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Bobby Bowden
Sport(s)	Football
Biographical details
Born	(1929-11-08) November 8, 1929 (age 82) Birmingham, Alabama
Playing career
1948 1949–1952	Alabama (freshman team) Howard (AL)
Position(s)	Quarterback (Alabama and Howard) Running back (Howard)
Coaching career (HC unless noted)
1954–1955 1956–1958 1959–1962 1963–1965 1966–1969 1970–1975 1976–2009	Howard (AL) (OC) South Georgia JC Howard (AL) Florida State (WR) West Virginia (OC) West Virginia Florida State
Head coaching record
Overall	377–129–4, 12 wins vacated. Bowden won 411 total games as a Head Coach. His wins at South Georgia College are also not counted by the NCAA.
Bowls	21–10–1, 1 win vacated
Statistics College Football Data Warehouse
Accomplishments and honors
Championships 2 National (1993, 1999) 12 ACC (1992–2000, 2002–2003, 2005)
Awards Walter Camp Coach of the Year Award (1991) Amos Alonzo Stagg Award (2011)
College Football Hall of Fame Inducted in 2006 (profile)

Robert Cleckler "Bobby" Bowden (born November 8, 1929) is a retired college football coach. He coached the Florida State Seminoles football team from the 1976 to 2009 seasons. During his time at Florida State, Bowden led FSU to an Associated Press and Coaches Poll National Title in 1993 and a BCS National Championship in 1999, as well as twelve Atlantic Coast Conference championships since FSU joined the conference in 1991. After a difficult 2009 season and amid questioning fans, Bowden announced his retirement from FSU on December 1, 2009, just weeks after his 80th birthday. His final coaching appearance was the 2010 Gator Bowl game on January 1, 2010, with a 33–21 victory over his former program, West Virginia.

Bowden finished his career second in all-time wins by a Division I-FBS coach with 389 wins.^[1] A March 6, 2009 NCAA ruling requiring Florida State to "vacate wins for any games in which an ineligible player participated," threatening to remove as many as 14 of Bowden's wins from the 2006 and 2007 seasons in relation to an academic scandal; Florida State appealed the ruling.^[2][3][4] The NCAA upheld the ruling on January 5, 2010.^[5] Upon final investigation by Florida State University it was determined that Bowden was to vacate 12 wins,^[1] bringing his final career record to 377–129–4.

Youth and early life[link]

Born in Birmingham, Alabama, Bowden spent a portion of his childhood in bed, sick. Bowden is the son of Bob Bowden and Sunset (née Cleckler ) Bowden. When he was 13 years old, Bowden was diagnosed with rheumatic fever. After a six month hospital stay, Bowden was confined to his bed at home for just over a year with nothing more than his imagination to pass the time. It was listening to World War II reports on the radio that began Bowden's interest in the war, an interest he still has to this day. It was also around this time that his love for football increased, as he would listen to University of Alabama football on Saturday mornings.

Bowden was an outstanding football player at Woodlawn High School in Birmingham, and went on to play for the University of Alabama as a quarterback, fulfilling a lifelong dream to play for the Crimson Tide. He then returned to Birmingham and married his high school sweetheart, Ann Estock, on April 1, 1949. Today, the couple have six children and 21 grandchildren. Bobby transferred to Howard College (now Samford University). Bowden graduated from Howard in 1953.

Early coaching career[link]

Bowden served as an assistant football coach and head track and field coach at Howard College (now known as Samford University, currently in the FCS football division) in Birmingham, Alabama from 1954–55. He left his alma mater to become Athletic Director as well as head football, baseball, and basketball coach at South Georgia College from 1956 to 1958. Bowden then returned to Howard as head coach, where he compiled a 31–6 record between 1959 and 1962. In 1962, Bowden went to Florida State University as an assistant coach under Head Coach Bill Peterson. Two other coaching legends who worked under Coach Peterson during this time were Bill Parcells and Joe Gibbs. Bowden left Florida State in 1965 to go to West Virginia University as an assistant under Jim Carlen. When Carlen left following the 1969 season to become head coach at Texas Tech, Bowden replaced him. Bowden then compiled a 42–26 record at WVU before returning to FSU as head coach in 1976.

