Bobby Bowden’s formula for success reads like a collection of virtues. It’s no coincidence his book ‘The Bowden Way’ has chapters titled ‘Honesty,’ ‘Loyalty,’ ‘Humility’ and ‘Setting a personal example.’

Unlike coaches who are a product of their winning environments, every accomplishment Florida State football boasts comes from Bowden, who is in his 29th year as FSU head coach. He built the Seminoles into a dynasty.

Now the all-time winningest coach in college football with 345 wins, Bowden is rewriting the record books almost weekly while the competition falls further out of sight.

If you ask Bowden, it’s simple. Along the way there have been obstacles (taking over a team that won four games in three seasons) and temptations (chances to lure recruits with money; NFL coaching jobs). But after his hard work and many sleepless nights, the way to win was as simple as being himself.

In reality, he couldn’t help but win.

Travis Johnson remembers the decision – the toughest decision he ever had to make. From dozens of colleges, he’d have to choose one – one that would determine which pathway his career would take.

Regarded by some as the best player in the 2000 recruiting class, the Sherman Oaks, Calif., native had offers from the most prestigious college football programs in the country, including local powerhouse Southern California and his dream school as a kid, Michigan.

Johnson signed a letter of intent to play for Michigan. Then came Bowden. Johnson was wearing a Florida State uniform a year later.

‘Half the neighborhood came over just to see him,’ said Johnson, now a senior defensive tackle at FSU. ‘He came in ready to prop his feet up and flip on the TV. He’s just like a father figure – you can learn a lot from him.’

Johnson changed his mind because Florida State was the best chance for him to succeed, he said. Though Bowden used the same tactics in 1960 as he did in 2000, it wasn’t always easy for Bowden and Florida State to score big recruits and win football games.

Bowden grew up in a place where Saturdays were reserved for pigskin and Sundays were for the Lord.

As a teenager in Birmingham, Ala., Bowden was an outstanding football player at Woodlawn High School. He went on to fulfill his dream of playing at Alabama as a freshman quarterback, but after one semester, his heart took him elsewhere. This time to a woman.

‘He was in love,’ FSU Director of Athletics Dave Hart Jr. said. ‘His priorities very much include his family and his religion. Clearly he has very strong beliefs.’

Bowden transferred to Howard College in Birmingham (now Samford) to be closer to his high-school sweetheart and soon-to-be wife, Ann Estock. After graduating, he went on to serve as Samford’s head football coach from 1959-1962.

He got his first taste of Florida State from 1963-1965 as wide receivers coach before moving on to West Virginia as offensive coordinator from 1966-1969. He then took over as the Mountaineers head coach from 1970-1975. FSU named him head coach in January of 1976, and he has been with the Seminoles ever since.

Those early years were the toughest for Bowden and his family. His fear of losing made him focus his energy on football.

‘His discretionary time was limited,’ Hart said. ‘He gave Ann all the free time he had, but he was gone a lot before student-athlete visits were limited. It was literally a 24-hour-a-day proposition.’

In 1963, Bowden and Vince Gibson, both assistants at FSU, flew to Virginia to scout a Virginia Tech game. After the game was over, they continued to North Carolina to scout another game.

‘By the time we got through that game, we were both dying to go to sleep,’ Bowden said. ‘We were going to catch a plane the next morning at about 6. We checked into a motel, but everything was sold out.’

They were thankful to get a room with a single bed that would provide them with a few hours of sleep.

‘I woke up about 3 o’clock,’ Bowden said, ‘and Vince had his arm around my neck and he was kissing me on the cheek.

‘Those are the kinds of hours you had back in those days – going 18 or 20 hours was pretty common. I don’t do that anymore. I don’t kiss Vince.’

When he took over as head coach, he showed the same dedication to winning. He applied what he had learned from Alabama head coach Bear Bryant (Bryant allowed Bowden to sit in on spring staff meetings when Bowden coached at Samford) to his new team.

Kent Schoolfield was the last coach Bowden hired to complete his original staff in 1976. The two had never met until Schoolfield decided to follow up his rsum submission with a personal visit to Bowden.

‘I came in and we talked for two-and-a-half hours,’ Schoolfield said. ‘But not so much about football. (Bowden) was always interested in kids and people and players and secretaries and what they were doing. He wants everyone to feel welcome.’

Houston Texans guard Milford Brown experienced that same people-first mentality when he played at Florida State. After transferring from East Mississippi Junior College, Brown started all 12 games his junior season for the Seminoles. But before his senior year, the NCAA ruled him ineligible because of a mix-up in credit transcripts.

Unable to play, Bowden allowed Brown to occupy a scholarship position as he stayed at school to work out. Luckily, the Texans soon took Brown in a supplemental draft.

The generosity Bowden extended made a big impression on Brown, though.

‘That goes to show you what kinda heart he has,’ Brown said. ‘Even though I was done with football, he wanted me to stay and get a good education.’

Those who know him agree – Bowden’s ability to stay the same throughout 51 years of coaching has led to his success.

‘He is very personable with everyone,’ said Mike Owens, a former graduate assistant under Bowden and current head coach at Ft. Walton Beach High School in Florida. ‘He’s just what he appears to be. He’s never fake.’

And at age 74, Bowden has yet to slow down. He makes sure to take his two-week vacation at the beach in Florida each June while keeping up with his busy football schedule and speaking engagement circuit.

Every weekend in the off-season, Bowden can be seen in pulpits across the South preaching. He also keeps a busy golf schedule from March until June.

His staff makes most of the recruiting visits now, and he is only sent in for those extra-important visits – like the one with Travis Johnson. It seems as if Bowden will go as long as God permits.

‘The last time I saw him, he still had some giddy-up in his step,’ Schoolfield said. ‘He could probably go for another 20 years.’

‘I’ve always said that health could force you out,’ Bowden said. ‘I think I’ll have to be forced out.’

Published on October 7, 2004 at 12:00 pm