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Bobby Bowden

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For the Australian rules footballer, see Bob Bowden.

Bobby Bowden
Bowden in 2007
Biographical details
Born(1929-11-08)November 8, 1929
Birmingham, Alabama, U.S.
DiedAugust 8, 2021(2021-08-08) (aged 91)
Tallahassee, Florida, U.S.
Playing career
1948Alabama
1949–1952Howard (AL)
Position(s)Quarterback, running back
Coaching career (HC unless noted)
1954–1955Howard (AL) (assistant)
1956–1958South Georgia State College
1959–1962Howard (AL)
1963–1965Florida State (WR)
1966–1969West Virginia (OC)
1970–1975West Virginia
1976–2009Florida State
Head coaching record
Overall377–129–4[a]
Bowls21–10–1[b]
Accomplishments and honors
Championships
2 National (1993, 1999)
12 ACC (1992–2000, 2002–2003, 2005)
2 ACC Atlantic Division (2005, 2008)
Awards
Bobby Dodd COY (1980)
Walter Camp Coach of the Year Award (1991)
Amos Alonzo Stagg Award (2011)
College Football Hall of Fame
Inducted in 2006 (profile)

Robert Cleckler Bowden (/ˈbaʊdən/; November 8, 1929 – August 8, 2021) was an American college football coach. Bowden coached the Florida State Seminoles of Florida State University (FSU) from 1976 to 2009 and is considered one of the greatest college football coaches of all time for his accomplishments with the Seminoles.[1][2][3]

During his time at Florida State, Bowden led FSU to consensus national championships in 1993 and 1999, as well as twelve Atlantic Coast Conference championships once FSU joined the conference in 1991. Bowden's Seminoles finished as an AP top-5 team for 14 consecutive seasons, setting a record which doubled the closest program. However, the program weakened during the mid-2000s, and after a difficult 2009 season Bowden was forced to retire just weeks after his 80th birthday. He made his final coaching appearance in the 2010 Gator Bowl game on January 1, 2010, with a 33–21 victory over his former program, West Virginia.

Bowden spent the last part of his career in a race with his close friend, Joe Paterno, to become the winningest NCAA Division I college football coach of all time.[4] The coaches overtook each other throughout the 2000s, sitting just a game apart before the 2008 college football season.[5] However, on March 6, 2009, an NCAA ruling required Florida State to "vacate wins for any games in which an ineligible player participated", threatening to remove as many as fourteen of Bowden's wins from the 2006 and 2007 seasons in relation to an academic scandal. Florida State appealed the ruling,[6][7][8] but the NCAA upheld it on January 5, 2010.[9] Upon final investigation by FSU, it was determined that Bowden was to vacate 12 wins,[10] bringing his final career record to 377–129–4, second to Paterno's final tally of 409 wins. Although Bowden coached his teams to 411 total wins during his lifetime. Bowden's South Georgia College wins are also not officially counted by the NCAA. A documentary film about Bowden's life, "The Bowden Dynasty", along with a book of the same name were produced by FSU alumni in 2017.[11]

Early life and education

[edit]

Bowden was born in Birmingham, Alabama, the son of Bob Bowden and Sunset (née Cleckler) Bowden.[12] When he was 13 years old, Bowden was diagnosed with rheumatic fever, which led to a six-month hospital stay. After his discharge, Bowden was confined to his bed at home for just over a year. While ill, Bowden passed the time by listening to World War II news reports on the radio, which sparked his interest in World War II, which endured for the rest of his lifetime.[12] Also around this time, he began to follow college football; he listened to University of Alabama football on Saturday mornings.[13]

Bowden was an outstanding football player at Woodlawn High School in Birmingham, and accepted a scholarship to play for the University of Alabama as a quarterback.[12] He then returned to Birmingham after only one semester and eloped with his high school sweetheart, Ann Estock, on April 1, 1949.[12]

