Fitting Mountaineers provide opposition for Bowden swan song

By Bud L. Ellis

Lots has been made of the Gator Bowl matchup between West Virginia and Florida State, and most of it has to do with the man who will coach the Seminoles for the final time on New Year’s Day at Jacksonville Municipal Stadium.

But the younger folks out there may not realize just how deep Bobby Bowden’s ties run with the school he’ll face in the final game of the 80-year-old legend’s career.

In 34 years with FSU, Bowden has built a Hall of Fame career and turned FSU into a national powerhouse. This much is common knowledge. But did you know Bowden arrived in Tallahassee after spending a decade at West Virginia?

Bowden joined the West Virginia coaching staff in 1966, taking over as offense coordinator for the next four seasons. After the 1969 season, Bowden was promoted to head coach. During the six years that followed, from 1970-75, Bowden led the Mountaineers to five winning seasons, 42 victories and a pair of berths in the Peach Bowl. Three times, Bowden directed West Virginia to eight or more victories, including a nine-win season in his final campaign as Mountaineers’ coach.

Then the story becomes more familiar to the masses. Bowden arrived in humid Florida and had the Seminoles a game from the national championship by 1979.

It’s fitting that when Bowden coaches his final game, it will be against West Virginia. The two schools are intertwined in Bowden’s coaching legacy. After all, Bowden came to West Virginia after three years as wide receivers’ coach at, you guessed it, Florida State.

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Wednesday, December 16, 2009 at 10:53 pm by bud

Tags: Bobby Bowden, Florida State, Gator Bowl, Jacksonville Municipal Stadium, Peach Bowl, West Virginia

West Virginia to Face Florida State in Gator Bowl, Bowden’s Last Game

With midnight about to strike on the career of the second most winningest coach in college football history, its only fitting that he’ll go out facing his old team.

Florida State (6-6) coach Bobby Bowden, who announced that he’ll be retiring at the end of the season, will taken on the No. 18 West Virginia Mountaineers (9-3) in the Gator Bowl down in Jacksonville, Florida on New Year’s Day.

Bowden coached West Virginia from 1970-1975, before heading to the Seminoles in 1976. He hasn’t posted a losing season at Florida State since his first season, but the Seminoles are in danger of dropping to a losing record if they fall here.

The Mountaineers will certainly try and prove that they’re up to the task, likely leading the way with running back Noel Devine.

West Virginia finished second in the Big East by virtue of a head-to-head win over then-No.9 Pittsburgh two weeks ago. The Mountaineers’ only big stumble all season came against South Florida in a 30-19 loss; otherwise, they turned in consistent efforts every week, with their only other losses coming at the hands of Auburn and then-No. 5 Cincinnati.

Bowden’s final game has considerably raised the profile of the Gator Bowl, something the folks at Jacksonville Municipal Stadium likely considered when they passed up chances at Clemson and Miami (FL) in favor of Florida State.

They were rewarded for their faith – all 77,474 tickets to the game sold out in a matter of two hours.

Gator Bowl chairman Dan Murphy says “the interest in this game has been overwhelming and has surpassed all expectations.”

Tuesday, December 8, 2009 at 9:59 pm by bryan