was organized in the late 1930s by Charlotte Cooper , Jean Hitchcolk , Allice Ludlaw , and director Owen F . Sellars . The band , which consisted of less than twenty students , performed at the Odds and Evens intramural football game on Thanksgiving Day 1939 . The following year the " Florida Flambeau " ran an announcement of try - outs for the now established band . In 1942 Sellars took military leave for World War II and Frank Sykora became the interim director . The same year uniforms were purchased and worn for the first time at the inauguration of Doak S . Campbell as the new college president . 1946 saw the first option for students to take marching band for credit . In 1947 the Florida State College for Women officially became Florida State University and the university was changed to coeducational by an act of the Florida Legislature . With the change to a coed school came the introduction of a male football team which competed in a five - game season . The marching band performed at the games and practiced on Landis Green under Robert Smith . 1949 saw a new director for the band , Robert T . Braungel , and the new , official name of " Marching Chiefs . The name was chosen by a newspaper survey sponsored by the Student Government Association . The first appearance of the newly christened Marching Chiefs was at Stetson University . Dr . Manley R Whitcomb became the new director of the Marching Chiefs in 1953 after transferring from Ohio State University and joining the FSU faculty . Dr . Whitcomb brought with him a talented young arranger by the name of Charles Carter who became the official arranger of the Marching Chiefs . Carter ' s arrangements gave the Marching Chiefs a distinctive style that survives to this day . Whitcomb also brought with him the traditional eight - to - five step , fast marching tempos , and the high step with arm swing now known as " Chief Step . " The 1949 - 50 football season saw the Seminoles ' and the Marching Chief ' s first appearances in a postseason bowl game at the Cigar Bowl in Tampa , FL . 1954 marked the Seminoles next appearance at in a bowl at the Sun Bowl in El Paso , Texas . The " Miami Daily News " proclaimed , " FSU ' s bid to Sun Bowl clinched by Marching Chiefs . " In the spring of 1955 FSU received a charter of Kappa Kappa Psi honorary band fraternity . The brothers of KKPsi , as the organization is commonly known , produced a newsletter named " The Chieftain " which aimed to keep band members informed of upcoming events and activities . In 1956 Charlie Carter arranged J . Dayton Smith ' s " The Hymn to the Garnet and the Gold " for band . The Charlie Carter arrangement had its premier performance at the 1958 homecoming game . The in - state rivalry of the Seminoles and the Gators began with their first match in 1958 . It was not until 1964 that the annual game alternated between schools . 1969 saw the beginning of a new tradition for the Marching Chiefs with the newly created Band Alumni Association putting graduates of the Marching Chiefs onto the field for halftime . 1971 was another big year for the Marching Chiefs . It saw Richard Mayo , an FSU alumnus and former drum major , take over direction of the Chiefs in a year in which membership grew to over 200 students . The Marching Chiefs were also finalists in the Best College Marching Band contest on ABC - TV which established their reputation as one of the nation ' s finest marching bands . It also was the year that the Marching Chiefs took on the titled of " World - Renowned . " The Chiefs performed at the International Trade Fair in Damascus , Syria as a guest of State Department . While in the Middle East , Chiefs performed in Amman , Jordan as a command performance for King Hussein . Color guard auxiliary was added in 1970 . 1976 was the one - year term of William Raxdale as director of the Chiefs . He introduced a corps - style drill which included the glide step . The Chiefs performed the same show at every game during the ' 76 football season . Bentley Shellahamer , another Chiefs alumnus , took over directorship and reinstated the Chiefs ' traditional style of marching . In 1978 Chiefs performed their second of many NFL performance during a game for the New Orleans Saints . Chiefs surpassed 300 members during the 1981 football season which was marked by a trip to Ohio State University . Dr . Whitcomb conducted the combined bands in a performance of the National Anthem which Dr . Shellahamer described as the " ultimate experience . " 1981 was also the year that alumnus Dave Westberry took on the role of the " Voice of the Marching Chiefs . " The next year Andre Arrouet became interim director while Dr . Shellahamer took leave to work on his doctorate at Ohio State . In 1982 , Sports Illustrated featured the Marching Chiefs in an eight page picture spread in which it was declared that , " Florida State occasionally may lose a football game , but never a halftime show " ( December 6 , 1982 ) . This is the origin of the unofficial nickname of the Marching Chiefs as " The band that never lost a halftime . " Also in 1982 was the addition of the yearly Prism Concert to be included with the annual Tri - State Band Festival and Conducting Conference . Dr . Shellahamer resumed directorship in 1984 and Chiefs , along with the Gator Band performed at Super Bowl XVIII in Tampa , FL . 