Florida State Marching Chiefs
Just before Thanksgiving 2024, I had the joy of visiting my Alma Mater Florida State University in Tallahassee, FL. Being back in Florida was a blast from the past, going back to my old stomping grounds and enjoying even the small things that I loved during my four years in my favorite college town. It was also a thrill to see all the updates the campus got since the last time I visited. My sister, Roxy, is a sophomore this year, and she showed me the new student union which was being built for the majority of my tenure at FSU. It was so cool to see the results and even though I didn’t get to enjoy the brand-new union, I’m glad my sister can reap the benefits.
The highlight of my visit was, of course, the FSU vs UF football game, and since my sister is a member of the World Famous Marching Chiefs, I had an awesome experience with the band! Roxy is in the clarinet section AKA Pieces (each section has a unique name) and she let me know that her section would love to have photos taken of them before the game. I got to attend their sectionals, pregame rehearsals, and the Skull Session where each section gets to show off a different musical piece and those in attendance get to see a preview of the music for the halftime show.
“Pieces” in the Skull Session
The rehearsal happened to line up right in time with golden hour so I was able to capture some awesome photos of my sister’s section. I had a great time getting some posed photos of my sister and her friends, but I was also surprised by the section’s Festivities! Pieces members lay on the ground and everyone else jumps over them, as the round finishes they add another person to jump over and they fondly call this activity Festivities. I was not expecting the high speed action but it was a blast to watch and photograph!
Festivities!
After rehearsal and the Skull Session, there was the game of course. Unfortunately, I wasn’t able to capture a ton of photos at the game, but I had a great time just spectating. The energy in the stadium was palpable which was no surprise for the last game of the season with FSU’s long-time rival University of Florida Gators. Although the schools are just a few hours apart and many students come from the same high schools and the same hometowns, the rivalry creates an electric atmosphere when the football teams compete. The band was no exception here. While they maintained their goal to outplay the Gator Band, there were also moments where old friends reunited for the first time in the semester.
Half Time Show
I had a great time going to the final game of the season and getting to spend a little time with my sister. I
View the full gallery here!
