Bobby Bowden turned 80 on Sunday, but he wasn't in the mood to celebrate.Bowden's Florida State Seminoles lost a key ACC game at Clemson and also their starting quarterback, Christian Ponder, possibly for the season with a separated shoulder in the process on Saturday. Talk about a family funk.
Bowden's son, Terry, whose coaching staff includes younger brother Jeff, saw his undefeated and top-ranked Division-II North Alabama Lions tumble in four overtimes on Saturday, too. And Bowden's son-in-law, Jack Hines, the defensive coordinator at Colquitt County High (Ga.), opened the weekend with a defeat on Friday.
"Our whole family got whipped. We ain't celebrating nothing," Bowden quipped Sunday.
Bowden may want to make a birthday wish though.
The Seminoles (4-5) need to win two of their three remaining games, punctuated by a regular-season finale at top-ranked Florida, to extend their nation's-best streak of bowl appearances that dates back to 1982.
FSU starts that gauntlet on Saturday at Wake Forest (4-6), which has a penchant for playing the Seminoles tough. The Demon Deacons, who have lost four games by three points each this season, need to win their final two games against FSU and Duke to reach six wins and become bowl eligible.
FSU closes its home schedule against Maryland on Nov. 21.
Of course, depending on which side of the debate you stand regarding Bowden's coaching future at FSU, this game could carry historical significance in more ways than one.
"Once you get a certain age, if you're not successful, then they're going to say, 'He's too old,' and 'He's forgot everything.' "
-- Bobby Bowden
Bowden, however, is focused on the immediate hurdle. And that's making sure redshirt freshman quarterback E.J. Manuel is prepared for his first career start against the Deacs.
Manuel misfired on two pass attempts at Clemson after Ponder was injured when he tackled Clemson safety DeAndre McDaniel along the sideline following his fourth interception of the game.
According to FSU director of sports medicine Randy Oravetz, Ponder will have his injured right throwing shoulder examined Monday, which will include an X-ray and additional tests. The results of that examination will determine the course of his rehabilitation.
Ponder missed most of practice last week with bruised ribs suffered in the win over North Carolina State on Oct. 31. Ponder has completed 226 of 329 passes for 2,171 yards with 14 touchdowns and seven interceptions. He led the ACC in passing yards per game (306.6) and total offense (327.4) heading into Clemson.
Bowden said he's eager to see how Manuel responds, though the Seminoles' spotty defense could only add to the challenge. Clemson scored 19 unanswered points in the fourth quarter to take control of the ACC Atlantic Division and knock the Seminoles from the race.
Wake Forest, of course, is quarterbacked by wily veteran Riley Skinner.
"It's tough but there's nothing you can do about it. All you can do is face the situation and do what is the best," Bowden said.
"That means take the next guy, move him up and prepare him the best you can. It is kind of scary. I don't remember any year like this -- yes, I do, my first year at Florida State (1976) and maybe around 1981 -- where you felt like you had to outscore people to win. That's not a healthy situation, and that's the way it has been this year."
Of course, the years -- and birthday candles -- have added up for Bowden. He remains in good health and, despite the uncertainty concerning his future, good spirits.
Bowden is the fifth head coach to coach into his 80s. The other active 80-year-old coaches are Penn State's Joe Paterno (82) and St. John's (Minn.) University's John Gagliardi, who turned 83 on Nov. 1. Amos Alonzo Stagg was 84 when he retired and Upper Iowa's John Dorman was 81.While consecutive victories over North Carolina and N.C. State helped quiet Bowden's critics, many fans will continue to point to his age and the program's decline this decade as reasons for a change after the 2009 season. Bowden has indicated that he wants to return for a final season in 2010.
"It's predictable," Bowden said earlier.
"Once you get a certain age, if you're not successful, then they're going to say, 'He's too old,' and 'He's forgot everything.' "
Comments (Page 1 of 1)
That's right, Bobby, it's all about you. So long as you continue thinking it's all about you, your memory, your age, etc., FSU will continue to suffer.
Retiring in a good light has long since passed. Now, it's just a matter of how bad it has to get to when you finally retire.
Sort of like the housing market - continue to say "we've reached the bottom, there's nowhere else to go but up" and you'll be bitten, just the same.