Bowden then transferred to Howard College, now known as Samford University, where he played football, baseball, ran track, and became a brother in Pi Kappa Alpha. In his junior year, he was elected president of Pi Kappa Alpha. In his senior year, he was re-elected as Pi Kappa Alpha president and became captain of the Samford football team, where he garnered "Little All-America" honors as quarterback.[12] The Howard College faculty nominated him for Who's Who Among Students in American Universities & Colleges in recognition of his academic and athletic leadership. Bowden graduated from Howard in 1953.[14][15]

Early coaching career

[edit]

Bowden served as an assistant football coach and head track and field coach at Howard College (now known as Samford University) in Birmingham, Alabama from 1954–55.[12] He left his alma mater to become athletic director as well as head football, baseball, and basketball coach at South Georgia College from 1956 to 1958.[16] After a losing basketball season, Bowden fired himself as head coach. Bowden then returned to Howard as head coach, where he compiled a 31–6 record between 1959 and 1962.[12] In 1962, Bowden went to Florida State University as an assistant coach under head coach Bill Peterson. Bowden left Florida State in 1965 to go to West Virginia University (WVU) as an assistant under Jim Carlen. When Carlen left following the 1969 season to become head coach at Texas Tech, Bowden replaced him. Bowden then compiled a 42–26 record at WVU before returning to FSU as head coach in 1976.[17]

During Bowden's first year as head coach at WVU, the football team of the state's other top-division school, Marshall University, was killed in a plane crash. He asked NCAA permission to wear Marshall jerseys and play Marshall's final game of the 1970 season against Ohio, but was denied. In memory of the victims of the crash, Mountaineers players put green crosses and the initials "MU" on their helmets. Bowden allowed Marshall's new head coach Jack Lengyel and his assistants access to game film and playbooks to acquaint themselves with the veer offense, a variation of the option offense which aids teams with weak offensive lines. Lengyel credits Bowden with helping the young Thundering Herd recover. Bowden reportedly became emotional while viewing the movie We Are Marshall, and has said that he was the original candidate for the Marshall head coaching job filled by crash victim Rick Tolley.[18]

Florida State

[edit]
Bowden comments on his second season as head coach of Florida State's football program in 1977
Bowden on the sidelines of the November 4, 2006, game against Virginia

Bowden made the move to become the head coach of Florida State in 1976, the university where, from 1962 to 1964, he had chosen to coach wide receivers because the climate was warmer in Tallahassee than in Morgantown,[19] and because Tallahassee was closer to Birmingham, Alabama, where his mother and mother-in-law both lived. The team had a 4–29 record over the previous three seasons and he planned to stay only briefly before taking a better job, perhaps as head coach at Alabama.[20]

As coach, Bowden was successful very quickly at Florida State. By his second year, Bowden faced rumors he would leave for another job; the team went 9–2, compared to the four wins total in the three seasons before Bowden. He said he would be content to finish his career at Florida State, however, and reportedly told another athletic-department employee he would "never coach anywhere north of Tallahassee".[21] During 34 years as head coach he had only one losing season–his first, in 1976–and declined head coaching job offers from Alabama, Auburn, LSU, and the National Football League's Atlanta Falcons. From 1987 to 2000, the Seminoles finished every season with at least 10 wins and in the top 5 of the Associated Press College Football Poll, and won the national championship in 1993 and 1999.[20] The team was particularly dominant after joining the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) in 1992, winning or sharing nine consecutive conference titles from 1992 to 2000, and only losing two conference games in that stretch.[22] They were ranked in the AP Poll for all but three weeks from 1987 to 2005. This included 211 consecutive weeks from 1989 to 2001, the second-longest streak in college football history at the time.

Bowden's tenure crested with a third consecutive appearance in the national championship game after the 2000 season, a loss to Oklahoma in the 2001 Orange Bowl. They opened the following season with an upset 41–9 loss to North Carolina, only the third loss they had ever suffered in ACC play. They finished 8–4, the first time they had lost that many games in 15 years.[23] It also marked the first time since joining the ACC where they did not win at least a share of the ACC title; indeed, their two losses in ACC play were as many as they had suffered in their first nine years in the league.[24] From then on, Bowden notched one more appearance in the top 10 of a final media poll, in 2003–which was also the last time he won 10 games in a season.

