Bowden optimistic on future with FSU
By Ted Beck
Gainesville SUN Staff writer
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More than halfway through his spring tour around the state spreading enthusiasm about
The coach, who will enter his 34th season leading the Seminoles this fall, made his annual stop in Ocala on Tuesday, playing 18 holes at Golden Hills Golf and Turf Club and speaking at a banquet at the Hilton.
“Real long course,” Bowden said after his round of golf. “I think it’s the longest course we’ve been to (on this tour). And I’m not a long player, but I did OK.”
For the record, the legendary coach didn’t keep score, but estimated he shot around a 92.
With the glory days of the 1990s in the rear-view mirror and a ruling from an infractions committee looming about “vacating” 14 wins between 2006-07 stemming from an academic cheating scandal involving several FSU players, Bowden assured that he’s got more important things to worry about, like preparing his team for the fall.
Over the last couple seasons, Bowden has found himself neck and neck with
“Well, I don’t like it,” Bowden admitted. “I don't agree, but it won't bother me (if the wins are taken away). I won’t lose a minute of sleep over it.
“Whether Joe comes out over me, I won’t lose a minute of sleep over it. You might just say, I’m happy to be there.”
Paterno publicly defended Bowden last week, saying that he hoped that
“I’ve always been a Paterno fan,” Bowden said. “I’ve known him since 1962, so he and I are pretty close. That doesn’t surprise me at all, him (supporting me). I would’ve done the same for him.”
No matter what happens, Paterno and Bowden’s win totals are quite a feat — one he says, won’t be equaled for a long time. Virginia Tech’s Frank Beamer sits third among active coaches 163 wins behind Bowden.
“The thing about the race between Joe and I is that we’re the only ones there,” said Bowden, who led the Seminoles to national title is 1993 and 1999. “The next guy is 25 years away. Coaches don’t seem to stay with it as long. Joe’s been there 57 or 58 years, me 56. So coaches aren’t as likely to stay around nowadays.
“Coaches get paid well and they get out. Or they do real well and get pro offers.”
“I think our appeal was very well constructed,” Spetman said. “The precedence shows that we ought to not have to vacate. ... (When we self-reported the scandal), I think we hurt our program pretty seriously, with scholarships and the like. We really worked not to have something like this happen again. And it’s not an athletic issue. It’s an academic issue, and so that’s where I have a problem with it.”
Spetman said the university will hear back on their appeal by May 26. Based on what that outcome is, another appeal can be given within 15 days. Finally, a personal hearing can be requested, meaning it’s possible that the end result can drag out into October.
Bowden is confident that things are headed in the right direction in
“I’m surprised Greg didn’t get drafted,” Bowden said. “I thought for sure he’d get drafted. But we had a very poor draft this year. I can’t remember the last time only one guy got drafted. ... Talking to the pros and everything, we felt they’d get drafted, but they didn’t.
“We think we're getting closer. Right now
While Bowden maintains that he’s taking his coaching career one year at time these days, he wants to see things through before he finally hangs it up.
“We were (on top) in the 90s,” he said about his teams that finished 14 straight times in the Top 5. “(
“We were up there as long as anybody’s ever been up there. Everything doesn’t last forever. We’ve just got to get up there with them.”
