Was Bobby Bowden holding FSU back? (1 Viewer)

[Team ROFLCOPTERS]

With the knowledge of FSU having the best recruiting class this year and their best class in 14 years I am wondering if kids stayed away from FSU in the past because of Bowden. This couldn't be a coinsidence. Many of the kids that they are bringing in are all saying that they chose FSU because their direction is promising. Is this a dig on Bowden?

What does everyone think?

 

[nlgb1]

YES

 

[Sweet Love]

Wait 'til JoePa retires...

 

[Clarence the barber]

I heard he hasn't gotten out of a golfcart since 2002.

 

[Chase Stuart]

They had top-three recruiting classes in both '04 and '05: http://rivals.yahoo.com/ncaa/football/blog...rn=ncaaf-315516

 

[trader jake]

Yes.

 

[gump]

It definitely did...just as Auburn gained ground during Bryant's last few years.

But it also helped this season that both Florida and Miami were in coaching turmoil.

 

[Zaphod]

I think the game had passed him by and his disconnect with younger 'star' athletes was certainly a contributing factor. Unfortunately, the end results will point some to say they justify the means and I think the boosters and the University certainly could have handled things more professionally.

 

[Team ROFLCOPTERS]

They had top-three recruiting classes in both '04 and '05: http://rivals.yahoo.com/ncaa/football/blog...rn=ncaaf-315516

At the time Bowden was still considered a sharp football mind. It's only been the last 3 or 4 years that Bowden visably took a turn for the crazy. He was having a hard time articulating his thoughts when being interviewed. He even said a few years ago that he didn't care anymore when he was questioned about if he was embarrassing the school (obviously an attempt to spark debate by the reporter but Bowden has been around long enough not to get overwhelmed).I appreciate everything Bowden has done for the sport. He's one of the top coaches of all time. He didn't deserve the way he was handled but I think FSU was on to something.

 

[Don Quixote]

I went to an FSU game towards the end of his tenure. I was struck by how distant Bowden was from the action on the field. He'd stand about 35 yards behind the line of scrimmage; no headset on. I got a completely different impression from him than what I got from TV. Anyway, maybe the game that I went to was just an outlier (or maybe he was the same even in his younger days), but I came away from that game with the impression that he was basically just a figurehead.