In 2006, Florida State finished 7-6, its worst record since Bowden's first season. The Seminoles also suffered their first losing record in ACC play since joining the league. Following that season, LSU offensive coordinator Jimbo Fisher was hired to take the same post in Tallahassee. Following another 7-6 season in 2007, Fisher was designated as Bowden's successor, and was slated to take over the program no later than 2011. The Seminoles rebounded to 9-4 in 2008, but after barely qualifying for a bowl in 2009, Bowden was forced to announce his retirement effective at the end of the season.

The Bowden Bowl

[edit]

Since both Florida State and Clemson are in the same division of the ACC for football, the two teams played each other every year from 1999 through 2007 in a game that became known as the "Bowden Bowl". Their 1999 meeting was the first time in Division I-A history that a father and a son met as opposing head coaches in a football game. Bobby held the edge in the series 5–4, with all four losses within the last five games.[25]

One Bowden Bowl was scheduled between Auburn and Florida State for 1999 when Terry Bowden was the coach at Auburn. However, Terry's midseason resignation in 1998 ended the possibility of a Bowden Bowl. Another Bowden Bowl was scheduled between Clemson and Florida State in 2008, but Tommy Bowden's resignation halfway through the year ended the Bowden Bowls.[26]

Bowden (kneeling) with sons Tommy, Jeff and Terry.

Personal life

[edit]

Bowden married Ann Estock, his childhood sweetheart, in 1949 and the couple raised six children and 21 grandchildren.[27] Bowden was a Christian[28] who credited his success in football to his faith.[29]

Bowden was not the only member of his family to have coached Division I-A football. His son Tommy Bowden was the head coach at Clemson University. Another son, Terry Bowden, was the head coach at Auburn University, where he was the 1993 Coach of the Year. A third son, Jeff Bowden, was the offensive coordinator at Florida State. All three Bowden men who were head coaches have achieved an undefeated season: Terry in 1993 at Auburn; Tommy in 1998 at Tulane; and Bobby in 1999 at Florida State. Bobby's 1993 and 1999 Florida State teams were the only ones to win a national championship, however.[30]

Political activism

[edit]

Bowden twice endorsed and supported U.S. President Donald Trump, in both the 2016 and 2020 presidential elections.[31]

Illness and death

[edit]

Bowden was diagnosed with COVID-19 in October 2020.[32][33]

The following year, on July 21, 2021, it was reported that Bowden was diagnosed with a terminal medical condition. On July 23, his son reported that the condition was pancreatic cancer.[34][35] On August 5, word began to filter from the Florida State faithful that Bowden was not doing well and his family was being told to gather. He died the morning of August 8, 2021.[36]

He lay in honor in the rotunda of the Florida Capitol Building on August 13. He then lay repose at the Moore Athletic Center outside of Doak Campbell Stadium later that day. A memorial service was held for Bowden in the Tucker Civic Center in Tallahassee on August 14. Bowden then lay in repose in the Reid Chapel at Samford University on August 15, prior to burial in Trussville, Alabama.[37] on August 16.

Legacy

[edit]

Awards

[edit]
Bowden in September 2010

Bowden was awarded the Bobby Dodd Coach of the Year Award for 1980.[38] He received the Walter Camp Coach of the Year Award for 1991.[39] In 1992 Bowden received the United States Sports Academy's Amos Alonzo Stagg Coaching Award in recognition of his outstanding achievement as a coach.[40]

Awards named after him

[edit]

On March 21, 2010, the Over the Mountain Touchdown Club of Birmingham, Alabama presented the first annual Bobby Bowden National Collegiate Coach of the Year Award, named in honor of Bowden and the contributions that he made during his career. The award recognizes a coach each year with unmatched success on and off of the field in the same attributes that Bowden showed throughout his career: perseverance, attitude, integrity, and determination. University of Alabama head coach Nick Saban was the first recipient of the award, and it was presented by Bowden himself. The award is presented each year after national signing day and before the commencement of Spring practice.[41]