During Bowden's first year as head coach at WVU, the football team of the state's other top-division school, Marshall University, fell victim to a tragic plane crash. Bowden asked NCAA permission to wear Marshall jerseys and play Marshall's final game of the 1970 season against Ohio, but was denied. In memory of the victims of the crash, Mountaineers players put green crosses and the initials "MU" on their helmets. Bowden allowed Marshall's new head coach Jack Lengyel and his assistants access to game film and playbooks to acquaint themselves with the veer offense, a variation of the option offense which aids teams with weak offensive lines. Lengyel credits Bowden with helping the young Thundering Herd recover. Bowden reportedly became emotional while viewing the movie We Are Marshall, and has said that he was the original candidate for the Marshall head coaching job ultimately filled by crash victim Rick Tolley.^[6]

Florida State[link]

Bowden comments on his second season as head coach of Florida State University's football program in 1977

Bobby Bowden on the sidelines of the November 4, 2006 game against Virginia

Bowden became the head coach of the Florida State Seminoles because the climate was warmer than in Morgantown, and because Tallahassee was closer to Birmingham, Alabama, where his mother and mother-in-law both lived. The team had a 4–29 record over the previous three seasons, and Bowden planned to stay only briefly before taking a better job, perhaps as head coach at Alabama.^[7]

During his 34 years as Florida State's head coach he had only one losing season—his first, in 1976—and declined head coaching job offers from Alabama, Auburn, Louisiana State, and the NFL's Atlanta Falcons. From 1987 to 2000 the Seminoles finished every season with at least 10 wins and in the top 5 of the Associated Press College Football Poll, and won the national championship in 1993 and 1999.^[7]

Personal life[link]

Bowden is a committed Christian^[8] who credits his success in football to his faith.

Sons who coach[link]

Bobby is not the only member of his family to have coached Division I-A football. His son Tommy Bowden was the head coach at Clemson University. Another son, Terry Bowden, was the head coach at Auburn University, where he was the 1993 Coach of the Year. A third son, Jeff Bowden, was the offensive coordinator at Florida State. All three Bowden men who were head coaches have achieved an undefeated season: Terry in 1993 at Auburn; Tommy in 1998 at Tulane; and Bobby in 1999 at Florida State. Bobby's 1993 and 1999 Florida State teams were the only ones to win a National Championship, however. Terry and Jeff currently coach at the University of Akron.

The Bowden Bowl[link]

As both Florida State and Clemson are in the same division of the Atlantic Coast Conference for football, the two teams played each other every year from 1999 through 2007 in a game that became known as "The Bowden Bowl". Their 1999 meeting was the first time in Division I-A history that a father and a son met as opposing head coaches in a football game. Bobby held the edge in the series 5–4, with all four losses within the last five games. Tommy Bowden's four wins in the series remain the only times a son has ever beaten his father when facing off as head coach in any of America's four major sports.^{[citation needed]}

One Bowden Bowl was scheduled between Auburn and Florida State for 1999 when Terry Bowden was the coach at Auburn. However, Terry's midseason resignation in 1998 ended the possibility of a Bowden Bowl. Another Bowden Bowl was scheduled between Clemson and Florida State in 2008, but Tommy Bowden's resignation halfway through the year ended the Bowden Bowls. Florida State beat Clemson in what would have been the 2008 Bowden Bowl on Bobby Bowden's 79th birthday, earning him his 380th career win.

Awards[link]

In 1992 Coach Bowden received the United States Sports Academy's Amos Alonzo Stagg Coaching Award in recognition of his outstanding achievement as a coach.^[9]

Awards named after him[link]

On March 21, 2010, the Over the Mountain Touchdown Club of Birmingham, Alabama presented the first annual Bobby Bowden National Collegiate Coach of the Year Award, named in honor of Coach Bowden and the contributions that he made during his career. The award recognizes a coach each year with unmatched success on and off of the field in the same attributes that Coach Bowden showed throughout his career: Preserverance, Attitude, Integrity, and Determination. University of Alabama head coach Nick Saban was the first recipient of the award that was presented by Bobby Bowden himself. The award is presented each year after national signing day and before the commencement of Spring practice.

In 2004, the Fellowship of Christian Athletes presented the first of what is now a yearly award in Bowden's name, The National Bobby Bowden Award, honoring one college football player for his achievements on the field, in the classroom and in the community. The award is presented each year prior to the BCS national title.

