DADGUM IT!
An expression not often heard in Tallahassee prior to 1976 and the arrival of a new football coach by the name of Bobby Bowden.
Years later, the expression could be heard all over town on an hourly basis.
Bobby Bowden died August 8, 2021 in his Tallahassee home at the age of 91 as a result of pancreatic cancer. He was surrounded by family at the time of his death.
When the news broke only a few weeks earlier, Bowden said that he was at peace with the diagnosis.
When Bowden took over the head coaching duties at Florida State University, he was coming in to take over a team who was lackluster at best. In his first season, Bowden took the Seminoles to a five and six record…the first and only time his Seminoles would have a losing season.
He became known as a legend in Tallahassee…and across the nation, but he never forgot his roots and was always the guy next door.
At one time, there were 49 former Seminole football players in the NFL; a few who even went on to be a part of the NFL Hall of Fame. Understanding that most of his players would never see the inside of a professional football locker room, Coach Bowden once told former Nole quarterback Drew Weatherford, “you’re going to have a much bigger impact in this world outside of football than you will playing it. This is just the beginning for you.”
His lessons in the locker room went far beyond football, teaching goal setting, doing the right thing, fundamentals, and performing at the highest standard. These lessons helped Coach Bowden become one of the winningest coaches in college football.
Seminole football became a religion in Tallahassee with the eleventh commandment – Thou shalt NOT interrupt Seminoles games or schedule events during those games.
Bobby Bowden and his wife Ann had six children, but in reality, Bowden had hundreds of children; treating all of his players like family.
A deeply religious man, Bowden didn’t preach it, he LIVED it. Even after retiring from coaching, Bowden would happily sign any item requested…just leave it at the back door.
In the film “We are Marshall”, the role of Bobby Bowden was played by Mike Pniewski. Only a small role, but it showed Bowden’s character when he opened his film room to the new Marshall football coach.
Born in Birmingham, Alabama on November 8, 1929, Bowden did not play football until he attended Woodlawn High School; where he played quarterback. He went on to play for the Crimson Tide, but at the time married players were not permitted on the team. Bowden transferred to Howard College – now Samford University – where he continued his football career.
He began his coaching career as an assistant at Howard before moving on to South Georgia Junior College as the athletic director and head coach. In 1959, Bowden returned to Howard (Samford) as the head coach. In 1963, FSU called for Bowden to serve as the receivers coach before he left in 1966 to become the offensive coordinator at West Virginia and then the Mountaineers head coach until leaving for FSU in 1976 where he spent the remainder of his coaching career. Prior to his coming to FSU, the Seminoles football team had won just four games in the past three seasons.
Over the course of 34 years as the Seminoles head coach Bowden had 33 winning seasons, won 326 games, took the team to 31 bowl games – 15 of those on New Year’s Day, and two National Championships. Bowden was the last college football coach to hoist the crystal football prior to the NCAA implementation of the college football playoffs. A six time National Coach of the Year, Bobby Bowden is a member of the College Football Hall of Fame. He was also awarded the National Football Foundation’s gold medal. The field on which the Seminoles play at Doak Campbell Stadium is named for Bowden.
In a head coaching career that began in 1959, Bowden has had only two losing seasons!
Former Seminoles Warrick Dunn, Anquan Boldin, and Derrick Brooks have all earned Walter Payton Man of the Year honours; Bowden is the only football coach to have three players win the award.
Bowden may have come up a bit short on building a dynasty like one of his former university teams, but he has cemented the role of a legend that will be the measure for all present and future Seminole coaches.
Bowden is survived by his wife of 72 years Ann, six children – Robyn, Steve, Tommy, Terry, Ginger, and Jeff; 14 grandchildren; and 19 great grandchildren.
feature photo credit: [[File:Bobby Bowden.jpg|Bobby_Bowden]]