In 2003, the Fellowship of Christian Athletes presented the first of what is now a yearly award in Bowden's name.[12] The award was initiated by former Bowden assistant coach Vince Gibson and former Bowden player Vernon Brinson. It honors one college football player for his achievements on the field, in the classroom and in the community. In 2013, the Seminole Tribe of Florida became the official sponsor of the award. The Seminole Tribe of Florida Bobby Bowden Student-Athlete of the Year Award is presented each year prior to the College Football Playoff (CFP) national title.[42]

In 2011, in recognition of his philanthropic efforts with the Fellowship of Christian Athletes, Bowden received the Children's Champion Award for Leadership Development from the charitable organization Children's Hunger Fund.[43]

Head coaching record

[edit]

In his 44 seasons as a head coach, Bowden had 40 winning seasons (including 33 consecutive at Florida State), and 36 Division I-A winning seasons.[44] From 1987 through 2000, Bowden coached Florida State to 14 straight seasons with 10 or more victories, and his team had a final ranking in the top five of the major polls.[45]

Year Team Overall Conference Standing Bowl/playoffs Coaches# AP°
Howard Bulldogs (NCAA College Division independent) (1959–1962)
1959 Howard 9–1[46] W Textile Bowl
1960 Howard 8–1[47]
1961 Howard 7–2[47]
1962 Howard 7–2[47] L Golden Isles Bowl
Howard: 31–6[46]
West Virginia Mountaineers[48] (NCAA University Division / Division I independent) (1970–1975)
1970 West Virginia 8–3
1971 West Virginia 7–4
1972 West Virginia 8–4 L Peach
1973 West Virginia 6–5
1974 West Virginia 4–7
1975 West Virginia 9–3 W Peach 17 20
West Virginia: 42–26
Florida State Seminoles[48] (NCAA Division I / I-A independent) (1976–1991)
1976 Florida State 5–6
1977 Florida State 10–2 W Tangerine 11 14
1978 Florida State 8–3
1979 Florida State 11–1 L Orange 8 6
1980 Florida State 10–2 L Orange 5 5
1981 Florida State 6–5
1982 Florida State 9–3 W Gator 10 13
1983 Florida State 8–4 (7–5) ^ W Peach
1984 Florida State 7–3–2 T Florida Citrus 19 17
1985 Florida State 9–3 W Gator 13 15
1986 Florida State 7–4–1 W All-American 20
1987 Florida State 11–1 W Fiesta 2 2
1988 Florida State 11–1 W Sugar 3 3
1989 Florida State 10–2 W Fiesta 2 3
1990 Florida State 10–2 W Blockbuster 4 4
1991 Florida State 11–2 W Cotton 4 4
Florida State Seminoles[48] (Atlantic Coast Conference) (1992–2009)
1992 Florida State 11–1 8–0 1st W Orange† 2 2
1993 Florida State 12–1 8–0 1st W Orange† 1 1
1994 Florida State 10–1–1 8–0 1st W Sugar† 5 4
1995 Florida State 10–2 7–1 T–1st W Orange† 5 4
1996 Florida State 11–1 8–0 1st L Sugar† 3 3
1997 Florida State 11–1 8–0 1st W Sugar† 3 3
1998 Florida State 11–2 7–1 T–1st L Fiesta† 3 3
1999 Florida State 12–0 8–0 1st W Sugar† 1 1
2000 Florida State 11–2 8–0 1st L Orange† 4 5
2001 Florida State 8–4 6–2 2nd W Gator 15 15
2002 Florida State 9–5 7–1 1st L Sugar† 23 21
2003 Florida State 10–3 7–1 1st L Orange† 10 11
2004 Florida State 9–3 6–2 2nd W Gator 14 15
2005 Florida State 8–5 5–3 1st (Atlantic) L Orange† 23 22
2006 Florida State 7–6 ‡ 3–5 ‡ 5th (Atlantic) W Emerald
2007 Florida State 7–6 ‡ 4–4 ‡ 3rd (Atlantic) L Music City
2008 Florida State 9–4 5–3 T–1st (Atlantic) W Champs Sports 23 21
2009 Florida State 7–6 4–4 3rd (Atlantic) W Gator
Florida State: 304–97–4 105–27
Total: 377–129–4
      National championship         Conference title         Conference division title or championship game berth

^ The 1983 season includes a forfeit win vs. Tulane.
‡ For the 2006 and 2007 seasons 12 wins, including 6 conference wins, were vacated for use of ineligible players. 5 wins from 2006 (including 2 conference wins) and 7 wins from 2007 (including 4 conference wins) were ultimately vacated by the NCAA.

