His home number was listed in the Tallahassee phone book for years. News of his death spread quickly. Assistant head coach Odell Haggins, who played and coached under Bowden, praised his friend for being a hard-nosed competitor, but also a compassionate coach. He always talked about saving lives. You talk about the national championships he won. But look at how many lives he won.
Look at how many lives he saved. Bowden won the national championship in with Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback Charlie Ward and again in with his second Heisman winner, quarterback Chris Weinke, and All-American receiver Peter Warrick. The Seminoles were a contender to win the title every season for more than a decade. Florida State lost national championship games against Florida, Tennessee and Oklahoma and narrowly missed out on the playing for titles in several other seasons because of losses to archrival Miami.
Florida State dominated the ACC under Bowden, winning championships in 12 of its first 14 seasons after joining the league in Bobby Bowden left West Virginia to take over a Florida State program in that had produced just four wins the three previous seasons.
By , Bowden had Florida State positioned for one of the great runs in the annals of college football. In , despite a late slip at Notre Dame, Florida State won its first national title after nearly getting there in , , and His status as a Florida State legend -- and as a legend in college football as a whole -- was established in that span. In , Bowden announced his retirement. The last years of his coaching career weren't stellar. But I've had some wonderful years here at Florida State, you know it," Bowden said when announcing his retirement.
It was the honor of my lifetime to know him and beyond anything I could dream to have a relationship with him. Just a tremendous human being with the lives he touched and the players he touched. That's his legacy. The last time we talked, we talked about that. He lived a full life. Alabama head coach Nick Saban spoke on Sunday of Bowden's selflessness. Your example of being a good person is something that can help us all professionally. He wasn't always about him. He was always about helping other people.
This is a very sad time for all of us, but Coach Bowden leaves a legacy a lot of us can continue to learn and grow from, and that will never be forgotten. Saban also shared a personal anecdote involving Bowden and spoke fondly of the former coach in a statement. My Prayers are with u. I've lost 1 of the best coaches I've ever had. One of Bowden's coaching rivals, former Florida Gators head coach Urban Meyer, took to Twitter to share his condolences.
Today, we lost a legend. Bobby was a great friend and mentor to me, and his impact transcended the coaching profession in so many ways. Sending love to Ann and the entire Bowden family. Rest In Peace Coach Bowden. Coach Bowden was one of the most successful, humble and endearing individuals who was also one of the most decorated college football coaches in history. Bowden finished his career with a win at the Gator Bowl.
He's recognized as having career wins, trailing only Paterno's Bowden and his wife had six children, including two who became college football coaches, former Clemson coach Tommy Bowden and former Auburn coach Terry.
The first award of its type went to Saban, with Bowden presenting the award himself. The school was put on NCAA probation for five years after several players in accepted free shoes and other sporting goods from a local store.
Bowden prided himself on adapting to the times and giving players a second chance, but critics said he was soft on discipline with an eye on winning games. Randy Moss, one of the most talented athletes to attend Florida State, never played a down for the Seminoles and was kicked out of school after a redshirt season for smoking marijuana.
In , Warrick was caught in a shopping scam that led to his suspension for two games and probably cost him the Heisman Trophy that year. Despite those tough days near the end of his career, Bowden stayed in the public eye after retirement, writing a book, making speeches and going public with his treatment for prostate cancer in IE 11 is not supported.
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