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Welcome
to the Internet Home of the Pinellas Seminole Boosters.
Thank
you Noles for winning a most special
game for our
beloved Bobby and Mickey!
The
FSU
Seminoles came from behind to beat the #18 WV Mountaineers
33-21, in the 2010 Gator Bowl. But the record attendance
of 84,129 fans were primarily focused on honoring a man who
put FSU on the map with grace and dignity throughout his entire career
to
his final exit.
"Well,
like so many games, when you are behind like we
were in that first quarter, there is always an opportunity to quit and
to give up," Bowden said. "And the kids did not. They kept fighting,
kept coming back and won the ball game. That is what you
want."
Bowden
finished with a 389-129-4 record, and most importantly to him, a 33rd
consecutive winning season.
There
were many
pregame events to honor Bobby, first being the "Bowden Walk." When the
Florida State caravan arrived, Bowden emerged and made his way through
an estimated 10,000 fans, including more than 350 of Bowdens former
players, holding an umbrella with one hand and waving
to well-wishers with the other.
There
was a
pregame video of Bowden highlights. He got a new car, a gift from
Toyota and the Gator Bowl. "Thank you so much for this car," said
Bowden,"I do not know what Ann is going to drive."
And
then came a rare
treat even for Bowden, the right to take the flaming FSU spear from
Chief Osceola and slam the point into the turf at midfield, one of
Florida States most revered pregame traditions. View
Video
During
the game,
Bowdens demeanor didnt change much from whats become the norm in his
final seasons. He often kept to himself, hands either clasped behind
his back or at his sides. He talked to players individually, sometimes
offered a quick thought to HICW Jimbo Fisher, then would go back to
pacing about.
A few times, Bowden took a quick look around the stadium, almost as if
he was taking a mental picture of it all. *
With
1:39 left,
Bowden trotted down to the Florida State band section, removing his
autographed white cap and tossing it into the seats. "I always throw
the band my hat. I looked down there to see how high up they are.
Sometimes they are so high I cannot get my hat that high. I say,
"Dadgummit, that is my last game, they cannot give me more than 15
yards."
(A graduate assistant was the lucky recipient.)
The
unexpected 33-21 win over West Virginia, his former team, was just "a
bonus," Bowden said.
And
then the celebrating began... Non stop "Bobby, Bobby" cheering
continued until he was carried off the field (well sorta).
Bobby Bowden rode only
a few bouncy steps on his players shoulders, then hopped off.
"I thought it was about time to get down," he said.
As
Bowden was answering one of his final questions in his postgame news
conference, Ann walked onto the stage, planted a kiss right on him, and
said, "Time to go home, baby."
There was laughter in the room as Bowden continued to answer the
question. Nobody wanted to rush him, because when Bowden goes home this
time, hes not coming back.
Florida State might have won Friday, but college football lost Bobby
Bowden, and thats what will be remembered about this years Gator
Bowl. *
As was discussed at our last club meeting,
we will resume our monthly meetings outside of football season, either
with speakers or game watching events. Stay tuned for more
information!
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