Approaches $20 Million Raised in Two Months

LED BY “THE TWENTY,” RENAISSANCE CAMPAIGN APPROACHES $20 MILLION RAISED IN TWO MONTHS

Florida State University has always had Guardian Angels, alumni and friends who provide leadership in the university’s hours of need. Meet “The Twenty”, FSU’s latest generation of leaders who have stepped forward to answer the herald’s call to retstore Florida State Football to its glory.

In early October, darkness fell over iconic Doak Campbell Stadium after a prolonged period of performance by Seminole standards. Punctuated by a loss to bitter rival Miami, FSU President John Thrasher faced a decision no university president wants to make.

With the support of the Board of Trustees and Athletic Director David Coburn, Thrasher fired his head football coach nine games into his second season. It was a bold decision and a brave one. Thrasher knew the decision would require a laborious national search for a replacement and raised serious questions about funding the budget necessary to attract a high demand coach and to provide the resources to bring FSU back to its glory. Thrasher also knew not to decide, would be to decide.

FSU football fans wanted a change in the direction of the program; their vote reflected in 20,000 gleaming empty seats. Not to decide would acerbate the loss of revenue in season tickets By JERRY KUTZ

and Seminole Boosters memberships, which approach $15 million per year and is critical to funding 20 men’s and women’s sports.

What Thrasher – and the FSU community – needed was a Renaissance of FSU Football and they needed to find the money to fund it.

In other words, FSU needed a new generation of Guardian Angels.

Meet “The Twenty” who responded to FSU’s call.

The herald was President Thrasher, who penned a letter to every current and recent-past Seminole Booster member and season ticket holder explaining the reason the coaching change was made and the funding necessary to hire the right coach and provide him with the resources needed. Special packages were overnighted to 44 Seminole Booster members with a very specific ask to join a historic group of Renaissance donors.

Seminole fans – who are eager for a change of fortune –responded quickly. Fifteen individuals have already committed leadership gifts, which cumulatively exceed $15 million.

The campaign is only two months into its ambitious goal, so the progress is historic and inspiring, thanks in large part to those 15 individuals who have already joined the ranks of “The Twenty”. “People give to people for causes they believe in and President Thrasher was the right messenger with the right message – returning Seminole football to its rightful place in college football – a cause we can all support,” said Seminole Boosters President and CEO Andy Miller.

Thrasher, Miller and Coburn have long institutional memories, including the darkest nights in FSU Athletic history and of garnet and gold dawns, fueled by the heroic contributions of previous generations of Seminole supporters.

In addition to the letters soliciting “The Twenty,” a second letter from Thrasher went to donors and season ticket holders asking them to participate in the Renaissance by increasing their annual contribution to a higher donor level or by 20 percent.

More than 1500 individuals have responded to this call, either by increasing their annual fund contribution or by becoming new members, which has already generated more than $1 million in additional annual fund contributions.

The materials accompanying both letters honored previous generations of Guardian Angels who answered the university’s call. Their actions years ago, enabled the program to flourish.

THE TWENTY THE TWENTY

Alan & Carol Flaumenhaft Jimmy & Lisa Graganella Jim & Carole Henderson William T. Hold Moises Issa Phil Kleinman Lawton & Beth Langford Craig C. Mateer DeVoe & Shirley McEwan Moore Brian & Renee Murphy Tom & Betty Petway Dr. Jim & Betty Ann Rodgers Guy & Delores Spearman Jeffrey & Agnes Stoops Gary & Cumi Walsingham Brian & Cortney Williams The following people have committed a leadership gift towards the Renaissance Campaign

Their actions have now inspired a new generation of Guardian Angels, a heroic group who will forever be known as “The Twenty.”

1951 “Exactly one century after the founding of the school, a band of loyal Seminoles met in the old Cherokee Hotel to envision a future of greatness for Florida State University, and the original Seminole Boosters, Inc. was conceived,” the insert reported. “Since that historic meeting, Florida State Athletics has won 17 national championships and established itself as one of the iconic brands in sports.”

1974 “… The reorganization of Seminole Boosters in 1974 prepared the way for the arrival of Bobby Bowden and was highlighted by the Dynasty Years from 1987-2000 when Florida State University won two National Championships in Football and set records for continuous seasons ranked in the top five. Coach Bowden’s reign of success and dynamic personality changed our University forever, and Florida State University grew in numbers as well as prestige.”

1989 “The legendary A-Team was created with the task of securing legislative support for the construction of the University Center. Key to the approval was demonstrating to lawmakers Florida State University’s commitment and ability to generate financial support for the project. It was then the ambitious goal of raising $10 million dollars in six months was tasked to the A-Team.

“There was frantic opposition to the University Center from many corners, much of it from rivals who wanted to see the Seminoles remain in their “erector set.” Through the genius of the A-Team and our allies in the Legislature, Florida State’s football facilities were elevated to become some of the most magnificent in the nation.

“They embraced the challenge, and they had the vision to see that Bobby Bowden’s Dynasty was just beginning.”

2019-2020 Now, three decades later, there is once again a significant financial challenge. And there is a need to ask the current generation of Seminoles to make the difference for Seminole football by contributing to the Renaissance Campaign.

“Like those donors who answered FSU’s call before, “The Twenty” will forever be remembered in FSU history for their efforts to restore FSU football to its rightful place on the top of college football,” Miller concluded.

THE LEGEND OF THE TWENTY Having persevered through two centuries of adversity, the Seminole Indians of Florida earned the right to call themselves “the Unconquered People.” Their indomitable spirit is one Florida State University proudly seeks to emulate in all endeavors.

Today, an elite circle of individuals has emerged, whose leadership, reputation and fortune is assured. Theirs is a devotion of the heart. With the proud tradition of Seminole Football at a crossroads, this resilient group known as “The Twenty” has come together to steer the proud program towards the future. By emulating the spirit of the Seminole people, The Twenty earn the right to call themselves unconquered.

For generations, alumni and friends of our University will know we had heroes at Florida State, legends on and off the field.

Who are the Seminole Heroes among us today? They are the men and women who committed themselves financially to ensure a new beginning for our program. These heroes stepped forward during challenging times and when they saw only a few others like them had the means and the willingness to set things right.

The legend of Bobby Bowden and The Dynasty live on in this elite group, known as The Twenty. They have been called by our leader, President John Thrasher to respond to the challenge of bringing greatness to Florida State Football. They will live in Seminole lore, responding to the call, stepping forward to lead and thereby ensuring the tradition of excellence continues. They will be known for fulfilling the promise of the Renaissance of Seminole Football. Now is the time. Their legend is just beginning. They will now take their place of honor in the timeline of distinguished leaders of our university.