In 1962, the FSU football team captains returned to Tallahassee with a
piece of the turf from Sanford Stadium after whipping Georgia 18-0 in
Athens. The turf was presented to Dean Coyle E. Moore who founded the
tradition of the sod game.
The sod cemetery began when the first piece of sod was buried in the
corner of the Florida State practice field and a monument was placed to
commemorate the road victory. In the early years, FSU only snipped grass
when it won by upset on the road. But as the Seminoles became more
successful, the criteria changed. Sod games still represent road games won
when FSU is a significant underdog, however, all bowl games are now
considered sod games as well as landmark road wins no matter who was
favored. Each piece of sod is buried in the cemetery next to the practice
field and a tombstone is placed above it with the score and date of the
game.
