The entire football world is in mourning after the passing of legendary Florida State coach Bobby Bowden. The school announced the sad news via social media platform Twitter on Sunday, with tributes quickly pouring in for the 91-year-old coach who ranks second all-time in Division I wins.
Just last month, Bowden was diagnosed with a terminal medical condition. He released a statement at that time, saying, "I've always tried to serve God's purpose for my life, on and off the field, and I am prepared for what is to come." Bowden did not disclose details regarding his illness, but his son Terry later told reporters that it was pancreatic cancer.
Bowden dies of pancreatic cancer
Terry released a statement to the media regarding Bowden's death, saying his father passed away peacefully with all six of his children and his wife by his side. He paid tribute to Bowden, saying he was a wonderful husband and father, and he could not have asked for a better personal mentor than the Florida State coach.
Bowden has had it rough the past couple of years, battling the COVID-19 illness in 2020, which came just days after a lengthy hospital stay due to a leg infection. Bowden is a warrior and a survivor, though, showing lots of fight in the last months of his life, which comes as no surprise given that he had waged plenty of battles with sickness even when he was a young boy.
Bowden was a sickly child, spending a great deal of his early years in bed due to rheumatic fever. During this time, he developed a love for football as he spent hours listening to Alabama games on the radio.
He came close to signing for the Crimson Tide when he was a freshman, but he decided to play elsewhere to marry Ann Estock. Freshmen were not allowed to marry back then as per Alabama's policy. Bowden went on to play quarterback for Howard College, the school where he also got his first coaching gig.
He worked as an assistant coach in Howard before moving to South Georgia College to become its athletic director. He returned to Howard in 1959 to become its head coach, holding that position until 1962.
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Bowden, a proven winner in storied coaching career
Bowden then climbed up the ranks, nabbing the wide receivers coaching job with the Seminoles from 1963 to 1965. He then transferred to West Virginia to become its offensive coordinator from 1966 to 1969. He was promoted to head coach in 1970, with Bowden posting a 42-26 record with the Mountaineers.
He decided to switch to Florida State in 1976, beginning one of the greatest coaching stints in Division I football. Bowden started his Seminoles' career with a 5-6 slate, but he picked it up from there, leading Florida State to 28 consecutive bowl appearances from 1977 and national championship wins in 1993 and 1999.
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