Osceola and Renegade
Osceola and Renegade debuted at a September 16, 1978 game against the Oklahoma State Cowboys. They proved quite popular, and subsequently other faux-Indian traditions arose, including the "War Chant" in 1984 and the "Tomahawk Chop" shortly after. Durham oversaw the Osceola tradition for 25 years, and over time aspects of the performance have become more refined and regulated. In 2002, Durham retired and passed his role on to his son Allen Durham, a former Osceola portrayer.
In the 1980s and 1990s, when mascots based on Native Americans became more controversial and many Native Americans and supporters protested their use, Florida State consulted with the Seminole Tribe of Florida, emphasizing that Osceola was never intended to be demeaning. Several representatives of the Seminole Tribe, including Chairman James E. Billie and Council Member Max Osceola, have given FSU their blessing to use Osceola and Seminole imagery. However, the matter remains controversial for other Florida Seminoles, as well as members of the Seminole Tribe of Oklahoma. Critics have noted a political undercurrent in the support from Florida Seminole leaders, who are heavily involved in business ventures such as Indian casinos in the state. In 2005, the NCAA added FSU to a list of schools facing potential sanctions for using "hostile and abusive" Indian mascots and names; after much deliberation, the NCAA gave FSU an exemption, citing the university's relationship with the Seminole Tribe of Florida as a major factor.
List of Florida Gators football players in the NFL
This list of Florida Gators football players includes notable former college football players for the Florida Gators football team that represents the University of Florida in Gainesville, Florida, and who have played professionally in the National Football League (NFL) during its regular season. This list includes such former Gators players as Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback Tim Tebow, Pro Football Hall of Fame defensive end Jack Youngblood, and Super Bowl Most Valuable Player and Hall of Fame running back Emmitt Smith. (This list does not include notable former Gators football players who never played in a regular season NFL game; reference should be made to the Florida Gators football main article for lists of other notable players who did not play in the NFL.)