ACC Daily Fever: Florida Governor (and Ann Bowden) Voice Support for Bobby Bowden

Posted: Nov 19, 2009

As the debate continues on the future of Florida State's Bobby Bowden, the long-time coach received support recently from a well-known FSU graduate- Governor Charlie Crist. Although politicians commenting on sports can make fans roll their eyes many times (Orrin Hatch), Crist's comments bring up an interesting point: Can any one person be bigger than the program?

In most cases the answer to that question is obviously no, but it seems that many Bowden supporters believe that the Florida State situation is different. When asked about the criticism of Bowden this year, Crist said:

"I don't think it's fair. He's done so much here in the state of Florida. A man who's won two national championships and Lord knows how many ACC championships deserves all of our respect and all the honor we can show him.”

The main question for Bowden's future becomes the following: how far down does the program have to go while FSU is showing their coach "respect"? If they lose the home finale against Maryland on Saturday, the Noles will finish with a losing record in the ACC and will probably miss the postseason.

It probably doesn't help either when his wife, Ann Bowden, keeps talking about it to the press.

"He's planning on another year.... You know, we don't need the university as much as they need us — as much as they need him and his connections and reputation and everything. If they want to [replace him this off season], we'll just shake the dirt off our feet and go to Europe or go on a long cruise or something.

They'll have to fire him for him not to go another year … If they've got guts enough to do it, let them do it."

It starts to make people question - who's creating this showdown - Bowden (and family) or FSU boosters?

Bowden can at least make a stronger case for 2010 if FSU can finish 6-6 and then win a lower-level Bowl game. FSU loyalists can only hope that a change on the defensive side of the ball, which is happening when long time DC Mickey Andrews retires at season's end, will make 2010 the right year to send Bobby Bowden into retirement.

Honorable Mention ACC Headlines:

League lacking in home-field advantage

Miami’s Collier will miss Duke game