The spear on the side of the helmet or the image of Chief Osceola makes Florida State University’s athletic logos among the most recognizable in college athletics. They also rank among the most copied by prep programs, but that may soon change as the university continues to notify high schools that those logos are trademarked and cannot be used without permission.
Collegiate Licensing Co., which represents numerous universities, sent letters in August to five schools that were identified as using near-exact replicas of FSU’s logo. FSU recently settled with the second of the five schools – Salem High in Rockdale County, Ga. – which agreed to phase out the logo within two to five years.
Salem has estimated the cost to remove the emblems from helmets, uniforms, gym floors and other uses at $200,000.
Although no area programs have been contacted on behalf of FSU, several do use the famous spear on the helmet or Chief Osceola on their uniforms.
Since the program began in 1988, North Jackson’s football helmets have been black with a red and white spear on both sides. The Chiefs’ fight song, which is played incessantly before games and after every North Jackson score by the school’s band, is the FSU war chant.