By Kerry Dunning

August, 2018

When Sue DeLuca migrated south from Rhode Island to attend Florida State, she says she “finally found a place on earth where I can be happy from sun up to sun down.” The primarily two-sport athlete and former president of the F Club found a university were women’s sports were encouraged, and 50 years later her excitement remains unabated.

That enthusiasm is exactly what Florida State Athletics wants to relive in announcing a year-long celebration of the 50th year of women’s intercollegiate athletics.

“This is the 50th year of having the women’s athletics program at Florida State and we want to give just due to it,” FSU Vice President and Director of Athletics Stan Wilcox said. “We’re going to kick it off on September 2nd with a big celebration and that celebration is going to spill over to the rest of the academic year.”

FSU had women’s athletics dating back to the early 1900s, but will honor the stretch beginning with the university’s first-ever intercollegiate women’s athletics program, volleyball, which began in 1968. Over that 50-year stretch, FSU’s women’s athletics won seven national championships (3 AIAW, 4 NCAA), adding its most recent and first NCAA championship in softball just three days prior to the announcement.

Vanessa Fuchs

Heading up the planning committee is Vanessa Fuchs, Senior Associate Athletics Director and the Senior Woman Administrator at FSU. Fuchs has more than a passing interest in the unfolding of this celebration. Playing basketball for the Seminoles from 1997-2001, Fuchs was a co-captain, four-year letter winner, and a three-time ACC Honor Roll selection.

“As a former FSU student-athlete myself, I know how much women’s athletics means to our university and our fans,” said Fuchs. “Our hope is that they (student-athletes and supporters) will join us in remembering and celebrating all that has been achieved over the last 50 years. We also hope that they (student-athletes and supporters) will consider the opportunities they have to help us continue and grow what we have at FSU.”

The planning committee itself is a Who’s Who in Seminole sports history and leadership. Represented are administrators, coaches, former players, and athletic department staff. It is a good reminder that for every player who has had the opportunity to participate in intercollegiate sports, there remains a host of gifted leaders behind them.

The committee is charged with designing, scheduling and considering everything from historical summaries to individual sports reunions to organizing major events.

“A number of our key stakeholders, including university administration, Seminole Boosters, the FSU varsity club, the FSU Hall of Fame and our staff in athletics have been working behind the scenes for some time to make this a fitting tribute to this milestone,” Wilcox said at the kickoff announcement.

“Our women’s programs have had an outstanding year so it is particularly fitting that we will be recognizing the achievements of our teams, student-athletes and the coaches who helped build our sports to the nationally competitive level we are today.”

The year of special events opens with the “Garnet and Golden Celebration” scheduled for Sept. 2 at 3 p.m. in Tully Gym. An unveiling of a traveling picture display capturing each of the 50 years will highlight that event. Each sport will host a reunion during their respective seasons. The end of the year highlight will be a gala, with date, time and place to be announced.

Details are posted at Seminoles.com/50th and on social media utilizing the hashtag #GarnetAndGolden. A Facebook page has opened, and other social media outlets will be used to announce events, reunions, and highlights of Florida State’s history. (Former players, coaches and administrators will be directly contacted for their participation in the events.)

Seminole women began intercollegiate sports officially with three sports – volleyball, track and field and softball – in 1968-69. Basketball and swimming were added in 1970. During the next two decades, golf, tennis, cross country, and soccer began fielding teams. The most recent sport was the 2012 addition of beach volleyball. Dance and cheer squads will additionally be honored.

During that time, golf (1981) and softball (1981 and 1982) won Association of Intercollegiate Athletics for Women (AIAW) championships. Four NCAA championships – outdoor track and field (1984), indoor track and field (1985), soccer (2014) and softball (2018) – joined the honor roll. FSU’s recent success in ACC and national events bodes well for ongoing success.

“This is an outstanding opportunity for us to celebrate each of our sports as well as to encourage our many, many supporters and fans to be involved with our programs,” said Fuchs.

To commemorate the 50th year of women’s sports at Florida State, a goal has been set to raise $5 million toward women’s scholarships or facilities as designated by donors. Seminole Boosters are actively meeting with supporters who have an interest in honoring the legacy to explain the many giving options.

Lonnie Alameda

Softball coach Lonni Alameda says, “We have great support from the university, boosters and alumni. I get that it is an arms race, keeping up with the Joneses’. We were ahead and now in my time we fall behind; there is an ebb and flow.”

The timing of the fundraising goal couldn’t be more timely. It just added to the family atmosphere she encourages, but the master plan will make the experience top notch.

“We got a locker room update, and it was so important for our kids, who spend so much time here,” Alameda explains. “It includes a kitchen where they are cooking and sharing in the scholarship experience.”

Alameda said the master plan will add even more to the program in the future.

Each of the FSU venues will be adorned with special logos commemorating the 50th anniversary and each of the uniforms of FSU’s women’s athletics programs will also have special logos as well. Commemorative items will be available soon for FSU graduates and supporters to purchase.

DeLuca said she can’t wait to see which of the many former players, coaches and administrators she’ll run into during the year celebration. “To have the 50th year reunion … it will be a great story after story of people and connections.”

2018 Softball NCAA National Champion	2014 Soccer NCAA National Champion	1985 Indoor Women's Track & Field NCAA National Champion
1984 Outdoor Women's Track & Field NCAA National Champion	1982 Slow-Pitch Softball AIAW National Champion	1981 Women's Golf AIAW National Champion
1981 Slow-Pitch Softball AIAW National Champion