College football lost a legend on Sunday, as Hall of Fame coach Bobby Bowden died at 91. Bowden, who collected 377 career wins and two national championships during his 40 years as a major college coach, announced he was suffering from a terminal illness — his son, Terry Bowden, later confirmed it was pancreatic cancer — on July 21.
In his terminal-illness announcement, Bowden said he was “at peace.”
“I’ve always tried to serve God’s purpose for my life, on and off the field, and I am prepared for what is to come,” Bowden told the Tallahassee Democrat “My wife, Ann, and our family have been life’s greatest blessing. I am at peace.”
Bowden turned Florida State football into a national powerhouse during his 34-year tenure in Tallahassee. The Seminoles won 12 ACC titles under Bowden, adding national championships in 1993 and 1999. For 14-straight seasons (1987-2000) Bowden helped FSU finish in the AP top 5.
In addition to FSU, Bowden coached at Samford and West Virginia. He retired in 2009.
Here’s some of the love the college football world has shown Bowden since news of his death was announced.
Louisiana-Monroe coach Terry Bowden, Bobby Bowden’s son, wrote on Twitter he was “touched” by the support FSU fans have shown since his father’s passing.
