Coach Bowden Blames "Age" For Criticism

[Len B]

http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/news/story?id=4546743

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. -- Florida State Seminoles coach Bobby Bowden, who is under fire after the Seminoles started his 34th season at the school with a 2-3 record, said his age is the biggest reason he's being criticized.

"My problem is age," Bowden said during an interview with ESPN on Friday. "If I was 50, nobody would be saying a word as far as that's concerned. But at 79, he's too old. I found out when I first started, it's always this way: 'Yeah, but what have you done lately? What have you done lately?' What you used to do doesn't count, and I know it's that way. I'm ready for it. But I also know anytime something goes wrong, he's too old."

Or maybe it's the fact that he's so old and the game has passed him bye, without having a team relevant in the last 5+ seasons?

 

[Herm]

???

 

[longhornfan]

You could say the game has passed him by, because he's just a figure head at FSU these days. I really doubt he's the one coming up with the game plans and all that jazz.

But like you said, his teams have been irrelevant for the better part of this decade.

At the same time I think he should go out on his own terms, he's built that program to what it is now.

 

[Prodigal Son]

Kind of like how the game passed by Joe Paterno.

 

[kbpsu]

JoPa doesnt do anything anymore besides be a figurehead. The assistant (Tom Bradley, I think) has been there over 30 years... hes running that team by now.

I remember a few of my friends when they went on recruiting visits to PSU they said that JoPa smelled terribly like whiskey before their game.

 

[longhornfan]

Phillip Fulmer built the Vols up to what they are now too. At one point he had the best win/loss record of all active coaches. He didn't get to leave on his own terms, but the terms he left on were still sweet as fuck! $1.5 mil a year for 4 years. What a shitty way to go.

Please don't compare Fulmer to Bowden... ever.

 

[Sharkweather]

LOL at Fulmer entering this topic.

Ugh, Vols...

In a story book world Bowden and JoePa would get to leave on their own terms for what they have done for their programs, but at the same time how much mediocrity can a top level program take? There is a line in between, it is a tough one to walk.

 

[Prodigal Son]

^^Someone is a little sore because they are stuck with Richt as a coach.

You're kind of ignorant on the situation. Fulmer came into a situation where Tennessee was already a national powerhouse.

When Bowden came to Florida State, the school had only been to 7 bowl games and was pretty much a no name school. 7 Bowl games in 70 years. Since Bowden took over, they won 2 national championships and have been in 30 bowl games in 33 years.

Penn State had 6 bowl appearances in 78 years. When Paterno came, they have been in 35 bowls and won 2 national championships in 43 years.

These two guys made their schools the football powers they are. Without them, both schools would still be nothing.

Fucking comparing Fulmer to Paterno and Bowden. You retarded son?

 

[Sharkweather]

Tennessee was already a national powerhouse.

Some General Neyland guy... he was decent.

 

[Prodigal Son]

First off I never compaired Fulmer to Paterno. Secondly, I believe you need to work on your reading skills. Once you can identify blatent sarcasm (as used in my first post) get back to me. One of us certainly rode the short bus to school, but I'm sure it wasn't me.

So wait, first you argue that you were posting facts. Now it's sarcasm? Got to make up your mind son. Or see a therapist for your dissociative personality disorder.

 

[dell71]

Or maybe it's the fact that he's so old and the game has passed him bye, without having a team relevant in the last 5+ seasons?

So that would still mean the problem is his age, right?

 

[Senser81]

I don't know if age had anything to do with it, but Bowden's FSU defense evidently couldn't stop a pee-wee football team if they were running the triple option. Georgia Tech was horrendous on defense, too, but they won the game. FSU had over 400 yards of offense in the first half alone, and they still lost.

 

[Woy]

Look, the simple fact of the matter is this: at some point in every man's life when he just needs to retire, sit back on his porch in his rocking chair, and listen to football on his 80 year old radio. He was a good coach, he's lost his touch and needs to walk away before they send him packing.

Look at Bear Bryant. Once he retired, he died a month later.

For some reason, that's why I feel that JoePa and Bobby are still around. This "coaching" stuff is still keeping them alive. I had a teacher at my high school who's the exact same way.

 

[JayDizzle]

Bowden doesn't want to turn into Lee Corso or Lou Holtz... another former legend-turned-geezer on television.

Do any of you think he wants to strap on smelly mascot heads or lisp uncontrollably on Saturday?

 

[dell71]

That's oversimplifying the statement a bit, I think. Bowden pretty much made it sound like everyone is hating on him JUST because he is older, which is not true in this case. To say that he is old and the game has passed him by because of his age is not to just attack his age, but rather his overall abilities as a coach, which his age has affected.

Actually, I think you're overcomplicating it in order for it not to sound like age is the problem when it is. The game has passed him by because he's old. His coaching abilities have been affected by his age because he's old. Thus, age is the problem. All of the other things are just symptoms of the problem.

For the record, I agree that he should either remove himself or be removed. Its time for him to step down but let's not sugar-coat it. He's old and its time to go.

 

[dell71]

Not exactly, I mean to me, Bowden kind of made it sound like an age discrimination case, which it's not.

Legally, its not because he hasn't been performing well over the last few years. However, when we talk about why he hasn't been performing well it always comes back to his age in some way, shape or form.

And if I were him, I'd try to spin it that way as well. All he has left to hang on is past glory, so he'll say crap like "when I was in my 40s..."