The Bobby Bowden Tragedy

by bluebland on Oct 6, 2009 3:01 AM PDT

For that's what it is. Here is a great coach becoming utterly disgraced and detested because of a fatal flaw -- an inability to age gracefully, and be aware of one's limitations.

Reading this round-up at Tomahawk Nation gave me the willies. I haven't followed the details of FSU's demise too closely -- aside from Karl Dorrel's efforts to disguise it -- but I've always been an admirer of Bowden. His wit, his candor, his amazing achievements, and his gambler's ballsiness (which even killed us up in Frisco, remember 4th and 11?) have always impressed, and while growing up FSU seemed the very model of a nonstop powerhouse.

How sad that the entire Seminole fanbase has no choice but to turn against him completely, and forfeit all goodwill to their best coach ever. How sad that a phenomenal career has been reduced to myopia, nepotism, and pathetically egotistical record-chasing. From all accounts the situation is a disaster. I don't blame the fans. But it's still depressing.

Bobby Bowden is not the only one to take this dark road. Lute Olson took it. Al Davis operates the toll booth. Joe Paterno -- who thinks he's going to die if he retires -- is also on it, though there is much more stability surrounding his situation.

There are lessons in this sad story. What do BNers feel about it? I think It makes Coach Wooden's example all the more remarkable.

This is a FanPost and does not necessarily reflect the views of BruinsNation's (BN) editors. It does reflect the views of this particular fan though, which is as important as the views of BN's editors.

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Florida State was one of my favorite football programs

When I was a kid in high school. It was incredible to see the offense under Pete Tom Willis, Weldon at QB using explosive multi dimensional RBs catching the ball out of backfield. They were like the 49ers of college teams with an attacking, constant blitzing defense. It’s too bad what has happened to Bowden. Although, just haven’t had the time to pay attention or care as much because I am so consumed with the Bruins.

by Nestor on Oct 6, 2009 5:52 AM PDT reply actions

I think this is a bigger story outside Florida and the FSU blog

It’s not a subject which always comes up, like Tebow’s health. That’s not to say that it isn’t 100% correct, but from what I’ve seen, people are just letting things ride. What’s interesting to me is that the designated successor is the offensive coordinator, but the offense seems offensive and uncoordinated. I don’t think the eggs being laid by FSU are entirely the fault of the head coach.

For some reason I was thinking of Coach when I was reading bluebland’s story.

by Fox 71 on Oct 6, 2009 6:09 AM PDT reply actions

I think of him every time I see these stories

by bluebland on Oct 6, 2009 11:31 AM PDT up reply actions

this doesn't just happen in sports

it happens all the time in all sorts of places. And its pathetic that companies/athletic departments/etc aren’t tough enough to force people out when they need to go.

I like JoPa, but the guy is a figurehead at this point, and everyone knows it. He needs to be retired. Bowden is still involved, but he’s lost it, and he needs to go too.

I am very much in favor of mandatory retirement age for leadership positions. It doesn’t mean you can’t keep working or you don’t have things to offer, but it does mean that you need to make way for fresh leadership and people who can handle the vigors of those type of jobs. Consult, work the the A.D., volunteer teaching high school football, etc, but you can’t be a NCAA D1 coach at that age unless you are just a figurehead.

"when you've seen how big the world is, how can you make due with this?"

by silverlakebruin on Oct 6, 2009 8:23 AM PDT reply actions