The feeling from many around Tallahassee and from the national media is that the retirement of Bobby Bowden was done in a fashion that has shamed Florida State University. Bowden helped build the program into the national powerhouse that it became and many feel he should have been able to say when and how he left FSU. Bowden wanted to come back in 2010 for his last season and many are feeling he should have been given the opportunity for all he has given to Florida State.
Bowden, though, did decide how he wanted to leave years ago. He came right out and said, "When I leave here I don't want no parades or farewell tours. I just want to go quietly". That is exactly what happened. Bowden was given a choice to come back in 2010 as a puppet head coach, with Jimbo Fisher making all the day to day decisions, or to retire. Bowden took a look at the choices and decided it was in the best interest of Florida State and himself to walk away after the bowl game this year. He knew that it would never work with the other choice.
FSU fans will have their chance to bid a a found farewell to an icon of college football, more than likely at the Gator Bowl in Jacksonville (FL). I would not want it any other way. I knew this year would be his last, the writing had been on the wall since October. If other FSU fans didn't see it they were standing in the wrong bathroom stall. I would rather see it this way than having Bowden fired mid-season or completely run out of town. He was able to leave with his dignity and on his terms.
Even though FSU, by Bowden's own standards, have been on tough times, FSU is in a position to come out of this funk rather quickly. With the coaching change made prior to the bowl game future prospects will now know the status of coaching at FSU. They will now be able to decide whether or not FSU is a choice. This does not hurt FSU and the football program.
While the argument will be made that the Florida State administration showed little class in the retirement of Bowden. Was there any other choice? When do you tell an icon its time to go? How do you tell a legend to hang it up? In reality Bowden probably hung on a few years too long and help create this mess but always being the optimist and thinking he could turn it around. The time came for the administration to take a stand.
The time will come to thank Bobby Bowden for all he did for football at Florida State and all he did for college football on a whole. The Seminole Nation and the college football world will come out and recognize him for all he did. The administration at Florida State will do it the right way and in a fashion that honors Bowden and his wife Ann.
As a fan base it is time for the Seminole Nation to rally around Bowden in his last game and then turn the focus to supporting Jimbo Fisher and the Seminole football team. Many of the Seminole Nation rooted for and became fans because of Bobby Bowden. When the Noles kick-off next year root louder and more wildly than ever before, and do it for Bobby.
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Bobby's greatest gift to FSU was allowing us to be upset that we aren't playing for the National Title every year. He set the bar very high with the success he had with the Seminoles. He made FSU football what it is today. The greatest honor we could give him, and I agree with the blogger, is supporting Jimbo Fisher the same way we supported Coach Bowden. It was not a perfect situation to say good-bye to Coach Bowden but it happened and now we must move on and look forward to a great future for FSU football. Next years goals should be winning the ACC and getting back to a BCS Bowl. WE have the talent and maturity on the offesnive side of the ball now all Coach Fisher needs to do is get some defensive coordinator that will get us away from the 4-3 man-to-man defense and get us to a 3-4 zone package that will allow or defense to better handle the spread offenses that many teams are playing today. FSU must also recruit some top notch players on defense. It will not be hard to convince them to to come to FSU because of how our defense played last year incoming freshman are bound to see significant playing time next year. That is what these freshman coming in are looking for.
ReplyDeleteI hate saying it....But you are right!
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