Farewell Bobby Bowden

I need to start this off by saying that I am, and have always been a lifelong Canes fan. I am also a die-hard Dolphins fan, so I can sympathize with those that feel Bowden got the Don Shula treatment. As if we didn't already know, college football is dirty business. The boosters and alumni (with more clout that anyone should be allowed just because they went to the school, and donated some money to renovate a hallway or some B.S.), had more to do with this than his record of last year. It could be argued that the only reason that FSU matters today (on the national level it enjoys), is because of Bowden.

Wasn't it only a couple of years ago, that Joe Paterno and Penn State were losers for a few years? Look what a little patience can do, they currently stand at 10-2, and have put together a nice few years since then. So far Penn State has done right by Paterno, and Bowden deserved the same treatment. Was it time for him to go? We could argue all day, I'm just saying he earned the right to go out on is own. And don't tell me that "oh, he was barely involved anymore", so what. You are gonna tell me if you were a football player coming out of high school, just being part of a program with Bowden at the helm means nothing? If so, go get your head examined.

Here are some numbers to think about:

2 National Titles.

12 ACC Titles

388-129-4.

14 years in a row in the top 5 (no one will ever touch that).

50 years of coaching, only 2 losing seasons.

Those last 2 are astounding, and he could've had at least 2 more national championships, if not for some horrible kicking (thanks by the way).

The point I guess is that, whether it's the NCAA or the NFL, no one is safe. If Don Shula began his career today, would he still be here after 8-8, 8-8, 6-10, and 8-8? Because that's what his record was from 1986 to 1989. They would let him go on the spot today, no matter what his previous accomplishments were.

Maybe I'm sentimental, or a little naive, I just think that this was handled all wrong. The moment they brought Jimbo Fisher in as the "head coach in waiting", they divided the staff, and that locker room. Bowden never stood a chance.

So take off your face paint, put aside your allegiances, and raise a glass to Bobby Bowden, we may never see a run like that again.