In 2011, in recognition of his philanthropic efforts with the Fellowship of Christian Athletes, Bowden received the Children's Champion Award for Leadership Development from the charitable organization Children's Hunger Fund.^[10]

Head coaching record[link]

In his 44 seasons as a head coach, Bowden had 40 winning seasons (including 33 consecutive at Florida State), and 36 Division 1-A winning seasons. During the period 1987–2000, Bowden coached Florida State to 14 straight seasons with 10 or more victories, and his team had a final ranking of fifth or higher in both of the major polls.

‡ Twelve results, including six conference results, were vacated for use of ineligible players in 2006 and 2007. Five victories from 2006 and seven from 2007 were ultimately vacated by the NCAA.

Bibliography[link]

Bobby Bowden has co-authored several books, including:

• Winning's Only Part of the Game : Lessons of Life and Football (1996) (ISBN 0-446-52050-0)
• The Bowden Way : 50 Years of Leadership Wisdom (2001) (ISBN 1-56352-684-0)
• Bobby Bowden's Tales from the Seminole Sideline (2004) (ISBN 1-58261-406-7)
• Called to Coach: Reflections on Life, Faith, and Football (2010) (ISBN 1-43919-597-8)

Books about Bobby Bowden's early coaching years:

• Bobby Bowden: Memories of A Legend and his Boys from South Georgia College (2008) (ISBN 978-1-58385-282-8)

Books about Bobby Bowden's entire career:

• Bobby Bowden: Win by Win (2003) (ISBN 0-7385-1544-2)
• Bowden: How Bobby Bowden Forged a Football Dynasty (2003) (ISBN 0-0614-7419-3)
• Pure Gold: Bobby Bowden - An Inside Look (2004) (ISBN 1-5967-0120-X)

Books which feature contributions from Bobby Bowden:

• Grateful: From Walking On To Winning It All At Florida State By Ryan Sprague, (2010) (ISBN 978-0-9828763-0-5)

See also[link]

• List of Florida State Seminoles head football coaches
• List of College Football Hall of Fame inductees (coaches)
• List of college football coaches with 200 wins

Sources[link]

• "ACC Standings" (PDF). 2006 ACC Football Media Guide. Atlantic Coast Conference. http://graphics.fansonly.com/photos/schools/acc/sports/m-footbl/auto_pdf/06guide093123.pdf. Retrieved 2007-01-10. 
• "Florida State University Coaching Staff" (PDF). 2006 Florida State Football Media Guide. Florida State University Athletics. http://www.fansonly.com/photos/schools/fsu/sports/m-footbl/auto_pdf/6Coaches23-38.pdf. Retrieved 2007-01-10. 
• "Florida State University Year-By-Year Record" (PDF). 2006 Florida State Football Media Guide. Florida State University Athletics. http://www.fansonly.com/photos/schools/fsu/sports/m-footbl/auto_pdf/16Records2173-208.pdf. Retrieved 2007-01-10. 
• "West Virginia University Coaching History" (PDF). 2006 West Virginia Football Media Guide. West Virginia University Athletics. Archived from the original on 2006-12-09. http://web.archive.org/web/20061209013135/http://www.msnsportsnet.com/content/Football-9.pdf. Retrieved 2007-01-10. 

References[link]

External links[link]

• Bowden's bio from the official Florida State athletic's website

Jimbo Fisher
Sport(s)	Football
Current position
Title	Head coach
Team	Florida State
Conference	ACC
Record	19–8 (.704)
Biographical details
Born	(1965-10-09) October 9, 1965 (age 46) Clarksburg, West Virginia
Playing career
1985–1986 1987	Salem College Samford
Position(s)	Quarterback
Coaching career (HC unless noted)
1991–1992 1993–1998 1999 2000–2006 2007–2010 2010–present	Samford (OC) Auburn (QB) Cincinnati (QB) LSU (OC/QB) Florida State (OC/QB) Florida State
Head coaching record
Overall	19–8 (.704)
Bowls	2–0 (1.000)

John James "Jimbo" Fisher (born October 9, 1965) is an American college football coach and former player. He is currently head coach at Florida State University.

As a senior student at Samford University Fisher was the 1987 NCAA Division III National Player of the Year. From 2000 until 2006 he served as offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach at LSU. From 2007 to 2009 he was offensive coordinator, quarterbacks coach and, beginning in 2007, head coach-in-waiting for the Florida State Seminoles. Bobby Bowden, Florida State's head coach of 34 years, retired after the team's appearance in its 28th consecutive bowl game on 1 January 2010.^[1] Fisher took over as head coach soon after. Florida State is Fisher's first head coaching position and he led them to a 10-4 record during his first season. His inaugural year marked FSU's first 10-win season since 2003 and first appearance in the ACC Championship Game since 2005.

