Clint Lamb
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This is not the way we want to start off your Sunday morning, but we’ve got some unfortunate news to share.
According to a tweet from ESPN insider Adam Schefter, former Florida State coach Bobby Bowden has passed away at the age of 91. The news comes just weeks after the legendary head coach was diagnosed with cancer.
Florida State announced the passing of legendary head coach Bobby Bowden. He was 91 years old. pic.twitter.com/XbuPRlKoa8
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) August 8, 2021
Bowden spent 40 years being a college football head coach — and almost 60 years coaching.
The first six years as a head coach came at West Virginia from 1970-75, where his teams produced a 42-26 (.618) record. From there, Bowden took over in Tallahassee as the head coach of the Florida State Seminoles.
He would spend the next 34 years in that role, a rare feat for a coach to stay in the same role, at the same place for that long. During those three and a half decades, Bowden’s squads went 315-98-4 (.760), ranking him second all time in Division I wins.
Bowden also has two national titles on his resume, winning it all in 1993 and 1999.
“Florida State University has lost a legend in the passing of Bobby Bowden,” university president John Thrasher said in a statement. “On behalf of everyone at FSU, Jean and I extend our deepest condolences to Ann and the Bowden family. Coach Bowden built a football dynasty and raised the national profile of Florida State University, and he did it with class and a sense of humor. While he leaves an incredible legacy as one of the best football coaches in collegiate history, he also will be remembered for his great faith, his love of family and his mentorship of countless young people. He will be profoundly missed.”
Follow Clint Lamb on Twitter @ClintRLamb.
RIP Coach Bowden. He was a larger than life figure in the 1990’s. Those FSU teams were dominant.
Good man. RIP Coach Bowden.
Was it Bobby who told the story of sitting next to Urban Meyer at some dinner and remarked that Urban “had no personality”?
Legend. Godspeed, coach.
RIP Coach Bowden.
A couple quotes to honor a good man who lived a life devoted to Jesus. You won’t hear much about what truly makes a man in all his mainstream remembrances.
“I’ve often said Coach Bowden is a sermon in shoes. What he says and what he preaches, he follows up. He treats the custodian that cleans the commode in his office just as well as he treats the president of the university. He sees no class in people. He sees no difference in race. He treats everybody kind and with respect.”
Chuck Amato
“When I put everything in God’s hands, I don’t have to worry about anything. I don’t have to worry about winning ballgames. I want to. I want to win as much as anybody does, but I don’t have to worry about this. I know that when I die, I live eternally with my God, so the pressure’s off!”
Bobby Bowden
Rest In Power Coach 🙏🏿💯
One of the very best. .760 over a 34 year span is simply phenomenal.
RIP
A good long life RIP
Never liked Florida State but the man was a legend in college coaching and helped a lot of young men develop not just in football but in life. RIP to a legend.
As a Notre Dame guy I’ve never liked FSU, but had to respect the hell out of Coach Bowden and how he ran his program and ran his life.
Yet another West Virginia native that is a legend in the sporting world.
RIP Coach. 🙏❤️ to your family.
Dadgummit, not Bobby! RIP. Great man, great life. Will be missed.
RIP, Coach. Great, moral man.
My favorite Bowden quote–he was speaking at an event that included some “Daredevils” and he was asked, “even for a lot of money, would you let your son do that? Bobby replied, “how much money and which son?”