Florida State’s season-opener against Oklahoma State on Saturday will mark the beginning of the fifth season since FSU replaced the man that made the program a national power, Bobby Bowden. While the legendary coach and the all-time wins leader in major college football history has now been away from the sideline for half a decade, the man that spent 34 seasons as the head coach in Tallahassee has not vacated the national spotlight.
Last week, Bowden took part in a RedditAMA or “Ask Me Anything” to raise money for Kidz1stFund, an organization that raises awareness for children fighting Fanconi Amenia. Fanconi is a rare blood disease that has affected Ethan Fisher, the son of Bowden’s former assistant and current Florida State head coach, Jimbo Fisher.
While Bowden’s participation went to a noble cause, the former FSU head coach stole the show with his answers. Bowden replied to everything from football moments to peanuts in soft drinks to how to combat his statue that sits outside of Doak Campbell Stadium should it ever come to life. The legendary head coach was the same folksy, candid, southern gentlemen whose personality helped make him a larger than life figure.
On Wednesday morning, Bowden was on the set of the cable news show, FOX & Friends to discuss another well-known aspect of his persona — his faith. In addition to all the other things that personify Coach Bowden, the legendary coach has always been open about his strong Christian convictions. Bowden spoke of them early Wednesday morning on the FOX New Channel while promoting his new book, “The Wisdom of Faith”, which is set to be released on Labor Day.
“I’d do it anyway. I did it anyway at Florida State. I don’t care about political correctness. I want to be spiritually correct because that’s where you spend eternity,” said Bowden. The legendary head coach was later greeted in the show with a surprise phone call from University of Georgia head coach Mark Richt.
Richt will be entering his 14th season as the head man in Athens. Prior to leading the Bulldogs, Richt spent 11 seasons as an assistant under Bowden and was the offensive coordinator for Florida State’s undefeated 1999 national championship team that featured future Heisman Trophy winning quarterback Chris Weinke and All-American wide receiver, Peter Warrick.
Like Bowden, Richt is also a strong man of faith and credits his former boss with helping instill those values. “Coach provided an atmosphere to grow in my faith and for me to love my family in a profession where you put so many hours in. It truly is about faith, family and football for Coach Bowden and [he] sets a good example,” said Richt.
Richt has excelled since arriving at Georgia. In 13 seasons, Richt has led the Bulldogs to 12 winning campaigns, eight 10-win seasons, a pair of SEC titles and two BCS bowl victories including a 26-13 win over Florida State and his mentor Bowden in the 2003 Sugar Bowl. But for all of Richt’s football accomplishes, Bowden spoke most proudly of Richt as a man.
“He is as fine a man as he is a coach,” said Bowden of his former assistant. “A wonderful Christian example.”
While Florida State has once again reached the pinnacle of college football as it did twice under Bowden, the legendary head coach has not finished putting in a life’s work that he considers more important than any of the nearly 400 victories he earned on the field. Meanwhile, Richt continues to follow in Bowden’s path and cites his former boss as an inspiration more than a decade after leaving his staff.
