Half an hour past eight o'clock in the evening Pike alumni began assembling in Brent Sembler Hall. Brent Sembler himself arrived about a quarter till nine, moving among the clusters of alumni, shaking hands and exchanging quiet talk with these icons of Florida business, politics and the professions. Friends and Brothers all, these were the men who helped Sembler build the largest fraternity house in the nation six years ago.

The Sembler Company develops and manages shopping centers throughout the United States and Puerto Rico. Brent's brother Greg '80 is an initiate of Beta Pi chapter at Penn; Brent initiated his son Logan '09 in December. His father Mel Sembler was United States Ambassador to Italy and Australia. Tonight, Sembler will help initiate into Pi Kappa Alpha three of the most renowned personalities within the elite circles of Florida State University Athletics: Bob Stahl, Rick Trickett and Jimbo Fisher.

Bob Stahl is President of Stahl & Associates Insurance, one of the largest private insurance agencies in Florida. The St Petersburg businessman already enjoys the friendship of many Pike alumni. He has made major capital gifts to the University's Capital Campaigns. His wife Kathy serves on the National Board of Seminole Boosters, Inc.

Coach Tricket with his sons, Chance '08 (left) and Clint '10. Charter members, Ken Maclean '44 and Bob Hall '49 pictured in background.

Rick Trickett is the Assistant Head Coach and coaches the Seminoles' offensive Line but his title understates his influence. Trickett is Fisher's best friend in coaching, and came to Florida State with Fisher three years ago so they could work together. His son Chance Trickett '08 is a Delta Lambda undergraduate, and son Clint '10 would be initiated this night.

Jimbo Fisher is the new Seminole Head Football Coach, successor to the legendary Bobby Bowden '49 (Alpha Pi, Samford) following his retirement after the 2009 season. Just as Bowden quarterbacked Samford in the 1940s, Fisher also quarterbacked the Samford Bulldogs in the 1980s. Fisher was Division III National Player of the Year in 1987.

Jimbo Fisher coached quarterbacks at Auburn, and was Offensive Coordinator at Cincinnati and at LSU for six years including the 2003 National Championship season. He was Offensive Coordinator at FSU and the Seminoles' official 'Coach in Waiting' for three years.

Fisher began making friends immediately upon his arrival in Tallahassee in 2007, and as time passed he took note that more and more of the people he really wanted to know shared the same Fraternity affiliation.

Many of these new friends, a glittering array of star power, awaited Jimbo Fisher as he entered the Pike house the night of April 9th. Three of Pi Kappa Alpha's top International officers added to the luster: President Patrick Talley, Jr. '74 (Armstrong Atlantic, Eta Mu), Vice President Mat Forrest '94 (Southern Illinois, Iota Mu), and Memorial Foundation Senior development Officer George Miller '97 (Delta State, Zeta Beta) all were on hand in Tallahassee for the occasion.

Doug Russell '79, prominent governmental lobbyist and President of the Delta Lambda Alumni Association, led the Ritual Team composed largely of former Delta Lambda SMCs. Russell was a major donor to the Legends of Delta Lambda Campaign, and in fact the chapter's history is recorded floor to ceiling on the walls of the Doug Russell Legends Room in the new Pike house. Russell's son Tyler will enter Florida State as a freshman this fall. Many more Legends of Delta Lambda were among those present to assist in the initiations.

Coach Fisher with Andy Miller '70 and his son, Matt Miller '09.

Three more of Jimbo's closest FSU Pike friends were not able to attend initiation, but each sent his personal best wishes to "pledge" Fisher. These three include Florida Governor Charlie Crist '77 who was attending a fundraiser for his United States Senate campaign. Harry Sargeant '78, owner of the largest fleet of ocean-going tankers in the world, was out of the country on business. The third alumnus is Hall of Fame FSU Baseball Coach Mike Martin '06 who was on the road in North Carolina with his team.

All but one of Delta Lambda's 19 spring, 2010 pledges had already been initiated during the early evening of April 9. The remaining pledge was freshman Clint Trickett. His father Rick Trickett asked to keep his own involvement with the Fraternity secret until he and son Chance could participate in the initiation ceremony for Clint. The three adults would be initiated in order. Clint Trickett would be the final candidate.