1988 saw the Marching Chiefs hit another membership milestone when it reached 400 students , thus making Chiefs the world ' s largest collegiate marching band . In 1989 Chiefs got a new director , Robert Sheldon , and new uniforms . Though not successful at the time , there was an effort by band members to dedicate the Chiefs ' practice field the Manley Whitcomb Memorial Field . 1991 began the current era of the Marching Chiefs . Patrick Dunnigan gained directorship of the band and was instrumental in the production of the Chiefs ' first CD , Our Best Foot Forward . Though currently commonplace , the CD was the first end - of - season CD recording of a college marching band . The next year was Charlie Carter ' s 40 year at FSU and was celebrated by a special halftime show in his honor . 1993 was another momentous year , beginning with a trip to East Rutherford , New Jersey for the Kickoff Classic against the University of Kansas Jayhawks . Doak Campbell Stadium was also renovated before this season including a section was added in the south end zone for the Chiefs and the new " Elephant Doors " underneath the section . The Homecoming Show celebrated 50 years of bands at FSU . To end the season the Marching Chiefs participated in FSU ' s first National Championship win over the University of Nebraska Cornuskers . The Chiefs renewed their " World - Renowned " title in 1997 when they traveled to London , England to perform a halftime show for a game of the World Football League ' s London Monarchs . The following season Dunnigan took leave to pursue a doctorate at the University of Texas and Dr . John L . Baker served as interim director . In 1998 the Marching Chiefs found themselves heading to Tempe , Arizona for another shot at the National championship but lost to the Tennessee Volunteers in the Fiesta Bowl . The newly hooded Dr . Dunnigan returned for the 1999 season which ended with a National Championship win against the Virginia Tech Hokies in the Sugar Bowl . Though the movement had begun long before , in 2002 the Marching Chiefs ' practice field was named in honor of Manley Whitcomb . In 2005 , a donation of over $ 350 , 000 was made to the university by Bill Harkins for a new practice field for the Marching Chiefs . This allowed Chiefs to start off the ' 05 season with a new , artificial turf field to march on . The field , Bill Harkins field at the Manley R . Whitcomb Band Complex , is an exact replica of the appearance of Bobby Bowden Field on game day complete with Seminole head . This new field replaced a grass field which was known for less - than - ideal conditions . In 2009 The Marching Chiefs hit 460 members allowing it to retain the title as the world ' s largest collegiate marching band . Try - outs and rehearsals . Aspiring members of the Marching Chiefs complete a week of Preseason Training that begins with a music audition . Following the music audition is a process of learning how to march as a Chief for rookies and a three - day refresher for veterans . After being taught how to march , the week concludes with the marching audition . The playing audition and marching audition each account for 50 % of the total audition score which assists in completing the official Marching Chiefs " Block List . " Anyone who wishes to be a member of the Marching Chiefs in a given year , new and returning , must audition to be in the band each year . The band institutes an " alternate " system due to the number of members and the limitations of drill . Members declared alternates share their field position with another member and perform the pregame and / or halftime show every other football game . The number of alternates varies by section and by year . Marching Chiefs rehearse for two hours on Monday through Friday from 4pm to 6pm . On game days , the band has early morning Continuity rehearsals to review the halftime show and pregame . Drum majors . Drum Majors and Assistant Drum Majors of the Marching Chiefs fulfill ceremonial as well as musical positions of leadership within the band . One of the most significant and visible responsibilities of the Drum Major is the pre - game strut , which includes a 40 - yard strut and mace toss prior to the beginning of the Marching Chiefs ' pre - game show . This tradition began with Jim Bruce during his tenure as Drum Major in the late 1970s . Over the years , Marching Chiefs added the position of Assistant Drum Major ( and later a second ) to serve as an additional field commander and conductor . For halftime and special appearances , the Drum Major dresses in a uniform designed in the likeness of the Seminole Indian Tribe , incorporating designs and colors representative of traditional tribal attire . did not complete season Sections . The Marching Chiefs ' instrumental sections are known by its members by their own specific names and are as follows : Flutes : " Chiefs Flutes " Clarinets : " Five Easy Pieces " commonly referred to as " Pieces " Alto & Tenor Saxophones : " Section X " Mellophones : " HornZ " Trumpets : " Screech Squad , " commonly referred to as " Screech " Baritones : " T . O . N . E . Quality ( TQ ) , " commonly referred to as " Tones " Trombones : " The Roamin ' Bones , " commonly referred to as " Bones " Sousaphones : " The Royal Flush , " commonly referred to as " Flush " Percussion : " The Big 8 Drumline , " commonly referred to as " Big 8 " Auxiliary consists of Color Guard , Majorettes and Feature Twirler ( s ) Show / Technical Support : " Glue Crew " Each section has its own set of history and traditions , some with their own colors , mottos , symbols , songs , pre - game rituals and / or crests . FSU Marching Chiefs traditions . " Skull Session " - The Chiefs perform together at a pregame " Skull Session " before each home football game in Tallahassee . When Manley Whitcomb came to Florida State University from Ohio State University he brought several traditions with him , one of those being the " Skull Session . " The idea is that the Chiefs get the music into their skulls " before " the game and can focus more on the marching and visual performance during the game . Originally , Skull Session was held in Opperman Music Hall but has since become a public performance . Now , performing on Mike Martin Field at Dick Howser Stadium ( located next to Doak Campbell Stadium ) , the Chiefs perform section cheers and then go on to give the audience a sneak preview of the day ' s halftime show selections . Most section cheers tend to be either well - known pop songs , opportunities to poke fun at school opponents / other sections or inside jokes . All cheers are arranged by students who are current / alumni Chiefs . " Come On and Go " - This is a pregame tradition which the band opens with . The drumline begins by playing the cadence " Come On and Go " as the band " Chief Steps " out onto the field from under the stadium . As the cadence progresses , the band performs a double - time high step known as " Go Cadence " onto the field . " The Good , The Bad and The Ugly " ( Retired ) - This was a tradition that started in the early 1980s when the Chiefs were under the direction of Dr . Bentley Shellahamer . As the Florida State football team was finishing its on - field pre - game warm up exercise routine , the Chiefs joined the team ' s vocals . As they finished , the players lined up shoulder to shoulder on the fifty - yard line , held up their helmets and walked in a side - by - side line toward the North end zone as the Chiefs played the " main title " theme from the 1966 film " The Good , The Bad and The Ugly " which has been arranged into " G . B . U . " , an extended intro which then leads into the playing of the " FSU Fight Song , " or the " Warchant " . Even though this tradition was retired in 2010 , the Chiefs still play " G . B . U . " in the stands . " ' Flushing ' The Field " - The Royal Flush , during every pregame performance , " flushes " the field by running around the Seminole head logo at the center of Bobby Bowden Field while the head drum major stands at the center of it . As the rest of the band transitions to the team entrance formation , The Royal Flush follows and the entire band ends the exit cadence by counting aloud the number of Flush members and ending with " Flush ! " This can be heard on each and every recording of the Exit Cadence . " Roamin ' The Stadium " ( Retired ) - The Roamin ' Bones " roam " the stadium during 3rd or 4th quarter and perform different arrangements from the Bone Book , their collection of musical charts written specifically for the Roamin ' Bones . The Roamin ' Bones no longer roam the stadium . " The Hymn To The Garnet & Gold " - Most Chiefs will agree that their favorite school song is what is commonly known as " The Hymn " . When Florida State University was looking for an alma mater , several composers sent in their contributions . The Hymn did not make it as the official FSU Alma Mater , but it lives and thrives as a long - standing school tradition , as the Chiefs sing it at the end of every game .