Our family moved to Tallahassee in January 1977, mid-way through my 9th grade year. Bobby Bowden had just completed his first season at Florida State University, his only losing season there.
Having grown up in Central Florida, I really didn’t know much about Florida State or its coach. I certainly had no idea how fortunate I was to suddenly have a front row seat (actually it was usually a back row end zone seat) as Coach Bowden built one of the most successful college football programs in the nation.
Our family joined First Baptist Tallahassee, where Coach Bowden and his family were members. If he was in town, Bobby always made a point to be in church, often with many of his players, the morning following a game. As a teenager, it made such an impression on me to look up and see him and his players in the balcony, knowing that he didn’t just talk about his faith, he lived it out.
He was also a familiar sight in the church hallways, always returning anyone’s greetings when they shouted, “Hey, Coach!”
All these years later, those same traits come to mind. Through his many decades of coaching, yes, he was folksy, inspirational, certainly successful, but through it all he was authentic and genuine and consistent. He was the same person on the field, in the locker room, at church, at home, and in front of the cameras. His faith in Christ was a part of who he was, so it naturally came out wherever he went.
‘Renewed respect’
I didn’t know Coach Bowden personally, but I had the wonderful opportunity to interview him back in 1994 for a work project. I had been on staff at the South Carolina Baptist Convention in Columbia for about a year and was given the assignment to interview three coaches about the value of teamwork and cooperation — Sparky Woods, head coach at South Carolina; Ken Hatfield, Clemson’s head coach; and Bobby Bowden. All three were outspoken Christians who lived out their faith in all areas of life. Of course, it was an assignment I readily took on. (Interestingly, Woods and Hatfield would not be at their respective universities a year later, giving my video a very brief shelf life!)
It was summer, and Bobby was in the midst of one of his famous Bowden family football camps for high school students when I arrived for the pre-scheduled interview, which I invited my brother Lance Rogers to help me with. (I think he carried my tripod!) Coach Bowden graciously provided us with all the time we needed for the interview, making us feel like we were the most important thing on his schedule. Of course, I left with an autographed photo, but even more, with a renewed respect for the man.
When our family moved to Montgomery in 1999 for me to serve with the Alabama Baptist State Board of Missions, the first question I was asked whenever I met someone new was “Alabama or Auburn?” When I responded, “Neither — I’m a Seminole,” almost universally they would say, “That’s cool. I really like Bobby Bowden.”
His universal appeal was amazing, and I always felt fortunate to have a coach at “my school” that I was proud of – not just for being successful, but for having integrity and for living out his Christian faith.
In 2014, Montgomery’s Camellia Bowl was launched, and they selected Birmingham native/Howard College (now Samford University) graduate Bobby Bowden as their first Legends recipient, given annually to honor a different coach or player with Alabama ties that has contributed to the growth of football. I grabbed some media credentials to get into a bowl week luncheon to hear him speak, but even more in hopes of getting a pic with him.
Although his handlers were hurrying him out so he could catch a plane, I got the pic (thanks Jeff Shearer!) and had a moment to thank Coach for his influence on my life and the lives of so many others and make sure he knew of my Tallahassee connections. I’m sure our encounter didn’t stay with him any longer than that, but it stayed with me, for sure.
Appearance in Nashville
Then, just a month or two ago, what an amazing privilege to be in the audience when he surprised Mark Richt at the North American Mission Board Send Luncheon in Nashville, preceding the Southern Baptist Convention.
In an interview with NAMB President Kevin Ezell, Coach Richt had just recounted how Bobby led him to faith in Christ in 1986, following the death of FSU player Pablo Lopez. Kevin then asked him, “What do you think Coach Bowden would say to you if he were here right now?” Then the lights came up on stage right to reveal Coach Bowden on a couch. Needless to say, the crowd went wild. A great conversation between Bobby and Mark ensued as they recounted their time together and talked about their shared faith in the Lord.
For Bobby to travel to Nashville to surprise his friend Mark Richt – well, it was just amazing. That was June 14. Five weeks later, he announced his terminal illness with the words, “I am at peace.” Then 18 days later, he was gone.
Like so many, I was saddened when Bobby announced his terminal condition and saddened more to learn of his passing Sunday morning. But any sadness is tempered by the reality that Bobby Bowden is with his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ — in the very presence of the One he directed so many people toward. His faith in Christ is the reason he could say, “I am at peace,” when faced with his death. He died like he lived, wholly leaning on Christ. There’s no telling how many high school and college students he impacted not just to be better players or better people, but to consider the claims of Christ.
I have no doubt he received a well-earned, “Well done, good and faithful servant,” upon his arrival in heaven, maybe even accented with a hearty “Dadgum!” We’ll miss you, Coach, but your legacy lives on not only in the record books and in the FSU field named for you, but mostly in the lives of countless people you impacted for the kingdom of God. And when it’s all said and done, that’s what really matters.
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