Bob Stahl was the first of the four. Even though his son Robby '07 was away with the baseball team, Robby encouraged his dad to go through initiation tonight when so many of his Pike friends could be there to welcome him into the Fraternity.

Coach Rick Trickett was next. After his son Chance pinned his new Pike badge on his chest, Coach Trickett asked if he could wear the ritual garments and participate in Jimbo Fisher's ceremony.

A series of past SMCs performed the initiation of Jimbo Fisher, aided by new Brother Rick Trickett. As his ceremony concluded, Fisher asked that he also be allowed to wear the Ritual garments for the final initiation of the night.

Clint Trickett was anxious and he was sure he was in trouble. It was close to midnight and he had been sitting alone in a room for hours. He had already missed curfew. Tomorrow he would be expected to quarterback the Garnet team in the annual Garnet & Gold Spring Football Game.

The 17-year-old Trickett graduated high school at mid-year and accepted a football scholarship to Florida State, entering classes in January to participate in spring drills. A week after his arrival on campus Clint pledged Pi Kappa Alpha, joining his older brother Chance as a Pike.

Finally, the Brothers came to prepare him for the ceremony. And when the final phase of Initiation was revealed to him, Clint Trickett found himself facing three men in the candle-lit darkness of Brent Sembler Hall. Three men, all draped in the ritual regalia. His older brother Chase stood before him, and to one side stood his father Rick Trickett. To the other side was his coach, Jimbo Fisher.
When the lights finally flooded Sembler Hall again, Coach Fisher was invited to address the jubilant crowd. "I want you to know that I don't enter into this casually," he said. "I'm not really a joiner. My whole life, the only clubs or organizations I've been part of were composed of all athletes. So when this first came up, I did my research. I wanted to know who the Pikes were and what the organization was all about. And the more I found out, the more I realized that I really wanted to be part of this Fraternity. I want you to know what a great honor this is for me."

National President, Pat Talley, was most gracious in his remarks. "I had a list of things I wanted to accomplish during my term of office, and one of them was to visit this storied chapter. I'm not disappointed. You are without question one of the finest chapters in our entire Fraternity, and the generosity and involvement of your alumni is probably unmatched in the fraternity world. I hope to see many Delta Lambda alumni and undergraduates at the Convention in Austin this summer."

In the week following initiation, Brent Sembler responded to the many alumni who had communicated their sentiments and congratulations. He wrote: "Delta Lambda has provided me with some of the best friends I have on this earth. Phi Phi Kappa Alpha - which I learned as a teenager - is still my Bond. I have not broken it to this day.

"One of my biggest joys in life is to sit back, as I did Friday night and watch as generations of Delta Lambda Pikes enjoy our friendships and fraternal Bonds. To see the leaders our Chapter produces!

"Should I be called to The Chapter Eternal tomorrow, I could go happy knowing I did my small part for our storied Delta Lambda.

In the Bonds my Brothers!

Brent

The Pike house is the largest fraternity house in America with 40,000 square feet under one roof. Our Pike alumni built the house and own it.

"Welcome to Florida State. We're fortunate to have one of the strongest Greek systems in the country here, and I encourage you to go through rush. My Pike Brothers, my Rush Captains and I are looking forward to meeting you. We're looking to assemble a large pledge class every fall, men who want to achieve and to win. We're looking for men who recognize the value in forming lifelong bonds of friendship with other men like themselves. Please feel free to contact me anytime about Pi Kappa Alpha."

Brett Badessa '07 Pi Kappa Alpha Rush Chairman (609) 760-1336

Pi Kappa Alpha is Florida State's Largest and Most Prestigious Fraternity Pike is the Only IFC Fraternity at FSU Ever to Produce a Rhodes Scholar Three Student Body Presidents in the Past Seven Years Three IFC Presidents in the Past Five Years In This Decade Pikes Have Served as Homecoming Chief and Chief Osceola More Varsity and Club Athletes Than All the Other Fraternities Combined Pike has Won the Overall Sports Championship Seven of the Past Ten Years Pike Leads in Community Service: Fundraising Champions of Dance Marathon Three FSU Service Scholars and one USA Today Academic All-American are Pikes