Coaching tree

[edit]

Assistant coaches under Bobby Bowden who became NCAA head coaches:

Bibliography

[edit]

Bobby Bowden has co-authored several books, including:

  • Winning's Only Part of the Game: Lessons of Life and Football (1996) (ISBN 0-446-52050-0)
  • The Bowden Way: 50 Years of Leadership Wisdom (2001) (ISBN 1-56352-684-0)
  • Bobby Bowden's Tales from the Seminole Sideline (2004) (ISBN 1-58261-406-7)
  • Called to Coach: Reflections on Life, Faith, and Football (2010) (ISBN 1-43919-597-8)

Books about Bobby Bowden's early coaching years:

  • Bobby Bowden: Memories of a Legend and His Boys from South Georgia College (2008) (ISBN 978-1-58385-282-8)

Books about Bobby Bowden's entire career:

Books that feature contributions from Bobby Bowden:

  • Grateful: From Walking on to Winning It All at Florida State by Ryan Sprague, (2010) (ISBN 978-0-9828763-0-5)

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ Litman, Laken (August 12, 2019). "The Greatest Coaches in College Football History". Sports Illustrated. Archived from the original on December 20, 2019. Retrieved July 30, 2021.
  2. ^ "The 150 greatest coaches in college football's 150-year history". ESPN. December 10, 2019. Archived from the original on December 10, 2019. Retrieved July 30, 2021.
  3. ^ Vasta, Dan (October 13, 2011). "College Football: The Top 50 Coaches Of All Time". Bleacher Report. Archived from the original on October 15, 2011. Retrieved July 30, 2021.
  4. ^ Mcguire, Kevin (March 10, 2009). "Bobby Bowden-Joe Paterno: The Amazing Race?". Bleacher Report. Archived from the original on March 14, 2009. Retrieved July 30, 2021.
  5. ^ Maisel, Ivan (March 6, 2009). "FSU penalties to impact wins race". ESPN. Archived from the original on January 28, 2021. Retrieved July 30, 2021.
  6. ^ Official 2007 NCAA Division I Football Records Book (PDF), Indianapolis, Indiana: The National Collegiate Athletic Association, 2007, p. 378, ISSN 0735-5475, archived from the original (PDF) on December 1, 2007, retrieved January 3, 2008
  7. ^ "Bobby Bowden profile". seminoles.com. Archived from the original on July 3, 2007.
  8. ^ "Florida State Seminoles players sorry scandal could cost Bobby Bowden". ESPN. July 11, 2009.
  9. ^ "Florida State Seminoles penalty upheld; Bowden faces losing 14 wins". ESPN. January 5, 2010.
  10. ^ "Bobby Bowden wins last game, but can't beat NCAA". jacksonville.com.
  11. ^ Klopfenstein, Kelsey (November 12, 2021). "First on-campus screening of "The Bowden Dynasty"". Florida State University News.
  12. ^ a b c d e f g h Schlabach, Mark (August 8, 2021). "'A Hall of Fame legacy': Remembering the one-of-a-kind life and career of Bobby Bowden". ESPN.com. ESPN. Retrieved August 13, 2021.
  13. ^ Tom D'Angelo @tomdangelo44. "Coronavirus Florida: Bobby Bowden lived through World War II, rheumatic fever but never has seen anything like this: 'I'm really concerned … That's why I'm staying home' – Sports – The Palm Beach Post – West Palm Beach, FL". The Palm Beach Post. Retrieved August 8, 2021.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  14. ^ Rousos, Rick. "Bowden: From the Sick Bed to the End Zone – News – The Ledger – Lakeland, FL". The Ledger. Retrieved August 8, 2021.[permanent dead link‍]
