Leave Bobby Bowden Alone. GO NOLES!

In 1976, The Florida State University (FSU) acquired from West Virginia a new football coach and introduced the Seminole Nation to "Bobby Ball". Until that time, we played mostly smaller or less competitive opponents, and we had a fair win-loss record. With Coach Bowden came the "we will play anybody, anywhere", and on the road we went. Every year the lineup included some of college football's powerhouse programs. Coach's philosophy was "if you play us; we will come to your house, and we did. Many or most of the games were never featured weekly coverage, until we began, to win games.

During the eighties, our status was reaching the pinnacle of success; we were occasionally on television. Most remember Deion Sanders, "Prime Time or Neon Deion", his antics and his gridiron talents made him a weekly topic. Amp Lee, Lawrence Dawsey, and too many to mention were drafted and drafted high. One of my favorites was a nationally televised game in which we were losing to then ranked Clemson University. This was the infamous "punt rooskie" game. We won in the waning minutes of the game and Bobby Bowden was a permanent household word in college football.

The eighties were fun because everything was new, but hold onto your chairs, folks, 'cause you ain't seen nothing yet". In came the nineties and every game was "Game of the Week". Television mobile broadcasting trucks sat up in front of the stadium, along the sides and anywhere with available parking. To us fans, it was like a "World's Fair" with excitement, enthusiasm and anticipation and what next to see. Yeah, man, "We are Florida State".

As winning dictates, we needed improvements, such as parking lot, stadium and field. The field did not drain properly, and we needed additional seating. The school built labs, classrooms, student athletic center, added or improved many academic programs and salaries. The campus and its staff and facilities benefited greatly from Bobby's money.

We were the team of the decade and the century. Since 1987, we had four-10 game wins, eight-11 game wins and two-12 game wins with a" wire to wire" (ranked #1 from first game to last game) perfect season in 1999 with Sugar Bowl win over an excellent Virginia Tech Team. Bobby produced fourteen straight seasons in the elite top five in college football.

Our games were tough games every week. We did not play "The Little Sisters of the Poor" to boost our records. With our non-conference games, Bobby played University of Florida (Gators), before joining the Atlantic Coast Conference, Miami, number one ranked Michigan at Michigan and Notre Dame at Notre Dame. Bobby took us to a new realm in football. During this period, FSU and Miami had more players in professional football than any other college programs.

At this moment, this day, look where we stand. A stadium divided cannot fill empty seats. I have been a FSU booster and season ticket holder for many years. Bobby made a catastrophic mistake by naming Jeff Bowden as offensive coordinator and an even bigger mistake by promising the head coaching position to Jimbo Fisher.

I personally love the Bowden family, "Miss Ann" and all the youngens', and I, personally, have never met them. Bobby is a man of immense integrity. If someone tells me he cheated, then God has given up on the world and the end is near. Maybe not the most popular, but I know he does the right thing, and he answers to a higher board than the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA).

Florida State fans and football enemies are calling for his head on a Garnet and Gold platter. This man gathered the materials and workers and built a marvelous mansion. So now, let's kick him out. He has given us what we wanted. Leave Bobby Bowden alone. Let him leave on his terms; his way. As I have said often to booing in the stadium, we do not do that here. "Booers" would be better suited at a gator game where that type of behavior is norm. Bobby Bowden has given his all to his God, family, and FSU. He is no fake. He is the real thing and what you see is what you get. Do not add stress to his agenda. Love him and thank him for the exciting years given and years yet to give.

His terms; his way.

Sources:

Personal experiences attending Florida State games, dinners and tailgating. Booster and Season Ticket Holder.
http://www.databasefootball.com/players/bycollege.htm?sch=Florida+State+University