Sammy Seminole debuted at the 1958 FSU Pow Wow homecoming event.[1] For the first several years he was portrayed by white students from FSU's gymnastics program wearing faux-Native American garb.The gymnastics program ceased sponsoring Sammy Seminole in 1968, though the character was soon re-introduced.In the late 1960s Sammy Seminole was joined by the even more stereotyped "Chief Fullabull", who served as the mascot for the basketball team.Chief Osceola has been officially supported by the Seminole Tribe of Florida.