Who Started The Chiefs War Chant?
The University adopted the Seminole Indian as its mascot, nickname and symbol back in 1947. During the 1960s, the marching band “the War Chiefs” introduced a Seminole cheer, which was called the “massacre” in which the band chanted to a “Native American” beat.
According to a 2012 thread on the FSU message board Tomahawk Nation, a fraternity member named Rob Hill began the ritual at a 1983 football game, accompanying a repetitive drum beat from the marching band with what the message board poster called a “traditional singing of an Indian war chant.” The hand motion, he wrote
Florida State’s “war chant” appears to have begun with a random occurrence that took place during a 1984 game against Auburn. In the 1960s, the Marching Chiefs would chant the melody of a popular FSU cheer.
The Tomahawk chop motion started at Florida State University but was adopted by the Braves in 1991 following the signing of former FSU three-sport star Deion Sanders. In 2019, the Braves said they were taking steps to “reduce” the Tomahawk chop after St.
It was introduced to the Atlanta Braves in 1991 by baseball/football player Deion Sanders. Sanders was a one-time athlete at Florida State, so it was only natural that he would have picked it up there.
November 1990
Kansas City Chiefs
The Chiefs first heard it in November 1990, when the Northwest Missouri State band, directed by 1969 Florida State graduate Al Sergel, did the chant. “It is a direct descendant of Florida State,” said Chiefs promotions director Phil Thomas.
Deion Sanders later took the chant with him to the Atlanta Braves of MLB, and they call it the “Tomahawk Chop.” However, Sanders did go to Florida State, so it’s not really malicious stealing. The Braves even admit this tradition came from the Seminoles—as do the Kansas City Chiefs.
And in 1990, changed its primary logo to its current one, which features the team nickname in script along with an image of a tomahawk. The tomahawk chop first made its appearance at Braves games in late 1991.
The PA system at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium plays a song as someone, usually a former Chiefs player, bangs the mallet on the drum. The banging is followed by the crowd chanting and fans using their arms in a “chopping” motion. While the Chiefs have instructed fans to use a closed fist, many don’t follow it.
In a 1991 South Florida Sun Sentinel article, Miles McRea, then the Braves’ director of promotion and entertainment, said the “tomahawk-chop terminology is definitely Braves,” but noted the chant itself began at Florida State.
https://www.on3.com/boards/threads/kansas-city-chief-fans-the-nfl.1739933/#post-35454915
The Warchant song in sports is credited to FSU… but Tomahawk Chop did an article tracing the origin of the music to a 1949 cartoon called “Pow Wow the Indian Boy”.
So I guess FSU can’t claim the music… but gets credit for its first use in sports as the Warchant (along with the chop). Deon gets credit for bringing the chop to the Atlanta Braves (I think it’s odd they don’t give credit to FSU outright- instead of Deon… though they said he likely got it from FSU).
https://www.on3.com/boards/threads/so-this-is-why-kc-does-the-war-chant.1720740/
https://www.sportingnews.com/us/nfl/news/chiefs-tomahawk-chop-chant-arrowhead/hc3c3d026utuhfayr86dirzr
In 1990, the band played at one of Kansas City's games. Al Sergel, a Florida State graduate, led the musical group as the band performed FSU's war chant during the game.