Biography[link]

Background[link]

Born in Clarksburg, West Virginia, Fisher attended North View Junior High School and Liberty High School before going to Salem College (now Salem International University) in Salem, West Virginia where he played quarterback under head coach Terry Bowden from 1985-1986. When Bowden left for Samford University in Birmingham, Alabama, Fisher transferred with him to play his final season for the Bulldogs where he was named Division III National Player of the Year.^[2] Fisher still holds multiple school records at Samford.^[3]

Fisher played a season in the Arena Football League in 1988 for the Chicago Bruisers, then rejoined Terry Bowden at Samford as a graduate assistant coach working with quarterbacks from 1988-1990. He was subsequently hired as the fulltime offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach. After two seasons Fisher moved with Bowden to Auburn University where he coached quarterbacks alongside offensive coordinator Tommy Bowden. At Auburn Fisher coached several successful quarterbacks including Patrick Nix, who would later serve as offensive coordinator at Georgia Tech and Miami. He continued at Auburn until Tommy Tuberville took over as head coach following Terry Bowden's 1998 mid-season resignation.

Fisher coached quarterbacks for one season at Cincinnati before joining Nick Saban's new staff at LSU in 2000. When Saban left for the NFL's Miami Dolphins Fisher remained at LSU to continue his role with Les Miles. At LSU he helped to develop a number of outstanding college quarterbacks, including Josh Booty, Rohan Davey, Matt Mauck and JaMarcus Russell.

Fisher interviewed for the head coaching position at the University of Alabama at Birmingham after the 2006 season but the Board of Trustees, which also governs the University of Alabama, vetoed the contract offer, sparking some controversy.^[4][5] He turned down an invitation from Nick Saban to join the coaching staff at the University of Alabama to sign a contract as offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach at Florida State University. His contract initially guaranteed a base salary of $215,000 with incentives increasing the total package into the low $400,000 range.^[6][7] In a press release on December 10, 2007 Jimbo Fisher was named "head coach in waiting", making him the eventual successor for legendary Seminoles coach Bobby Bowden.^[8] The new contract paid Fisher around $600,000 per year with a $2.5 million buyout clause.^[9] The university promised to pay $5 million to Fisher if he was not made head coach by January 2011.

On December 1, 2009 Bowden announced that he would retire from coaching after the Seminoles' upcoming bowl game on New Year's Day 2010 against West Virginia in the Gator Bowl. Fisher began selecting his coaching staff and recruiting players while preparing the team for its bowl game for the last time as a Bowden assistant. The Seminoles sent Bowden out with a victory on January 1. Fisher held his first staff meeting the following afternoon. A few days later, on January 5, he officially became the ninth head football coach in Florida State history.

Head coach at Florida State[link]

Jimbo Fisher's official introduction as head coach took place at a Florida State University press conference on 7 January 2010. "Empowered, confident athletes are winners," he said. "My goal is to get the structure, the staff and the support resources in place to facilitate a winning plan and get players into the structure and start effecting change. Now." Fisher then announced his 2010 coaching staff:^[10]

• Rick Trickett, assistant head coach/offensive line
• Eddie Gran, associate head coach, running backs and special teams coach
• James Coley, offensive coordinator
• Lawrence Dawsey, receivers coach, passing game coordinator
• Dameyune Craig, quarterbacks coach, recruiting coordinator
• Mark Stoops, defensive coordinator
• Greg Hudson, linebackers coach and assistant head coach on defense
• Darin Eliot, defensive ends coach
• Odell Haggins, defensive line coach

Personal[link]

Fisher and his wife Candi have two sons, Trey and Ethan. Fisher's brother, Bryan, is the offensive coordinator at Fairmont State University and his mother, Gloria, teaches chemistry at Robert C. Byrd High School in Clarksburg, WV. ^{[11] [12]}

Awards[link]

• 1987: Division III National Player of the Year^[13]
• 2001: Broyles Assistant Coach of the Year Award finalist^[7]

Head coaching record[link]

References[link]

External links[link]

• Florida State profile
• LSU profile