  15. ^ "'A Hall of Fame legacy:' Remembering the one-of-a-kind life and career of Bobby Bowden". ESPN.com. August 8, 2021.
  16. ^ "Bobby Bowden visits Douglas, South Georgia State College for annual reunion". Douglasnow.com. June 7, 2015. Retrieved August 8, 2021.
  17. ^ Garry Smits. "Early years: Bowden made the right call as offensive coordinator – Sports – The Florida Times-Union – Jacksonville, FL". Jacksonville.com. Archived from the original on August 8, 2021. Retrieved August 8, 2021.
  18. ^ The Times-Union. "Movie opens old wounds for Bowden – Jacksonville.com".
  19. ^ "Longtime Florida State football coach Bobby Bowden dies at 91". ABC News. August 8, 2021. Archived from the original on August 8, 2021. Retrieved August 20, 2021.
  20. ^ a b Bowden, Bobby (August 31, 2010). "A Tenure Longer Than Expected and Shorter Than Desired". The New York Times.
  21. ^ "Report: VPI wooing Bowden". St. Petersburg Times. Compiled from AP, UPI wires. December 13, 1977. p. 1C. Retrieved February 13, 2019 – via Google News Archive.
  22. ^ "Bobby Bowden's Career Milestones". Sports Illustrated. December 2, 2009. Retrieved August 9, 2021.
  23. ^ Rosenblatt, Richard (November 13, 2002). "Florida State Set to Gain Bowl Spot". Myplainview.com. Archived from the original on August 9, 2021. Retrieved August 9, 2021.
  24. ^ "Hill drives Terps to ACC title". Baltimore Sun. November 18, 2001. Retrieved August 9, 2021.
  25. ^ "No more Bowden Bowl helps ease family tension". The St. Augustine Record. November 5, 2009. Archived from the original on August 9, 2021. Retrieved August 9, 2021.
  26. ^ Kallsted, Brent (November 8, 2008). "Bowden Bowl gone, but Clemson-FSU game's still big". The Herald. Associated Press. Archived from the original on August 9, 2021. Retrieved August 20, 2021.
  27. ^ Henry, Jim (April 6, 2019). "FSU's Bobby and Ann Bowden celebrate 70 years of marriage". Tallahassee Democrat. Archived from the original on April 7, 2019. Retrieved July 30, 2021.
  28. ^ "The 700 Club – Bobby Bowden: A Legacy of Coaching Champions for Christ". www.cbn.com.
  29. ^ Herald, The Gospel (December 5, 2016). "Legendary Florida State Coach Bobby Bowden on Family, Faith, and The Key to Success (Interview)". Christian News, The Gospel Herald. Retrieved December 6, 2016.
  30. ^ Writer, Andrew Bagnato, Tribune College Football (January 3, 1999). "BOWDEN: THE DADDY OF 'EM ALL". chicagotribune.com.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  31. ^ "After recovering from COVID-19, FSU coach Bobby Bowden endorses Donald Trump". www.yahoo.com. October 22, 2020. Retrieved August 11, 2021.
  32. ^ "Bobby Bowden, Florida State Seminoles great, back in hospital due to COVID-19". ESPN. Associated Press. October 6, 2020. Retrieved October 22, 2020.
  33. ^ Henry, Jim (October 5, 2020). "FSU legendary coach Bobby Bowden tests positive for COVID-19, watching out for symptoms". Tallahassee Democrat. Retrieved October 22, 2020.
  34. ^ "Bobby Bowden 'at peace' after being diagnosed with terminal medical condition". ESPN. July 21, 2021. Retrieved July 21, 2021.
  35. ^ Keel, Fletcher (July 22, 2021). "Bobby Bowden battling pancreatic cancer, according to son". WCTV. Retrieved July 23, 2021.
  36. ^ "Bobby Bowden dies: Legendary coach built Florida State into college football powerhouse". Eu.tallahassee.com. Retrieved August 8, 2021.
  37. ^ "Service Details Set for Bobby Bowden". Samford University. Retrieved August 12, 2021.
  38. ^ "Previous Winners". The Dodd Trophy. Archived from the original on July 17, 2021. Retrieved July 30, 2021.
  39. ^ Sallee, Barrett (October 6, 2020). "Legendary Florida State coach Bobby Bowden readmitted to hospital after testing positive for COVID-19". CBS. Archived from the original on November 4, 2020. Retrieved July 30, 2021.
  40. ^ "SFCPressPoint: Alabama's Nick Saban to Receive Coach of the Year Award on United States Sports Academy Campus". Archived from the original on May 11, 2010. Retrieved June 22, 2010.
  41. ^ "Low: Alabama's delayed gratification". ESPN.com. April 7, 2010.
  42. ^ "AU's Ashton Richardson wins Bobby Bowden Award". www.wsfa.com. January 5, 2013.
  43. ^ "A Look Back at the Children's Champion Award Celebration Banquet in Chicago". chfus.org. Archived from the original on May 25, 2011. Retrieved April 28, 2011.
  44. ^ Company, Tampa Publishing. "Well dadgum, Florida State legend Bobby Bowden is turning 90". Tampa Bay Times. {{cite web}}: |last= has generic name (help)
  45. ^ Layden, Tim. "Bobby Bowden death: FSU coach was a college football giant – Sports Illustrated". Sports Illustrated. Si.com. Retrieved August 9, 2021.
  46. ^ a b Rousos, Rick; Cobb, Mike (December 1, 2009). "Bobby's 'Brutal' Boot Camp". The Ledger. Retrieved August 9, 2021.[permanent dead link‍]
  47. ^ a b c "Bobby Bowden". Florida State Seminoles. Archived from the original on August 9, 2021. Retrieved August 9, 2021.
  48. ^ a b c "Bobby Bowden Coaching Record". sports-reference.com. Retrieved August 9, 2021.
  49. ^ "Clemson's Jeff Scott has fond memories of former FSU coach Bobby Bowden". Greenvilleonline.com. Retrieved August 9, 2021.
  50. ^ "Bobby Bowden's faith-filled influence left an impression on Mark Richt". Jacksonville.com. January 1, 2002. Retrieved August 9, 2021.
  51. ^ "Longtime Florida State coach Chuck Amato says goodbye to Bobby Bowden". Fayobserver.com. Retrieved August 9, 2021.
  52. ^ "Montgomery Quarterback Club: Tommy Bowden 'born to coach'". Montgomeryadvertiser.com. Retrieved August 9, 2021.
  53. ^ "Bobby Bowden dies: His son Terry reflects on passing of legendary coach". Thenewsstar.com. January 19, 2021. Retrieved August 9, 2021.
  54. ^ "Bobby Bowden among College Football's Top Coaching Trees". 247sports.com. Retrieved August 9, 2021.[dead link‍]
  55. ^ "On eve of Notre Dame-Florida State, revisiting the Game of the Century". Usatoday.com. Retrieved August 9, 2021.
  56. ^ Casagr, Michael; Mcasagr, E. (July 1, 2014). "Kirby Smart explains why Nick Saban and Bobby Bowden are 'polar opposites'". al.
  57. ^ "EX-VOL QB TO COACH FSU QBS". Orlando Sentinel. January 12, 2001. Retrieved August 9, 2021 – via Google Search.
  58. ^ "Jimbo Fisher: Coach-in-waiting worked out, but it wasn't smooth". Oklahoman.com. August 29, 2014. Retrieved August 9, 2021.
  59. ^ "Former 'Nole Diaz returns home to Miami". Tallahassee.com. January 13, 2016. Retrieved August 9, 2021.

Footnotes

[edit]
  1. ^ 12 wins vacated; Bowden has a total of 411 wins as head coach. His 22 wins from South Georgia State College are also not counted by the NCAA.
  2. ^ 1 bowl win vacated.
[edit]
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